It’s been three weeks since I went back to school, and I couldn’t be happier with the decision.
When I first shared the news, many people were skeptical: Why data analytics? Coding? Isn’t that so hard? Do you even need it? From where I sit now, I’m so grateful to myself for this choice.
Why Data, Why Now
I’ve always loved writing and reporting, but what I’m learning here takes it further. The skills I’m building let me not only present information but also visualize it in ways that tell a compelling story and support faster, more confident decisions.
(Freja is less stoked on data than I am)
I’m learning how to gather and organize complex, clean data that reflects the current state and helps us project where we want to go. A foundation in coding gives me insight into how systems are designed and how I can help shape them to keep the human element front and center. Business intelligence equips me to make a strong, concise case for my team or organization. These are exactly the skills I knew I could improve, and I’m proud I gave myself this chance to grow.
Student and Observer
Being on campus is both exciting and unfamiliar. I’m experiencing it from two perspectives at once: as a student navigating a new institution and as someone who has spent years building education and onboarding experiences for others.
I’m keenly observing how the university welcomes and supports its students, how instructors design and deliver their lessons, and how classmates respond to it all. Every lecture, every group activity, every resource I encounter is part of my own learning and also a living case study in how learning environments are shaped.
This dual lens makes the experience especially valuable. I’ll be onboarding into a new role before long, and this feels like a trial run: a reminder of what it feels like to be new, what supports matter most, and how systems can either smooth or complicate that journey.
The Daily Reality
And then there is the parking. I thought I knew how bad it was, but last week felt like a scene straight out of Grand Theft Auto with weaving, dodging, circling in frustration. I’ve since found an off-campus spot that gives me a 15-minute walk through campus in the beautiful Fall air (though I have to get here over an hour early to get a spot). No tickets so far, and spending time here during bright sunny leaf-covered days makes me feel very collegiate.
Humbling and Inspiring
One thing I didn’t expect was how much I’d learn just from being around my fellow students. As one of the only locals in the program, I’ve met people from all over the world. (Yesterday my activity partner almost fell out of her chair when I said I was from Victoria.)
I’m also, admittedly, older than most of the students in the building and have already been mistaken for an instructor more than once. Who knows, maybe one day I will be. For now, I’m embracing this season of learning, stretching, and rediscovering what it means to be a student while adding fresh insights to my work of building systems and experiences that support others.
Living work-adjacent 
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