I am not one of the most positive people you will come across, in fact, people who know me know that it’s easy for me to lose my motivation and get disappointed. The real truth behind this – I am hopeful and I am semi-positive. I don’t exude positivity, because at times either it is taken as over confidence or at times, I am a little bit superstitious. (Sometimes you want things to work out, so you don’t want anything to jinx it, not even yourself.)
Back to School: Balancing a Master’s Degree, Family, and a Blog
Today, I want to share something that’s become a significant part of my life—going back to school. With 14 years of work experience, a family, and a blog that means the world to me, this has been a journey unlike any other.
As part of my Swiss Life series, it’s surprising that I haven’t yet written about one of the most important chapters of my life—pursuing my master’s degree. Life here has been incredibly busy, and I can confidently say, “I’ve never had my life this full.”
I’ve always wanted to do a master’s degree—ever since I began studying engineering. Back then, I dreamed of becoming a “Manager,” even when I had no real idea of what that meant. But one thing about me is that I don’t let my desires remain just wants—I always give things a try, even if sometimes it’s a bit half-hearted. Over the years, I attempted multiple times, but for various reasons—poor timing or lack of readiness—I didn’t succeed.
Meanwhile, my career progressed steadily. I began to do well at work, climbing the corporate ladder, yet I never let go of that dream. When I learned about our move to Switzerland, I knew it was the right time. Without hesitation, I made a bold decision—not to apply for jobs, but instead to apply to B-schools.
I applied to three schools, including ETH, and was fortunate to be admitted to all of them. After weighing factors like convenience and, of course, finances, I ultimately chose FHNW.
A little about FHNW – The University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) is a prominent Swiss institution with nine schools offering a wide range of bachelor’s, master’s, and continuing education programs.
Studying in Switzerland:
I started school this September, so I’ve been here for about three months now. What happened after I began this new chapter? Well, autumn arrived, bringing with it emotional ups and downs, moments of realization, and physical challenges. Somewhere along the way, I even said goodbye to my gym membership.
Life in Switzerland places a high premium on academics. Unlike in some other parts of the world, people here seem to value education more than work experience.
While I have mixed feelings about this, there’s no denying that education is taken very seriously. One striking difference is the approach to attendance—there’s no mandatory roll call. If you find the lectures valuable, you attend; if not, skipping is entirely up to you. Regardless of attendance, the professors teach with the same level of commitment. Classes are highly interactive, with an emphasis on group work and case studies.
While the aptitude level of students may not seem extraordinary, what truly stands out is their attitude.
Our school is quite global: 50% students are Swiss, the other 50% come from all parts of the world, and we have a lot of Indians in the mix. Despite wanting to break stereotypes and not be mistaken for Rajesh Koothrapali from The Big Bang Theory, all Indians seem to want stick together.
FHNW Campus
Our campus is absolutely stunning, with a sleek, futuristic design that stays true to the architect’s original vision in every corner. Personally, I feel a splash of color here and there wouldn’t hurt—but hey, that’s just my take!
What I love most are the cozy four-person workstations on each floor. Now that’s what I call cool—architecturally speaking, of course.
Getting there
The university isn’t located in the city where I live (Basel) but in Olten, about a 30-minute train ride away. Although I’m a full-time student, my classes are scheduled on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturday mornings. The toughest part? Those early Saturday classes—while the rest of the city sleeps, Ms. Siddhanti is already on her way to school.
The weather has been steadily shifting too. Autumn has given way to winter, bright skies have turned gray, and where there used to be soft twilight, there’s now complete darkness.
Running for trams and trains during peak hours has become part of my daily routine, as has witnessing the high fashion and palpable energy at Bahnhof SBB. Despite the hustle, I absolutely love the picturesque train rides, especially with a good playlist in my ears. That said, constantly walking and running in the rain and snow has taken a toll on my health. However, these train rides have brought an unexpected realization—I genuinely enjoy being alone. As someone wisely said, “Being alone and being lonely are not the same thing.”
Student Life in Switzerland:
The day I stepped into college, I was filled with an unusual sense of positivity and enthusiasm—something quite unlike me. However, that bubble didn’t take long to burst. It quickly became apparent that this wasn’t rocket science. (Just because it looked like NASA didn’t mean it was NASA.) This, perhaps, is one of the downsides of pursuing a second degree after years of real-world experience. At times, the discussions, debates, and topics feel a bit too juvenile and unrealistic. Being more practical than academic isn’t always the most favorable trait when you’re back in the classroom.
Our class consists of around 50 students, a mix of full-time and part-time master’s candidates. While the university’s vision is undoubtedly global, the mindset of the majority isn’t quite there yet. My batchmates are courteous, polite, respectful, and refreshingly non-aggressive. However, do I see long-term friendships forming? Err… not really. Apart from maybe one or two exceptions, I don’t foresee these relationships going beyond the classroom.
In contrast, during my time in India, even in a highly competitive and aggressive organization like Unilever, I managed to build strong friendships and meaningful connections. That said, I’m still new here, and things might change—I certainly hope they do.
How did everybody else react to it?
Everyone who loves me is super proud of me. Everyone who doesn’t turned into a new shade of green.
Both of these facts make me joyous.
My mom who I think has pushed me the most through these years (not in the most pleasant manners), will finally earn her Master’s degree. I am just a medium, her want was far bigger than mine.
The Change To Being A “Student”
Returning to student life after 14 years was never going to be a cakewalk. During lectures, I find myself relying heavily on caffeine just to stay awake, and concentrating requires conscious effort. Although we have well-planned breaks at reasonable intervals, there are moments when even that doesn’t help. I often get distracted by emails, creative work, and social media in between classes.
Reconditioning myself to academic life has been challenging, to say the least. If I manage to clear my first semester, I’ll proudly make the tall claim—I did it!
Does this really change anything for me?
Yes, a lot. Even if I did it after becoming a senior manager, the sense of accomplishment to be standing on that podium and accepting the degree is a good butterfly feeling. Career progression left aside, this masters’ converts my “want” to a reality. It takes guts and a long term vision to take this plunge. It’s a HUGE tick on my bucket list and my hope is to inspire that someone out there who is probably thinking that “NOW” might be too late.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this post! If you have done this or are doing this, I’d love to hear from you.
