Mid-life career change

[pagerbear]

...into teaching? I'm bored and not happy in technology, and thinking of using that music ed degree I earned lo these many years ago. Words of wisdom? Want to talk me out of it?

[Screaming Lord Byron]

1. Do it.

I'll tell you something. I've gone six, seven years out of University doing jobs just to keep going, putting off what I should be doing for the sake of convenience and fear, and it's just about driven me out of my mind. My current job is something I have absolutely no interest
in, but I do it because it pays acceptably. Still, it's killing me. You have to go with your heart on this one, otherwise you'll just end up a soulcrushed office drone, which is where I'm headed. Rant ends!

[IrateCitizen]

2. I'm doing the same thing right now at 30.

I currently work as an engineer, but am taking classes to get a masters in science education to teach HS physics and mathematics.

My current job is a complete bore, totally unfulfilling. My advice to you would be to go for it. Financially it may be a bit of a crunch, but money is certainly NOT the key to happiness.

[ramapo]

3. Me too

I'm also bored and very unhappy in technology. Been in IT since '81 and it stopped being fun a few years ago. The only thing that keeps me coming to work are the medical benefits. I think every day how it is long past time to move on to something new. I'd always found it easy to move on to the next good thing when I was younger. Not so simple anymore.

I almost had a degree in music ed. Switched to Communications in my junior year when I got fed up with the dopey education courses.

Anyway I encourage you to follow your gut and give it a shot. My part of the world could use a good music teacher.

[SOteric]

4. Well, not exactly mid-life and not exactly a career change, but-

I think there's something of value to be gleaned from sharing this.

I took jobs for pay and subsistance fresh out of grad school, and landed some excellent jobs that allowed me to travel, paid me large sums and in general, weren't entirely odious. But they didn't fulfill any needs of the soul, and I couldn't with pride say I was doing much to contribute to society.

I quit the lavishly paying job and took 3 fulfilling, but low paying jobs. It sucks up my time, but it has definitely been worth the ride.

Life is short. Do what you love. You can always find some way to make it work to the betterment of your needs and wants.

[BostonTeaParty04]

5. why not use some of the big bucks you have....

and start a music program in an underprivileged neighborhood near you...

Go teach.. but keep the higher paying job so you can afford to really do it. A lot of schools across this nation don't even have music classes. Maybe you are thinking about teaching in college or something...

You can teach music TODAY, if you just make the time to do it.

[pagerbear]

8. Where did you get the idea I have big bucks?

[BostonTeaParty04]

12. tsk tsk, don't be so touchy...

COMPARED to what you will get for teaching.. BELIEVE ME, you have big bucks now.

If you don't like the advice you get when you put YOUR personal stuff out there for commentary... ignore it, but don't shoot the poor unsuspecting fool who dares COMMENT.

Sheesh, you will be a real fun teacher. NOT.

[democrat in Tallahassee]

6. I'm 50 and working on a PhD. just do it, you won't get any

younger

[pagerbear]

7. One more question then: MAT degree?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

9. why dont you try the nyc teaching fellowship

the http://www.nycteachingfellows.org/

[pagerbear]

10. Largely because they don't need music teachers.

[supernova]

11. Teach for America?

Have you looked into them? It seems they would want music teachers.

I realise, sadly, the arts are being cut from a lot of school systems in favor of "the basics" but it's still necessary if we are to raise more than a nation of barbarians.