Why I Returned to University at 25

Introduction: Getting Off the Wrong Train

There’s an old saying: “If you realize you’re on the wrong train, get off at the next station. Otherwise, the journey back will cost you much more.” In late 2023, I wasn’t just on the wrong train; I was on a runaway locomotive, and I knew I had to jump.

To the outside world, I was a young professional on a fast track. I had a responsible position in a company and was moving forward at a pace that many would envy. But on the inside, I was collapsing. That’s when I made a decision that seemed incomprehensible to some: I left my job to go back to university. This is the story of why that perceived step backward was the most important leap forward I’ve ever taken.

The Pressure of Flying Too Soon

I was the kid who was in a hurry to fly. Young and ambitious, I found myself in a role where I was the sole person responsible for my entire domain. There was no mentor to guide me, no experienced team to learn from—just me and an immense amount of pressure. Everyone was waiting for me to deliver more, to be more. And for a while, I tried. I pushed myself harder and harder.

Then, the cyberattack happened.

It wasn't just the loss of my work and my digital identity that broke me; it was the weight of it all. The promises I had made to people, the projects that vanished, the feeling of letting everyone down—it was all consuming. The pressure manifested in a very real, physical way. I found myself in the hospital nearly every week with severe stomach pains, a direct result of the crushing stress. My mental health was completely destroyed.

The Decision: A Strategic Retreat

In the midst of that breakdown, I began to question everything. Had I advanced too quickly? Had I skipped the crucial step of learning from those with more experience?

The answer was yes. The attack didn't create the problem; it simply exposed the unstable foundation upon which I had been building. I realized I was on the wrong train. I could stay on, pretending everything was fine, and let it take me further down a track that was leading to burnout and isolation. Or I could get off.

To be perfectly honest, the decision was not easy. It felt like an admission of failure. But I knew it was the right one. It was a strategic retreat. It was a conscious choice to take a few steps back so that I could build again, this time on solid ground.

Conclusion: Finding the Right Track

Returning to my engineering studies at ESPRIT was my "next station." It wasn't a return to the past, but the start of a new, more intentional journey. This time, my education wasn't just about classes; it was fueled by a powerful mission born from my hardest experience.

That difficult period taught me a lesson that no job could have: true strength isn't about how fast you can fly; it's about having the wisdom to know when you need to land, repair, and build a stronger set of wings.