Why I Decided to Study Psychology in My 30s

And why it’s the bravest, most grounding decision I’ve made in years

For a long time, I thought I had to have it all figured out in my twenties: the job, the career path, the identity, the version of myself I’d grow into. And to some extent, I did follow that path. I built a career in HR, climbed the ladder, moved abroad, and became the version of “successful” I had once envisioned.

But beneath all that, the progression, the performance, the people-pleasing, was a quieter voice. A deeper pull. One that always returned to this question:

What actually shapes us? Why do we think, feel, and relate the way we do? And can we really change it?

That voice never went away. If anything, it grew louder the more I saw how much of people’s lives were shaped by unspoken emotion. In the workplace, in relationships, in themselves. It showed up in burnout, perfectionism, conflict, withdrawal, and shame. I saw it in others. I saw it in myself. And I didn’t want to keep looking away.

So, in my 30s, a time when many people are settling down, I decided to begin again. I applied for the MSc in Psychology. I committed to studying part-time, while continuing my full-time role in HR. It was both terrifying and deeply aligned.

A Lesson I’ve Never Forgotten

Back when I was studying Drama at college, one of my teachers offered me advice I didn’t fully understand at the time. I’d been considering pursuing a Master’s degree straight after graduating, but she gently told me:

“Wait until you’ve lived more life. You may think you know what you want now, but time will reveal where you’re meant to be, and what you’re meant to do.”

I carried those words with me, and now, over a decade later, I finally understand them.

This isn’t just a new academic pursuit. It’s a full-circle moment. It’s a testament to the young woman who studied people through character and story, and the woman I’ve become. Someone who now studies people through psyche and science.

It honours the foundation of my Drama degree, while committing wholeheartedly to my next chapter in Psychology. And that’s how I know: I’m ready.