Reply
Fri 2 Jun, 2006 03:03 am
Hi, everyone
I'm new and not sure where to post my "dilemma", but perhaps someone out there can give me some much needed wisdom. I am married, live abroad (in Europe), have a good (eg secure) full-time job, but sincerely feel my passion is teaching (I have a Master's in teaching, but cannot use it to teach where I live). If I want to teach I must pass an exam / competition. I worked full time this year and studied for the exam and failed. I am not surprised I failed due to the difficulty of the exam / competition.
In September I have the opportunity to (quit my job) take courses to prepare for the exam. I probably would NOT be able to have a part time job because the entry into this exam is very, very competive (400 places out of 1500 people taking the exam).
This is my dilemma - Option A : if I quit my job and fail the exam a second time - what do I do? (Am I looking too far into the future?) Finances will be very tight for a year, but we do have savings.
Option B : Should I study again on my own (but this time using correspondence materials this time - which I didn't use last time) but keep my job? I admit it was tough, but at least finances wouldn't be so tight. My chances of failure might be a little higher than if I quit my job
and take classes, but I'll be keeping a certain amount of security because
I'll have a job.
I am interested in anyone who has had a similar experience.
Sincerely
Lotus-sutoL
I think option B,it may be tough but youd be learning more than you did and have a better chance of passing plus you will continue to have an income instead of eating into your savings.
Also just as a back up, maybe this time round you can save a bit extra as you will still be working so if (God forbid)you fail again you can then quit yuor job for your 3rd chance and study full time but have a bit extra money in the bank.
It may be a timely way of ooing it but I for one would be worried about not having an income.
I dont have any experience personnally but my friend who had a very well paid job either quit or worked a few hours a week to go and teach kids.
A few weeks into it he quit saying he didnt care about the kids, they didnt want to learn.
Hopefully you will be dealing with better kids.
I'm with m'girl. Keep working and study as well as you can, part-time. If there are any cram courses you can take, do so. If you can get a lighter work schedule, or maybe heavy work now and lighter when you are about to take the test, do so. If you can get a brief leave of absence from your job, perhaps without pay but at least with job security, that might be another avenue to explore. Have you spoken with your employer? There might be an option there.
When I was studying for the Bar Exam, I had a part-time job, and it wasn't too much of an interference, but that was mainly because I didn't need for it to be (I was living with my folks at the time). But money worries are going to affect you, even if they are somewhat subconscious, so I think you need to hold onto working for a while, and put aside as much as you can, and try to pass the exam under those circumstances. Quitting your job and going for broke may sound like a good idea, but you could just end up broke at the end of it -- no job, no savings and no passing grade. At least working part-time and/or trying to work on your schedule, on your time, with the best materials you can get, will not cause your finances to tank.
Thanks
Thanks, Jespah and Material,
That's what I've been leaning towards. Btw, I work in a law firm and if my employer knew I was studying to go into another field, I might no longer have that job either! So I haven't said a word to anyone.
I used to teach in the U.S. and have taught as an assistant here and in Universities until we moved and I lost my contacts. I know how tough the classroom is - I have ten years experience and they're not all the best schools. But they're my best years.
Thanks for your input.
Sincerely,
Lotus
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