WWYD - Career Related

[borinquen57]

I need to figure out what I'm doing next and I need some unbiased perspective.   

Background:  
H and I are planning to file for divorce in the next 6-12 months but I want to file as soon as I tie up some loose ends (medical and financial).  I resigned from my teaching position almost 5 years ago and I've been a SAHM ever since.  My certificate lapsed and it's about $600 to reinstate.  Regardless of whether I stay in education or start over in another field, if I want to increase my earning potential, I'm going to have to go back to school.  I do sewing/crocheting here and there but I honestly haven't invested myself enough to make it into a full-time gig. I should be ok with living expenses for a bit after the divorce, as long as I'm at least working part-time and I'm already looking.

I want to go back and get my Master's in School Counseling (3-year program).  The program offers the School Counseling certificate and the professional state certificate too.  I would also be eligible to get my an additional license to open my own practice with additional practical hours and another test.  When I first started college, I wanted to be a psychologist and got way sidetracked.  I hated being a teacher, working with the kids was WONDERFUL but that was the only good part for me, but now I'm already 35 with two little kids so I also need to be realistic about my career and what I can do right now.  If I was to start school in the Winter, I would have to do it with student loans and I'm a little (a lot) nervous about taking on that much debt at 35. I've never had student loans before, though.  If I could choose right now, I'd work part-time, take the loans, go to school but I worry that it's not the responsible thing to do.  

WWYD if you had to choose?  I feel like I'm having to make a lot of life-altering decisions lately, which I'm ok with, but they have to make sense.

[andwhat]

How likely are you to find a job with the degree? Will that initial job allow you to live and pay your student loans?

Are there any jobs you could get right now that would pay for you to go back to school and get the master's?

[bimbi284]

^Those were exactly the questions I would ask.

Would it make sense to drop the $600 to re-instate your license? As in, would that open up more work options for you right now? Options that could potentially support you getting the MA if there aren't other job opportunities available now without the license that would allow that?

[sfy]

How much is the program? Will working part-time help you to support yourself entirely and the loans will just cover the cost of the program or will you also need loans to cover your living expenses? My gut instinct is that after being out of the workforce for 5 years, I would just want to get back in first, then focus on your wants. I would also consider how it will work in practice, being on your own for the first time in a while with two young children, less income, working part-time and going to school. Like, any one of those four things would make life more burdensome, but all of them at once sounds draining to me.

[borinquen57]

Hey guys, I'm going to pick up DD1 from school but I'll be back to answer.

[threejs]

I'm sorry you're going through this and having to make so many life altering decisions right now. It has to be stressful, but from your brief description, it sounds like you are handling it all well, so kudos to you!

In addition to the other questions raised, I would just want to be sure you have a hugely supportive system in place while you are working part time, going to school, and single parenting two young children. Because, that's a lot.

[borinquen57]

Sept 26, 2016 15:10:40 GMT -5 andwhat said:

Sept 26, 2016 15:10:40 GMT -5 andwhat said:

How likely are you to find a job with the degree? Will that initial job allow you to live and pay your student loans?

Are there any jobs you could get right now that would pay for you to go back to school and get the master's?

From a quick search, there are quite a few opportunities within my preferred school district right now and there are also a few in several districts around me.  The degree would allow me to work with organizations so I'm not just limited to schools.  

As far as I know, there aren't any school districts that would pay for my Master's but I know some universities and other companies have tuition reimbursement programs.  I haven't come across any specifically offering this as a benefit in my current search but I know they exist because I have friends who have paid for a portion of their respective graduate degrees through their employers.

[borinquen57]

Sept 26, 2016 15:26:31 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

^Those were exactly the questions I would ask.

Would it make sense to drop the $600 to re-instate your license? As in, would that open up more work options for you right now? Options that could potentially support you getting the MA if there aren't other job opportunities available now without the license that would allow that?

I would only reinstate my license if I was going back to teaching.  I am focusing only on part-time jobs right now but I have applied for full-time positions if they've really caught my eye.  Those haven't required an active teaching license, just a Bachelor's.

[bimbi284]

Sept 26, 2016 23:11:30 GMT -5 borinquen57 said:

Sept 26, 2016 15:26:31 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

^Those were exactly the questions I would ask.

Would it make sense to drop the $600 to re-instate your license? As in, would that open up more work options for you right now? Options that could potentially support you getting the MA if there aren't other job opportunities available now without the license that would allow that?

I would only reinstate my license if I was going back to teaching.  I am focusing only on part-time jobs right now but I have applied for full-time positions if they've really caught my eye.  Those haven't required an active teaching license, just a Bachelor's.

Gotcha. It seems like you really don't want to be teaching, so it makes sense to be looking elsewhere. Just curious though, is your earning potential better in a teaching position than the jobs you've been applying to? If not, then the direction you're going makes sense.

