Dear Haya, I'm a 22-year-old girl and currently in the process of deciding whether to pursue a challenging post-grad degree or settle for a regular one. The reason why I'm confused about this is because I belong to a conservative family where higher studies are considered important but not as much as marriage. I have compromised with the idea that I will be getting married before I turn 25, so there's no point in pursuing a masters that academically challenging and competitive.
As much as I aspire to become a resourceful person professionally after my studies end, I know for sure that I'll be reduced to the role of a housewife soon after my marriage. But I do have dreams and aspirations to carve my own identity. Currently, I'm just confused whether I should put myself through the trouble of being in an academically rigorous situation or just pick a degree that doesn't require much from me.
What do you suggest? Dear anon, The situation you are going through sounds challenging where you are at a crossroad caught between two worlds; conflict between your head and heart and conflict between your own personal dreams and ambitions and one that you have internalised by family expectations and societal norms. This can be both overwhelming and confusing. Our families and societies play a pivotal role in shaping our internal world, belief systems, our self-worth the way we view the world and ourselves and what we feel we should do.
Our early years are our formative years that lay the f.