Law School or Master’s? Picking My Poison

Lately, I’ve been stuck in this swirl of self-reflection that feels both terrifying and comforting at the same time. The plan has always been clear: finish my BA in Political Science degree, march straight into law school, and start the long, exhausting, exhilarating journey toward becoming a lawyer. That path felt so certain for so many years — solid, predictable, almost inevitable.

But these past few months, something inside me shifted. Maybe it’s burnout. Maybe it’s fear. Maybe it’s growth. Or all three. Suddenly, the idea of plunging into law school right after college feels… too soon. It’s like standing at the edge of a very deep pool and realizing I haven’t practiced breathing enough to survive the depth.

So, I began looking around and found myself on the UP Open University website, staring at graduate programs. And then I saw it: Master’s in ASEAN Studies. It was as if the universe tilted a little and whispered, “This, maybe?”

And it made sense. Perfect sense.

If I want to pursue international and corporate law someday (corporate as my starting ground; international when I’m older and hopefully wiser), then understanding ASEAN – our region, our relations, the dynamics that shape international norms – feels like stepping into the water slowly instead of diving blindly. It’s foundational. Strategic. And still aligned with every dream I’ve ever had.

But if I’m being brutally honest with myself, there’s another layer underneath all this rationality:

I just… want to be a UP graduate. To wear that sablay sash with pride and joy.

Even if it’s not for an undergrad. Even if it’s for a Master’s.

My father once wanted the same thing — for himself. But life, circumstances, and the weight of responsibility kept him from pursuing it: and part of me wants to take that dream he tucked away, hold it gently, and fulfill it in my own time. Not because I owe him anything (I did, I owed him a lot), but because I want to honor where I came from and where I want to go.

So here I am, caught between the webs of law school and a Master’s degree, trying to understand what kind of future I want and what kind of pace my heart can handle right now.

Maybe choosing a Master’s first isn’t a detour.

Maybe it’s part of the road.

Maybe it’s the strengthening I need before facing the storm that is law school.

And maybe, just maybe, it’s okay that the dream is evolving. Not shrinking, not disappearing… just taking a different shape.

Because as Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray once said, “On your path, you are never denied — but only redirected.”