The reluctant student and what I learned.

I’m about 20 minutes from getting in the car to drive to Northwestern University to celebrate my graduation from the Masters in Learning and Organizational Change program. I finished classes in December, so have had a few months as a grad to think about what it meant to me.

I swore I’d never go get another masters. I got one 20 years ago and never did anything with it. Then I was continually faced with problems at work stemming from organizations not being able to adapt, and I realized I needed to learn how to help them, and that I had to go get one more masters to do that.

I did a quick search, found MSLOC, talked to them, went to an informational session, came home and announced to my husband that I wasn’t going because there was too much introspection, self analysis, talking about feelings and group projects, and I hate all that stuff. He looked me right in the eye and said “and that’s why you need to do it”. He’s right a lot of the time. So I listened to him and enrolled.

And I hated the introspection, self analysis, talking about feelings and group projects. Most of the time. But I learned something about myself from each assessment, each team debrief, each reflection assignment. And I found myself listening more and talking less. And thinking before I spoke. And not having to prove how smart I was by being first to answer and act. I found myself pulling back and creating space. I caught myself thinking “how would I do that better next time”. I recognized characteristics that helped me attain the success I’d achieved, and others I could develop that would help me move even further. I got curious about everything. I made friends. I became a flosser. I changed my career and have been happier and more successful than I even dared to hope I would be.

Off to put on the cap and gown and do some graduating. Thanks MSLOC.