This week, I earned the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines. Prior to taking the exam, I knew I'd pass. The 24 hours leading up to the assessment I lost all confidence. I didn't study sufficiently. I truly did not prioritize the time for it.
When I began my online course in April, I'd
• left one job and began another, thus moving from supervisory leadership to directorship
• finished a class in my graduate program that had multiple comprehensive APA style papers
• returned to podcasting a foreign language music commentary show, and
• travelled for my father's wedding
Yeah, mock exams or whatever. Yeah, quizzes and flashcards and general gleaning through "osmosis"... but I opened that exam last week and promptly identified only three questions from the mock exam. "Oh hell, I'm about to fail this shit. Let me plan for this retest fee," was declared with awe and embarassment into my laptop camera.
For the first Award to be as easy as many online have said it is, I felt ignorant. I did not need the fully allotted time to complete the exam nor did I feel like time was against me. What I felt was my brain going blank. What I felt was similar to those first few days as a seasonal worker last holiday season on the wine tasting station at my local Total Wine & More: superficially knowledgable. And that feeling has shifted my approach to This Journey tremendously.
I'll never know all there is to know about wines. I know that I deeply enjoy the history, the creativity, and the lovely tastes. I know that I had already set my aspirations to reach Level 2 and can't fathom the amount of studying it would take to surpass that. I know -- knew? -- that all WSET levels for beers is a desired goal. I don't want to work in food services, directly, but want to expound upon tourism experiences. It's ambious, but it isn't meant for more of 2024.
I will not be jumping into the deep end, let alone the middle of the proverbial pool, until graduate school is completed.
Until my brain no longer has to retain various theories and research details for immediate regurgitation.
Until my business finalizes hiring. Until my full-time work concludes its revenue-generating task.
Until I've pre-recorded a season's worth of podcast episodes.
Until the plate is only filled with charcuterie, fruits, cheeses and complimented by wine.