If teaching would get you more $, perhaps it would be a short term solution for you to be able to be more secure financially for a year or two before tackling school. I know there are a lot of factors to consider, and money isn't everything. I personally loved grad school, even with all the stresses and debt, so that would weigh a lot into my decision, but I don't have children, which is a very important consideration.

[borinquen57]

Sept 26, 2016 15:35:37 GMT -5 sfy said:

How much is the program? Will working part-time help you to support yourself entirely and the loans will just cover the cost of the program or will you also need loans to cover your living expenses? My gut instinct is that after being out of the workforce for 5 years, I would just want to get back in first, then focus on your wants. I would also consider how it will work in practice, being on your own for the first time in a while with two young children, less income, working part-time and going to school. Like, any one of those four things would make life more burdensome, but all of them at once sounds draining to me.

The program is one day a week, you take 2 classes one evening for the entire program. That doesn't seem like a crazy time commitment, plus if I'm accounting for study time, working part-time would be ideal. DD1 is already in school full-time and by the time I need to do my internship at the end of the program, DD2 will be in school full time too which should help a lot.  If I'm looking at finances after the divorce, I *should* be ok working on a very part-time basis and taking the loans just for the cost of the program.  I'm more concerned about the financial aspect, TBH.  I know I'll be able to make it work either way but it'll be much easier if we split everything how we've discussed so far.  There are a good number of scholarships available too, so those should help offset some of the costs too.

[borinquen57]

Sept 26, 2016 16:28:36 GMT -5 threejs said:

I'm sorry you're going through this and having to make so many life altering decisions right now. It has to be stressful, but from your brief description, it sounds like you are handling it all well, so kudos to you!

In addition to the other questions raised, I would just want to be sure you have a hugely supportive system in place while you are working part time, going to school, and single parenting two young children. Because, that's a lot.

Thanks, yes, I'm doing pretty well.  I'm sad for my girls but I know we'll be better off.  

[borinquen57]

Sept 26, 2016 23:30:53 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

Sept 26, 2016 23:11:30 GMT -5 borinquen57 said:

I would only reinstate my license if I was going back to teaching.  I am focusing only on part-time jobs right now but I have applied for full-time positions if they've really caught my eye.  Those haven't required an active teaching license, just a Bachelor's.

Gotcha. It seems like you really don't want to be teaching, so it makes sense to be looking elsewhere. Just curious though, is your earning potential better in a teaching position than the jobs you've been applying to? If not, then the direction you're going makes sense.

If teaching would get you more $, perhaps it would be a short term solution for you to be able to be more secure financially for a year or two before tackling school. I know there are a lot of factors to consider, and money isn't everything. I personally loved grad school, even with all the stresses and debt, so that would weigh a lot into my decision, but I don't have children, which is a very important consideration.

Teaching was just a bad for me; I had an awful principal right from the beginning and I think that really soured my views.

[bimbi284]

Sept 27, 2016 9:09:37 GMT -5 borinquen57 said:

Sept 26, 2016 23:30:53 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

Gotcha. It seems like you really don't want to be teaching, so it makes sense to be looking elsewhere. Just curious though, is your earning potential better in a teaching position than the jobs you've been applying to? If not, then the direction you're going makes sense.

If teaching would get you more $, perhaps it would be a short term solution for you to be able to be more secure financially for a year or two before tackling school. I know there are a lot of factors to consider, and money isn't everything. I personally loved grad school, even with all the stresses and debt, so that would weigh a lot into my decision, but I don't have children, which is a very important consideration.

Teaching was just a bad for me; I had an awful principal right from the beginning and I think that really soured my views.

Well then yeah, forget about reinstating the license for now, and focus on getting the best part time job you can. You seem to be on the right track despite the stressful situation. If it all works out the way you are hoping, it could be a really positive thing for your kiddos to see you going back to school in order to improve your (and their) quality of life.

[sacattack]

Would you ever consider getting on the sub list for the districts you want to work in while going back to school? That way you can get a feel for what the pros and cons are of each area and start networking, so when the time comes they know you?

I would also just bite the bullet and go back to school immediately - don't wait, as the sooner you start, the sooner you can be done! :-)

[cookiemdough]

I am really sorry you are going through this. Are you already separated? I only ask because trying to juggle everything on your own at first can be a huge adjustment. Or at least it was for me and I didn't even have the part of trying to get used to working.

I guess I will give the more conservative answer. I would teach first to have a steady income and have hours that will mirror your girls because navigating pick ups and drops off and childcare logistics will be a challenge on your own. After everyone is settled then look into grad school. You also want time to monitor how your girls are adjusting and if and you will need some time to yourself especially adjusting to work and single parenthood.

I don't mean to sound doom and gloom. And maybe the transition will be easier for you. I can only say from my experience that working, single parenting and filing for divorce and going through settlement negotiations was the most draining time for me. But my ex was also an asshole so there is thAt.