Dilemma - Master's program

Masters program, or not to do masters program. Dilemma…. Tough decision.

Applications starts in December, and if I really wanna apply, I need to go get my Lecturer from uni and my supervisor from workplace to fill up a form for me and sort of assess me in it.. Man…jst to apply for a program, you need to go through all those things, Find it so troublesome.. Why can’t it jst be, filling up the form yrself, submit a few supporting documents, and that’s it!

I suppose there are many Pro’s and Con’s which I have to consider before I decide….

Pro’s
I suppose I really wanted to learn something. I am interested in Artificial Intelligence by itself…strikes me as very interesting, there’s a lot of secrets in it which has yet to reveal itself. It is for interest sake.

It will be cool also, if after I do my masters and I get myself a job as a lecturer. I get to continue doing researches, learn new things, attend seminars (like how I see my uni lecturer’s do), learn new things and the knowledge you get is un-replaceble.

The thought of leaving everything back here, jst drop everything and go off to someplace new (USM in Penang), seems very tempting. It’ll be a good chance for me to learn and experience it for myself how it feels to be living away from home. And a good chance for me to focus really on myself, what I want and be independent. Back home here, my attention is all very un-focused. I have my music school to think of, my work place, my family too mostly… There’s a lot responsibilities here. But if I were to go, I am able to let it all go, and jst be on myself. I get to do whatever I want, and a chance to feel what freedom is.


Con’s
As usual, if there are Pro’s, there’s always the Con’s too.

If I finish my masters in AI, I suppose the job prospect doesn’t give me much choice back here in Malaysia. The only option is towards the Academic field – Lecturing and Researching. That got me worried, if I dun get myself a job as a lecturer or a researcher, then what will I do? Start again from bottom like where I am now (a fresh Degree grad?) It will be wasting 1 year of time (of cos I get to gain knowledge in the field I want, but I do not get to apply it in this competitive corporate world), and have to start all over again to gain experience in this corporate world.

I know local uni’s fees is cheap, and way cheaper then oversea’s uni. But it is still money, about RM5k. If I can pay for my own education fees, what about my cost of living? If I were to go over to USM, Penang to do my masters, that means I won’t be getting side income from teaching piano here in SIM, and I won’t be able to support myself for 1 year (Based on how little saving’s I have now)

I have to also put aside everything I have back here. I’ll be apart from my family, friends and most importantly Eeyore. I know that sometime he pisses me off and pays absolutely no attention to me, but anyhow also I know that he is near by and if I really need him, I can reach him. But once I go over to a foreign place, I am all alone, and have to start making friends again.

I suppose the most important aspect which is holding me back now is financially and also leaving Eeyore behind. 1 Year is not a long period of time, neither is it short.

It will be really cool, like how Shivy took 1 year to go Holland, and how Kaman went Japan for the fun and experience of staying in a foreign country. Now I will be taking 1 year to venture and learn about things I like, AI, gain knowledge and after that will only decide how things goes and which career path I choose. However, financially, I cannot support myself. Emotionally, I cannot bring myself to leave him behind, and the thoughts of not being able to see him for weeks, months is killing me.