Friday was my graduation from my Masters degree. I have blogged a lot about my study (like here and here) but I'm not sure I have ever really written about my reasons why for studying this degree in the first place.
I studied Economics and Law straight out of high school. They are good, solid, lucrative degrees. I did what I had to do to be admitted as a solicitor, and then went to work to pay off my debts. By the end of 2006, I had been studying or practising law for twenty years. It has become very hard work, emotionally trying and I was burnt out. This was the very dramatic period of my life, when I quit the partnership of a large law firm and settled down to spend time at home with my family. Part of my bargain with myself about quitting my (highly paid, very demanding) job was that I would study something just for the sake of it. I chose art history because I love it, that's all.
Of course I didn't have the luxury to just throw it all in and study full time (this was when I started working as a freelance journalist and then as a photographer) so I did my study part time. Five years later I graduated with a Mater of Arts (Art History). Rather than relief and elation that I felt when I got my law degree, I feel a little bereft that I am no longer studying because this degree was all about the process, and never about the end product.
But I'm fairly sue that a trip through French art galleries in July will help to ease the pain a little...
Why feel bereft when you can do a PhD?
Posted by: Nick | June 12, 2012 at 08:23 PM
Congratulations!! Your family look so proud - as well they might.
Posted by: Liz | June 11, 2012 at 10:46 PM