“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go…”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
What would you do if you thought you couldn’t fail?
This is the question I asked myself when I was faced with putting my life’s plans on hold. I finished up at my job as an editor to embark on a worldly adventure. I had my wedding date set and a one-way ticket to Paris, until a pandemic struck and hit the pause button.
For 12-months prior, these plans defined my future and my sense of self: a married adventurer, travelling the world for a year or two, learning something new each day. Without them, I didn’t know who I was or what was next.
I then thought back to when I was 15-years old and I wrote a bucket list to ensure I was held accountable to squeezing the most out of life.
The list includes everything from living abroad to a white Christmas and learning to change a tyre. Another item is to study a postgraduate degree.
Fast-forward six years and my 15-year old self is tapping me on the shoulder, shouting now as the perfect time to start that postgraduate degree. However, current me is afraid of not getting in, not having the ‘right’ amount of creativity or just not being good enough.
I graduated in 2014 with a double degree in Law and Arts, majoring in communications, and always loved finding a way to tell a story. My essays were filled with anecdotes and clever jokes, often written more like a story than a law paper. Upon graduation and admission to the Supreme Court of NSW as a solicitor, I decided to follow my passion of writing and media and have been on this path since.
Over the last five years, I’ve wanted to look into doing a master’s degree, however, my ego with its fear of failure firmly stood before me, hands on hips and unwilling to move. After much reflection, I reminded myself of one of my favourite Dr Seuss quotes: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” So which direction will I choose?
I decided to spend some time writing down what I love to do, what I’m good at and what makes me happy. After scribbling all over the page, I concluded I’m a great storyteller, I love being a big kid and playing with children. My biggest passion is using writing as a tool to explore my creativity.
I then began researching and came across the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) program at Deakin University, saw the children’s literature specialisation, and from this point, the stars aligned.
Seldom in life are we offered the opportunity to stop and reflect on who we are, and what we want from life. This pandemic has helped me change direction and take a path I’ve longed to take but thought I wasn’t ready.
I know what I know and I’m the one who’ll decide where to go, and I hope with your help, it will be in this program.
That Girl from Sydney 