Pause before Graduate School?

I went to graduate school right after college, and I regret it. I wish I had waited and joined the workforce first.

Story by insider@insider.com (Rashi Goel)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/i-went-to-graduate-school-right-after-college-and-i-regret-it-i-wish-i-had-waited-and-joined-the-workforce-first/ar-BB1qOgYs

• Right after I graduated from college, I went straight into grad school.
• I wish I had waited to go to grad school and instead followed my other interests.
• I want young people to know that they don't have to rush into getting their master's degree.

The final exams for my bachelor's degree took place in March 2005, and by June, I was enrolled in my master's program.  

The two-month break didn't feel like one, as it was a whirlwind of applications and entrance exams. I would have loved to travel, write, and contemplate my future career path, but instead, I plunged straight into further studies. After pursuing a bachelor's in business administration with a major in marketing, I felt compelled to continue studying marketing, resisting exploring other options.

I should have known an MBA was not the right choice. Reflecting on my childhood and teenage years, I realized that my academic pursuits overshadowed my growing interest in nature and the outdoors. I was passionate about environmental systems, tree-planting drives, camping, and painting nature scenes. This inclination starkly contrasted with the desk job awaiting me in the corporate world.

Had I taken some time off after college — a gap year perhaps — I would have prioritized travel, indulged in creative writing, and done an internship. Those experiences would have better prepared me for life beyond the university bubble. My MBA