From our very first day of school, we’re constantly asked what we want to be when we grow up. While the answer might change over time, having this goal to work towards can often give people a sense of purpose and direction. But, what happens when we finally reach that coveted destination?
For Jessica Mizzi-Buckley, who is the Senior Manager of Group Security at one of the largest financial institutions in the world, the solution was to find something new to aim for.
“It was 2018 and I was looking for something extra to challenge myself with as my current role at the time I had outgrown,” she says. “I also wanted to keep my options open in case I wanted to move into a higher-level position that required a tertiary qualification in the future. After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, I bit the bullet so to speak, and said to myself, ‘it is never going to be the perfect time to study, so let’s just do it!’”
The fact that I could complete the course online was a sticking point for me. I didn’t have time to attend in person courses, so UNE being so flexible was a life-changer.
With a plate full of family commitments, a side hustle, volunteer roles, and a part-time gig chauffeuring around her 11-year-old son to his extracurricular activities, Jessica was unsure where study would fit into the mix.
But, she somehow managed to squeeze it in.
“The fact that I could complete the course online was a sticking point for me. I didn’t have time to attend in person courses, so UNE being so flexible was a life-changer.
“I am also grateful and privileged to have a great support network. My husband is a champion at parenting and really picks up a lot of my slack in that department.
“When it came to fitting everything in, time management was critical. My mind has always raced, so I always compiled lists in my head and had to tick off tasks as I went or I never felt organised. This has always helped me keep things in tow and really helped me overcome any overwhelming feelings of feeling bogged down.”
While juggling life with study is a daunting prospect for many, Jessica explains it’s important to prioritise yourself sometimes.
“I needed to do it for myself, to prove to myself that I could do it, despite working and having a full plate. I needed to show myself and know in my heart, I was worthy.
I wanted to do it for myself because I was worth investing in.
“It seems silly and hard to explain, but I did things a little bit backwards and studied later in life instead of right after school. I always regretted that I made that conscious choice, and felt I may have missed out on pathways that may have been afforded to me if I had studied earlier. I ended up getting to where I am out of sheer hard work and persistence, so it all comes out in the wash, but my rationale was I wanted to do it for myself because I was worth investing in.”
Four years later, and she’s already seeing the dividends. In December, she graduated with a Bachelor of Organisational Leadership and now hopes to use the skills gained through her degree to make further strides in her career.
“Some of the units I completed really helped me broaden my knowledge and build strength in strategy and understanding things like sustainability on a higher level. Now that I have finished my degree, I hope it will aide in my next step up into an official Executive Manager role, as most of those do require tertiary education qualifications, like this one.”
There is never going to be a perfect time to study. Life gets in the way. So instead of it getting in the way, go with it
For others who are wanting a new challenge, but don’t quite know whether to take the plunge, Jessica has some valuable words of wisdom.
“My first piece of advice would be to invest in yourself. You aren’t just someone’s wife or mother or husband or father. If you want more for yourself, no-one can give it to you but you.
“The second piece of advice is there is never going to be a perfect time to study. Life gets in the way. So instead of it getting in the way, go with it.”
