Some may find it daunting to pick up the books again after working for some years. But NUS MBA student Stacy Huang Sijia says building a support network can help to ease the transition.
It feels like decades since I’ve been in a formal classroom. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and “accidentally” joined an IT consulting company. After working for ten years and reaching a managerial role, I needed to sharpen my skills and knowledge for further career growth. Thus I decided to take up a part-time MBA with NUS.
Within the first few weeks of the programme, I already had tons of readings, case studies and group assignments. On top of that, I took on the role of President of the Culture, Social and Community (CSC) Club, where I ran events and joined networking sessions and social gatherings. It all seemed to be too much, too fast.
But there are some tips for transitioning to student life.
1. Get organised and plan ahead
We always talk about work-life balance. It’s a myth and makes people feel that work is bad and life is good. That’s not always the case. Too many work, family and social commitments may make you feel overwhelmed, especially in the first few weeks of the programme. But creating a schedule with all upcoming deadlines and activities can help ensure that you give enough time for each task.
Stacy (second row, 3rd from the right) and her MBA classmates.
2. Join a student club
Besides studies, another important part of student life is student clubs! At NUS, there are many clubs to choose from, ranging from subject-specific clubs in technology, finance and energy to general interest clubs in diversity & inclusion, CSC and Sandbox. Find your passion and challenge yourself to be a core member. You will definitely gain more experience, skills, network and have more fun.
Stacy joined her peers in cultural activities and paintball.
3. Take the initiative to reach out
Part-time and full-time students don’t have a lot of classes in common. Moreover, it was hard to meet during the pandemic. However, this should not be an excuse to hide in our shells. I’m fortunate to know many other cohorts through club events and have made many friends in the past year.
Stacy (1st from left) hosted dinner for students at home.
4. Build a support network
Being a student is not easy, and we can ask for help. This is not something shameful. I always communicate my school schedule to my manager and colleagues so they can stand in for me when school work gets intense. I also have a study buddy and school mentor who would help me in my studies and interview preparation, give career advice or sometimes just provide a listening ear.
Stacy (middle) with her study buddies and Launch Your Transformation advisor Nalin Advani (far right).
5. Be courageous and be humble
We may be experts in our respective fields, but there are still so many things that we do not know. I personally struggled during my Financial Management module and felt very lost in my tutorials. At first, I was shy to ask questions in class. Gradually, I adapted to being a student and realised that there is no stupid question—if I don’t ask, I will never learn. Even if you have considerable experience in the subject being taught, be happy to hear other perspectives from your classmates. It has certainly broadened my horizon and given me food for thought.
It’s not easy to transition from being a working professional to a student. Give yourself time to ease into student life. Good things take time. All the best!
