Changing careers and going back to school

[NbyNW]

GLC, I think it's wonderful that you are doing research towards doing something you love.

I just remembered another idea for you -- I don't recall how close you are to Portland, but maybe volunteering at the zoo could be good stepping-stone experience? Many years ago, a colleague of my husband's took a sabbatical to do exactly this: she basically shoveled poop and helped feed the animals for 3 months while applying to vet school. She ended up never going back to work at her old job!

[JennK13]

I've spent the last 4 months searching for a new job as I absolutely HATE my current one. I've been here over 3 years, and in the field for 5 - I'm an executive asssitant and work in municipal government.

I never intended to end up here....I went to Jr College out of high school, bought a house and just started working. School and dreams just kind of went away as the financial responsibility of adulthood took over. Flash forward 17 years later, and here I am. The job itself isn't too bad - it's not very fulfilling, but it's not difficult, I make great money, and have awesome benefits. But the political environment is killing me! I've been looking for an EA position in the Private Sector and in a more meaningful field, something that interests me like sports, fashion or healthcare. Competition is fierce, though, and i'm being picky right now since I do have a job and don't have to take whatever is out there.

But I still wouldn't be "happy" in work. I wanted to go into sports medicine, athletic training, something along those lines. I've been seriously considering going back to school to get my AS as a Physical Therapy Assistant and getting back to what I want to do, and get into an athletic rehab facility. DH is supportive of wanting me to be happy, but in his family you just work and make a living to pay bills - this whole loving your job thing is foreign to him. But he does see how it affects me and how unhappy I am Monday through Friday. While it would be tight, or at least really cut back on our current spending situation, we could make it work with me getting a part time job and going to school full time to knock it out in 12-18 months (I already have the majority of my general ed classes out of the way). He's just really worried about the financial situation, on top of tuition, since I'm the "bread winner". At least I could get my certification from a Community College, so it's not as expensive as what you all are talking about.

Anyhow, I took an online test on career satisfaction - what I want to do is right up my alley, and what I'm doing is way at the bottom of the list. I don't mean to highjack the thread, I'm just really inspired by you all to do it. I'll be 36 this year, too young to spend any more time than necessary in a job I hate.

So THANK YOU!!! I think this was the push and motivation I needed to see to really think hard about this and make it happen. Good luck to you!