New year, new possibilities!

The end of a year (academic as well as calendar year) always prompts people to look back. It is a time of reflection and evaluation, to see what went well and what did not. This year it also forces me to look forward. For me, 2016 will be a year of change and uncertainty. Graduation, starting to work on my master thesis, uncertainty if I will be able to stay in the U.S. or not… there are many things I cannot control or foresee.

In June I will have wrapped up my internship, and already in May I will cross the stage at the Chicago Theatre as part of Columbia’s graduation ceremony. However, because of the way the Dance/Movement Therapy & Counseling program is structured, I will only receive an empty folder as a symbol of my graduation. I still have to participate in one more class in June (career development) and finish my master thesis to receive my certificate.

Graduation May 2016… and then?

Also starting in June, I will work on my master thesis. As of now, I will conduct qualitative research in form of an artistic inquiry, focusing on the importance of integration in the development of my professional identity. I am excited that I will have the time to fully indulge in this self-study, using different art forms to generate knowledge. At the same time it is hard to imagine myself in that process. I have experience in writing a 100-page bachelor’s thesis, but conducting my own empirical research related to personal experiences feels much more challenging and unforeseeable. Nevertheless, I have to say that I am also excited about the freedom I gain without having to go to classes or work on the weekend at my internship site.

Of course, finances are also causing me quite a headache. All my scholarships cover the time until graduation, and there are hardly any that cover research projects after graduation, even if those are necessary to complete a degree. Even if, theoretically, I would have more time to work, as an international student I am not allowed to work off campus or more than 20 hours on campus (which I am already doing). Therefore, at this point I basically do not have any idea how I should finance my stay in the United States after graduation.

Regardless of all those uncertainties and challenges, I am looking forward to 2016. Uncertainties and challenges aren’t just “bad”—they also offer opportunities for development and unlimited possibilities. Because there is nothing set in stone, I can use all my creativity to shape my life the way I want to. I can stay in Chicago or I can go somewhere else, either in the United States or anywhere in the world.

In that sense, happy new year! :)

Not all those who wander are lost!