Pursuing My Postgraduate Studies

A few months ago, I received an interesting letter in the mail. It was a letter I wrote to my future self as a senior in high school, detailing my dreams of becoming a nurse after graduating from Creighton University. Evidently, at 18-years-old I never imagined I would be applying to the MSc in Human Resource Management program at Trinity College Dublin five years later.

Ironically, my first introduction to human resources resulted from my unsuccessful nursing career. Three years into nursing school, I was diagnosed with a medical condition that prevented me from providing effective patient care. I was determined to make the best of the situation and create a new path for myself, so I transitioned to a degree in health administration and policy. This degree led me to an internship where I was exposed to the world of HR for the first time, and I immediately fell in love with the various similarities between HR and nursing. Every organization’s most valuable asset is its people, and as an HR professional, it is my duty to empower, develop, and advocate for my employees, just as I did for my patients.

My work experience in general HR and learning and development has provided me with a solid foundation of HR competencies, however, I still crave to learn even more than on-the-job training can fully provide. I aspire to establish myself as an industry expert and devoted HR manager one day, and TCD’s HRM program will equip me with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve these goals.

I have chosen TCD because of its renowned academic excellence, its location, and the unique components of its HRM program. I studied in Barcelona for a semester in college, and I loved the challenge of learning to become a local by fully immersing myself in a new, unfamiliar culture. I have been eager to move back to Europe and pursuing my postgraduate studies in Ireland is the perfect opportunity. Dublin is particularly appealing to me because of its people. My coworkers in DocuSign’s Dublin office are some of the friendliest people I have ever met, and it is reassuring to know I would be welcomed into your country with open arms.

This program stands out because it gives its students the option to conduct a company project for their dissertation. So many companies are flocking to Dublin to open their EMEA headquarters, and I would be privileged to be a part of this economic growth as Dublin establishes itself as a major European hub. I am also attracted to the fact that this program is fully accredited by the three largest HR associations in the world. It is a goal of mine to pursue SHRM certification upon completion of my Masters, as I find it tremendously important to stay up to date on the latest developments and trends in the ever-evolving HR industry. My participation in this program will ensure that I continue to fulfill my duties and commitments to this rewarding profession.