Quitting Your Career (How Did It Feel?)

[beBrave]

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I don't hate or love my current job. Every job has its pros and cons. Regardless, I will miss the handsome salary I make ($333 a day for each day I work - and I work about 8 hours - 6.5 in-building and about 2 or so hours at home - a day on average) as well as so much time off. The medical insurance policy is also great. What I won't miss is the mental drain caused by rowdy teenagers as well as administration looking for "gotcha!" moments when my pants are down (I may come to class very tired and give a simple assignment where I can sit back that period and just supervise the activity rather than attack the lesson head-on period in and period out that day). I can handle the admins but I can't handle the students day in and out. It's very taxing and leaves very little mental energy to focus on studying.

Anyhow, I am now in your boat. I will be submitting my resignation in June (I work at a high school). I am feeling mentally sick and physically terrible (stomach is churning). I am worried about how much income I will make part-time while I study. Since I teach high school, I am not concerned about performing academically. It's like I never left school. That doesn't mean it's easy. It simply means that I know how to learn. Some of the people posting here are afraid for a variety of reasons. Here are mine:

I am married and my wife is working and we don't have kids. Rents are high in Brooklyn (even the dangerous neighborhoods have studios filled with vermin and bugs for $800 a month at the least, not including utilities) and certain medical care such as routine dental cleanings, birth control, etc. will add to our expenses. We never go out and eat mostly at home. We have looked into free birth control offered in NYC as well as other programs that are free or low-cost in NYC. I have also gone to a counselor to discuss what I am doing to be sure this is not a mid-life crisis event akin to a balding guy buying a sports car. I have also spoken extensively with my wife, as well as had sleepless nights about what I am doing. Even though I am not being fired and can return one day, resigning from this organization will mean I probably will never be able to return. Other schools pay at awful rates even though my license is coveted in the industry. Like some of you, my fear isn't failure and I don't care about stuff or luxuries. My fear is the unknown such as not being able to make rent in case my wife gets injured or something goes wrong, as is life. On the other hand, I don't want to teach for the rest of my life. It's a profession with no growth (I don't care for salary beyond food, rent, and medical care - I care most about growth, performing, and succeeding towards building something bigger everyday) and it was a juvenile passion of mine at the time in my 20s which coincided with my fear of math and science (to stay out of medicine because it involved these subjects) coupled with being offered a subsidized college education during the undergrad. and grad. years. Essentially I have let fear run my life. Now, it's time to allow fear to run away from my life. Far easier said than done but not following this path will feel even worse 10 years from now.

I am planning on working as a sit-down security guard in some random parking lot or car dealership or nursing home at night (I have done this before) so I can study and make enough money to cover college tuition costs (about $3000 per semester which is 6 months long - an incredible value for up to 18 credits). Either this, or selling/writing term papers for college students who have no idea how to start a sentence for the liberal arts subjects. I also did this back in 2001 to make pocket money. Tutoring is also something I will look at for about $10 to $15 an hour. I hate working in food service or retail or anything where I don't have to use my brain while at work. The backup guaranteed option for income will be manual labor such as moving services or cleaning people's homes in case I need money just to eat and pay rent. I do have thousands saved (about $8000) as well as a $40,000 cash advance line with no debt on credit cards in our household in case something goes very wrong and we all know how that works - we make plans and then life happens. We are all one medical emergency away from declaring bankruptcy. I am simply hoping for the best and trying to pay as I go for my undergrad. post-bac.

Just reading your plan I can tell that you are from Brooklyn. I'm from Brooklyn too and I just love that mentality; ready and willing to do whatever it takes.

 

[PAcoug]

To be honest I am still worried. Leaving my career(the comfort of a good income) and selling our house are the two things that still keep me up at night. However, getting to be a physician is what I truly want to do and in the long run will be worth it.

 

[beBrave]

To be honest I am still worried. Leaving my career(the comfort of a good income) and selling our house are the two things that still keep me up at night. However, getting to be a physician is what I truly want to do and in the long run will be worth it.

I think a lot of people feel this way. They are afraid of losing the middle-class comforts that they have become used to however for many people, becoming a Physician is something that keeps them up at night. They think about it almost everyday even a little for years and years. Its always at the back of your mind and while you try to convince yourself otherwise, you are just lying to yourself. When you care about the money, or anything else and the only thing that matters is wanting to be a Physician so that you can help others and be happy, then the choice is difficult in the sense that you know what you must do is sacrifice your current life for the life you want. For those of us with such a burning passion, there really is only one life and many will go crazy if they don't actually try. All the money in the world can never replace a dream.

 

[quechua]

To be honest I am still worried. Leaving my career(the comfort of a good income) and selling our house are the two things that still keep me up at night. However, getting to be a physician is what I truly want to do and in the long run will be worth it.

Yeah I've definitely been feeling this.

Having a paycheck is comfortable. That is exactly why I am okay with not having one. It seems like somewhat of a stronghold to be okay with doing something I'm not passionate about simply because the pay sustains me. It's like the middle class trap really. So. I'm going to run like the wind or my dog when the front door opens as soon as possible. I'd quit now if I didn't want to save a little more loot.

 

[TwinsFan]

It was scary but exciting. Immediately there was relief about being able to pursue my dream, but it is stressful with no guarantees when applying.

 

[NyWood]

I think a lot of people feel this way. They are afraid of losing the middle-class comforts that they have become used to however for many people, becoming a Physician is something that keeps them up at night. They think about it almost everyday even a little for years and years. Its always at the back of your mind and while you try to convince yourself otherwise, you are just lying to yourself. When you care about the money, or anything else and the only thing that matters is wanting to be a Physician so that you can help others and be happy, then the choice is difficult in the sense that you know what you must do is sacrifice your current life for the life you want. For those of us with such a burning passion, there really is only one life and many will go crazy if they don't actually try. All the money in the world can never replace a dream.

Well.. said...

 

[tdog60tf]

Honestly, quitting my career of 11 years as a paramedic will be bittersweet. In my line of work I spend 24 hours on duty with 48 hours off. Spending so much time with people you begin to become really close friends. That will probably be the hardest part. Leaving my good friends. However, I will not miss some nuances of the job and will enjoy getting off the streets. The other part that is kinda weird is having to prove myself again. It takes years to develop a relationship with the docs you work with....let alone for them to respect you as a competent clinical provider. Having to reform these professional relationships will be tough....but I guess you will have to do that anywhere you go in medicine.

 

[beBrave]

Honestly, quitting my career of 11 years as a paramedic will be bittersweet. In my line of work I spend 24 hours on duty with 48 hours off. Spending so much time with people you begin to become really close friends. That will probably be the hardest part. Leaving my good friends. However, I will not miss some nuances of the job and will enjoy getting off the streets. The other part that is kinda weird is having to prove myself again. It takes years to develop a relationship with the docs you work with....let alone for them to respect you as a competent clinical provider. Having to reform these professional relationships will be tough....but I guess you will have to do that anywhere you go in medicine.

Well, yes and no. You will walk in with more credibility than the average Med school student. Everyone has to prove themselves however you already know what its like to work with Doctor's. You know the required professionalism of the medical field and also you know how to interact with people at all levels in the medical field. In many ways, you can view this as a natural progression. I think you will be surprised to find your current and future colleagues respecting you more for your dedication to the medical field and drive for self improvement and growth.