It’s time to debrief on my exam results over this last year. I was not successful this time around on passing MS Theory or MW Tasting. I received results for MS in May just before my birthday (slight bummer, but I knew I’d need another lap around that track) and MW just this past Friday (bigger bummer due to the sheer cost/time necessary to repeat once again, but also not unexpected). Of course this is deflating, and disappointing, and just a touch maddening.
The intrusive inner thoughts are rampant—can I really do this all over again? But of course I can. I’ve come to realize it’s not failure I’m afraid of—it’s staying stagnant, not growing. Failing this time around doesn’t mean I’m not good enough to be a Master Sommelier or Master of Wine. It just means there’s more to learn, and that’s where the magic happens. To be a graceful master, one must be willing to be a foolish beginner, over and over again.
I would not say I’ve put my life on hold to pursue either of these accreditations. Some say that is precisely what it takes to get across the finish line. As I’ve expressed here before, I’m unwilling to miss out on my life and relationships as part of a pursuit of this dream. I’ve always been okay with things taking a little longer if it meant I could be fully present in my life. With that being said, I have devoted a LOT of time to my studies, and it’s hard to wrap my mind around exactly how I’ll continue to carve this time out moving forward.
The mindset I’ve been cultivating this summer is to imagine IMMENSITIES. What’s wild is that even passing MS and MW feels like just the first step on a much bigger path. As much as I want to rush to the finish line, I still don’t know exactly what I want to do with them yet. Walking along this path for a little while longer is likely exactly what I need to figure out where I want to go.
So I ask myself: what could I do with this delay? How might I show up differently? It’s okay that these things take time. What I struggle with is how relentlessly busy life has become, leaving so little space for studying. But I also know I can build it in. I always have. And honestly, even if I don’t have the results I wanted, I’m still proud of how I’ve shown up these past few years.
Sometimes I can hardly believe it. The me from two years ago—drowning in work, studying for Advanced and S1—would be in awe of everything I’ve done and who I’ve become. She wouldn’t be shaken by road bumps or delays, because from her perspective, it was all part of a bigger picture and rooted in the reality that these exams have some of the lowest pass rates in the world. Somewhere along the way, though, I got myself into SUCH a rush. These results are a reminder that accomplishing great things cannot be rushed.
So where to go from here? Onwards, of course. I don’t want to put life on hold—because this journey is going to take a beat, and that’s part of it too. I am, however, going to admit insanity at attempting both in tandem and move forward with a plan of going for one at a time. I’ll be taking a longer lead up to MS Theory, returning to that in 2027, so that I can fully focus on MW practical preparation in 2026.
The entire point of these accreditations is to push you towards growth, excellence and true mastery. Message received! I want to be the very best wine professional that I can possibly be. I want to do it all, and do it well, and inspire others along the way. This delay is just part of that preparation.