Reflections of the masters journey for the Graduations newsletter :-)

Reflections on the Masters journey

Just the other day I was reminded of the first one on one meeting I had with my supervisor. At that meeting I was asked where I expected to see myself in five years’ time. I nervously answered, I want to work in government in the Ministry of Children and People Living with Disabilities. On applying for this qualification all I wanted to do was to change the world and protect young people. I wanted to see the culmination of my study journey, I mean I’ve been a UNISA student for what felt like half my life. Little did I know that I was opening up new doors, avenues that excite me more times than I can count. Interesting enough, the very same supervisor who listened to my dreams 4 years ago, is now my mentor on the Grow Your Own Timber project in the College of Graduate Studies. It has been a long journey, there were times where I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it through. There were times I felt like giving up, where I’d hear a little voice saying, “you were a person before this Masters, you can survive even without it”. Yes, I could survive, but, I had to remember why I started the journey in the first place. I had left a job, a monthly salary, had a baby and attend class daily for a year, but being in that space kept me going. The class set up was very supportive, it really helped to share the journey with others. In the following year I was fortunate enough to get hired as a Postgraduate Assistant in the department. That put a lot of pressure in me, as I saw my classmates coming through to see their supervisors, talking about their progress, and it got me down when they handed in their dissertations. Again I had to remind myself that this is a personal journey, which might take long because with every road there are speed bumps, detours, cul de sac’s etc. along the way. As I look back I am thankful for every step that this journey took me on, all the friendships, networks and support structures that were strengthened. More than anything, I got a chance to look inward, to find and listen to the real me so that I am able to plant into South African psychology literature. 

This poster resonates so well with me. I believe that one day I will write down my memoir and will detail this story. I alswas tell it to young people who are willing to listen, who need motivation and sometime even a gentle nudge in the right direction. I was working, comfortably so. I had just jumped to a new job, in a sort of Head-hunted position and I was enjoying the space. And of course, me being me, it got me thinking about "what next", "where to from here"? So, yeah, of course the only way up was through studying, I thought... I approached my manager about the proposed training experience, and guess what, I was shut down so hard, so flat. Yho I knew that day how flies feel when thwarted, kkk. So, that dream was out the window, but I wasn't satisfied and didn't know how else to approach this. Then it was found out that I was pregnant and that took a turn of its own as well. I was asked to step down, voluntarily demote myself. Yho! just like that. Guess what, because we serve a living God, an amazing God, He already knew where I was supposed to be. An opportunity to study further became available, and in as much as the old procrastinating me came about, I had to shift it and try my luck. I took the plunge, and applied, and of course only sent the required homework a few hours before the deadline. lol! I got in and today I am sitting here looking forward to my  graduation towards a Masters qualification. So yeah, don't give up on life, cos God hasn't given up on you...He's Able...

The Journey NewsletterIt's been too long since I last posted anything. I was trying to clear up my emails inbox and found out that I have to write a paragraph about my Masters journey. Interesting, or rather, funny enough, I was looking at old M and D newsletters to see how other graduates write about their journey. I mean graduation is around the corner and I have to share my experience to be able to motivate new students. So, here goes, some reflections... It has been quite a journey. It's funny how when I look back I never thought it could be done. There were numerous times were I thought I didn't deserve to be in the programme. That I was some type of guinea pig of the group, hahahahhahahaa. Funny when I think of it now. I have really come a long way, here I am I can now introduce myself as Nonhlanhla Masinga, PhD candidate, whaaaat!!!! Who would've thought.