27F — Anyone here transition careers / do a master’s in their late 20s while being single? How did life turn out ?
I’m 27F and seriously considering going abroad for a master’s, but I keep having this internal tug-of-war.
Financially, my parents can afford to sponsor my education even without loans but part of why I delayed this decision was because I wanted to contribute something myself instead of depending entirely on them. The amount is huge and I kept feeling guilty about being a burden. My parents have seen me struggle with this decision and have told me clearly that they want to support me and I shouldn’t stress about the money.
I also don’t currently have family pressure to get married which I’m grateful for. But I’d be lying if I said I don’t think about the timeline. Since I’m single and there’s no one in the picture, a part of me worries that if I focus on studies + career now, and later end up going the arranged marriage route, I’ll be “too old” by then (yes, I know this may be irrational, but the thought exists).
Seeing friends marry their long-term partners sometimes gives me FOMO. I sometimes wonder why I never fell in love in college or why I was so reserved back then. I do know logically that I’d choose career growth over a relationship right now but emotionally it can feel lonely.
I genuinely want to hear from people who pursued a master’s / changed careers in their late 20s while single.
How did you stay focused on career goals without getting distracted by loneliness/FOMO?
Did life work out relationship wise later?
Did you ever regret prioritizing yourself/career?
TL;DR: 27F, considering going abroad for a master’s and shifting career focus, having FOMO seeing friends in happy relationships/marriages and wondering if prioritizing career in late 20s while being single will make finding a partner harder later. Looking for experiences from people who chose career/masters first not dating advice.