I've always wanted to return to school for a master's degree. Originally, I planned to earn a master's degree in Forensic Accounting before sitting for the CPA exam. That was my goal in terms of returning to school, but as we all know, our goals change as time passes and we encounter new experiences.

For the past two years, while working on various projects at Accenture, the majority of my roles involved some aspect of human resource. I've grown to love the human resource field as a result of those experiences, but I also realized I lacked the thought process and knowledge to effectively support the goals of my current and future clients.

I had intended to continue my education immediately after completing my undergraduate degree, but when I received an offer letter from Accenture following my second internship, it was a no-brainer. I saw it as a chance to further define the field in which I wanted to work. Despite the fact that I enjoyed accounting and had always intended to work in the field, I did not want to pass up the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge in another field.

As a true consultant, I have yet to respond to the above question, why now? After two years at Accenture, I can confidently say that I have discovered the field of work in which I want to build my career, as well as the program in which I want to earn my degree.

"Everybody say N.O!" exclaimed Bangtan Boys (aka BTS). Check out my post about my first experience at one of their concerts in LA if you haven't already! Click Here!

That's my response, just kidding. I will not be taking time off from work for the following reasons:

1. The cost of graduate school is prohibitively high! (Although not as expensive as undergraduate, STILL!). I could pay off my car or travel around the world for about six months with that money.

2. If I do leave, I will face a significant pay cut for the next year and a half. Who wants that? Not Me!

3. I've mastered time management, also known in the corporate world as work-life balance, and I genuinely enjoy what I do, so why give it up? Even if it's only for a year and a half.

Well, I only applied to one master program and was accepted (I like the confidence I have in myself).  I finished my final semester of my undergraduate degree online, right at the start of the pandemic. This experience taught me that online classes were not for me. Instead, I preferred the ability to form meaningful relationships with my classmates and professors in a classroom setting. That is one of the reasons I decided to pursue my master's degree at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business.

I will begin my master's degree in the fall of this year, 2023, and I am very excited about what lies ahead. If you are debating whether or not to return to school, I strongly advise you to take the plunge! Returning to school is never a bad idea!