seattle0500 Posted April 5, 2005 Share Posted April 5, 2005 I am feeling pretty rotten right now and would like you all to weigh in..... After graduating college, I moved to NYC to pursue a career in publishing. At the time, I thought it was my dream to work in magazines. Well, I landed a job in book publishing, which was okay for awhile, but I started to hate it and wanted to do something else. I didn't know what, though. Then I decided to pursue teaching and went back to graduate school to get my master's in education. I am currently finishing up my program and will be certified to teach two subject areas. The problem is that about halfway through this graduate program, I developed this hunch that it wasn't the right fit for me, but I was too scared to do anything about it because my parents helped me pay for everything - school, apartment, expenses, etc. I felt horrible telling them that I was in the wrong field. I am still going to finish out my program, but I don't want to be a teacher, for many reasons, which I am not going to elaborate on here, for sake of length I could probably find a job in another area pretty easily - my resume is excellent, my grades are terrific (3.8 GPA undergrad and grad), and I have tons of skills. I am starting to feel a pull towards another field, and I have talked to my parents about it, they are supportive of my dreams. However, pursuing a career in this field would require me to go back for another master's degree (and then possibly a Ph.D.) Now, I realize my mistake from last time - picking a grad program without really, really thinking it through and imagining myself in the field. So this time around, I'm doing tons of research, talking to people who work in the field, and looking for volunteer opportunities in the field so that I can see if I truly, truly love it before I pursue anything. I guess I just feel horrible for flip flopping so much. I am almost 26 years old, and my parents tell me not to be so hard on myself, that the 20s are about exploring different options, that people change careers all the time, that it can take awhile to find yourself. I guess this is true, but I feel so ****ty for wasting time AND money on a graduate degree in a field that I don't really want to work in right now. My parents helped me financially through this degree, but I can't ask them for help with another grad program, I'll probably have to take out loans and stuff for that. How I wish that I had more foresight two years ago..... Can anyone offer any words of advice? Have you gone through a similar career crisis or made mistakes that cost time and money? Link to post Share on other sites
westernxer Posted April 5, 2005 Share Posted April 5, 2005 This happens to everyone. Just be glad you're 26. I quit my job last year at 31 because it was stifling my growth, both personally and professionally. This was after working there five years. I'm still in transition, but unlike you I'm not interested in returning to school for graduate work. In the meantime, I freelance and do a lot of reading to keep my mind active. I've also been applying to jobs that look promising, and even though it's been difficult, I don't regret walking away. Career change is inevitable, especially in a metropolis like New York. But it sounds like you've got a solid plan... at least you're acknowledging what your gut is telling you. Trust me, you're a lot better off doing this now than later. Some people are content just to have a job, and they put up with so much s.h.i.t. because of it. If you're still single, more power to you. There's no reason why you shouldn't pursue your dream. This changes drastically when you've got a wife and kids... you wouldn't have the freedom to make a change of this magnitude otherwise. I'm not tied down either, which makes it nice. Trust me, you're doing the right thing. Five years from now you'll be glad you did this. The fact that your parents are behind you says a lot about how much they believe in you. You may be in debt to them right now, but you're actually setting yourself up for a bright future. From my point of view it's all good. Keep it up, and don't let the short-term rewards of career hell get the best of you. Carve your own path. The money will take care of itself if you're doing what you love. Link to post Share on other sites
seattle0500 Posted April 6, 2005 Share Posted April 6, 2005 Thank you for replying. Has anyone else ever gone back for a second master's degree shortly after they've completed their first? I am also feeling kinda guilty about the money issue. My parents paid for my grad school this time around, and I feel like my friends look down on me because of that - like I am overprivileged or something. The fact is that my mother worked for many years even though she didn't really need to, just so I'd have money for a graduate degree when/if I wanted it. But people always ask me 'How can you afford to live in NYC and go to grad school full time?' When I tell them, I feel bad. I shouldnt, but in my circle of peers, it seems like they respect you more if you get through it the "hard" way, i.e. loans, financial aid, scholarships, etc. Link to post Share on other sites
westernxer Posted April 6, 2005 Share Posted April 6, 2005 The hell with what your friends think... Most people don't get two Master's degrees. Why are you so self-conscious? Link to post Share on other sites
katie79 Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 Many people do that, seattle. My next door neighbor has 4 Master's. I am not quite in the same boat as you, but it is similar. I finished my BA in Film over a year ago. Today, I hold an entry-level position as a Receptionist/Administrative Assist for a software company that provides call center solutions. Now that I finished college, I realize my degree was usless as far as launching a decent career goes. Of course, it's a degree from a reputable school, but the ciriculum provided me with absolutley no information of the business world and how it functions. But "Oh well", what can you do, right? Now I plan on going for my MBA or MPS at night part-time while I work full-time (hopefully working my way up). But your situation is not unusual. Having more than one Master's is not considered to be "uncommon". PhD's take too long to complete if you are seeking to switch careers. PhD is really best if you are happy with you current career, because a PhD is a program for detailed study in one field. Link to post Share on other sites
westernxer Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 Originally posted by katie79 Many people do that, seattle. I know some people who've done it... I was just messing with him. People who ask him how he's paying for it are either jealous or extremely nosey, and he shouldn't let that get him down. My cousins used to ask me the same thing when I was in school, but I just brushed them off. I knew what they were saying behind my back, but there was nothing I could do to stop it, except to ignore it. By the way, good luck with the MBA program. I thought about it but have no desire at this point. Link to post Share on other sites
seattle0500 Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 Haha, how funny that you assumed that I was male, westernexer. I am a 26 year-old woman, as a matter of fact. Link to post Share on other sites
westernxer Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 My bad. Sorry about that. Link to post Share on other sites
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