I've been contemplating this a lot now, ever since I started staying home with Josh.

I'm looking at a few options - one of which is to get my teaching license. I already have a BA so it would be a 1yr intense program and then I'd be done...May to May basically. I can't say that teaching makes me jump for joy but I think I'd be good at it and probably come to like it a lot.

For some reason, the medical field has always appealed to me, but not nursing or anything like that. I'm looking more on the administrative side right now, like billing, coding, etc. Met with a counselor today at a local program. It's a very reputable program and employers in the area love their graduates. I'm leaning that way right now...

It's crazy to think about going back to school but my BA is in Communications, just your basic Liberal Arts degree that really doesn't take you too far in a specific field, from what I have found. So, it may be that I have to invest in more education.

Anyone else contemplating something like this? Or, if you could change careers/go back to school, what would you do?

Blech on the billing and coding...did that for 2 years and hated it...it was only one facet of my job, and it was not something I enjoyed, to be honest. It was less than thrilling, I'll just put it that way...I was bored and needed something more challenging.

I think you'd like teaching, but if you're not feeling, definitely don't force yourself to do it, kwim?

I would become a doctor! Dan is still pushing me to go back to school once the kids are in full time. But then there may be another baby one day, so who knows! It sure would keep medical costs down around here!

LOL, Dr. Rach...you could totally be a GI! You should do it!

If I could do it all over again ... I'd be in some kind of research field. Not anything medical, but economics, demographics, something like that. Nothing would make me happier than to just sit in a corner and do research and crunch numbers all day long. Or maybe archeology ...

My plan B if I did not get into Physician Assistant school was........


a history professor! I love it. I would love to have my PhD in some narrow field of history and be a total expert on one thing. Write and research. Be a Museum Curator. It is probably not as glamorous as it sounds.

I have thought about getting my nurse practitioner..but i just dont see mysef studying that much and dealing iwth bug and her issues.. dont think at this time it would be fair to her.. i remember how much i studied/stressed just to get my BSN so.. duno if school is in my future..if i had it to do over and wasnt married/baby,,, i would do travel nursing... i think that would have been fun.. hawaii here i should have came.. :( LOL
You should do it miori if thats what your interested in :)

Miori, all I can say is do what your heart tells you is right.

Heck, I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up!

I was in bank management for 15 yrs until they down sized. Went to school for 2 yrs for nursing, got pregnant and didn't ever go back. Worked as a legal secretary for a few years, sold real estate for a couple of years and then became a stay at home (at that time, not even a "real" mother"...as my babies were in high school and college!).

Now with the twins....I've been thinking about going back to school, but I still don't know for what!

hey Miori

Just my .02 but I think in order to be a really good teacher it has to be something you love and something you are passionate about...or you could get easily burnt out/bitter...

My degree is in Sociology/Anthropology...minor in History...LOL...Can you say DUHHHH
Anyway...after graduation i worked as a 401K plan administrator...hated it
Then transferred internally and worked in HR as a recruiter...LOVED IT
I also thought about going back to school after Zach was born (not sure for what) but for me ....having a family and going back to school/homework...was a little more than I wanted to handle

While I was in college I worked at a Dr office and handled all the billing etc (I also made appts, answered phones, was at the front desk...)
I loved it...it wasn't the most challenging job, but it put some money in my pocket and was a low stress job
When you walk out the door at night, you can leave everything behind...

GOOD LUCK with your decisioN!

I love this question...it's something I think about all the time - I have a BA in Political Science with a minor in Women's Studies - My orginal intent was to to go Law school - or get my PhD and teach Government at the college level or teach on a high school level. Didn't happen - but I am still toying with the idea of going back to Law School - and if I wanted, I could go back and take classes for free (just have to pay for books) from the college I graduated from.

That never happen - When I graduated, I loved two jobs - working as a corporate recruiter and a waitress full time, then went into the Financial Service Industry (I was fully licensed & registered with the securities & insurance industries), got bored with that, sold advertising for 3 years, got bored with that, left to plan my wedding, and right now am working as a Marketing Specialist for one of the leading software resellers on the east coast....and I love my job - I have cake hours - 8-5 with an hour lunch and my boss is fantastic. That is what I think is key - you have to work for a good company/organization and your boss has to be fantastic.

Personally, I've been thinking a lot about going to physician assistant school. Like a doc, but with less liability, KWIM. Mizzou is also gearing up to offer one of the first Master's in RT degrees in the country, so I'm also leaning toward that. In fact, that's probably going to hit about the same time that I'll have more time with Brenna being older, so I'm thinking seriously about that. I had a quarterly performance eval at work this week. My boss asked what my favorite part of my job is, and I have to say it's patient care. Always has been, always will be, so I'm really thinking of pursuing advanced degrees in that area.

Whatever you choose, Miori, be sure you have a genuine excitement about it. It makes the good days great and the bad days not so bad. I love what I do. I love making a difference in someone's life, even dare I say, saving lives. It's that reward that gets me out of bed and to the hospital for 13 hours a day. I think your new career should make you feel the same way.

Hi Miori,

Like you, I have wanted to teach also. I have to admit that I do have interests in sooo many things, so I did change majors while in college, and here I am years later, without my bachelor degree. Even though it is just a piece of paper, people will have respect for the fact that you went to school and stayed long enough to graduate despite what life may throw at you!

I was in school during the Spring 2000 semester (last one I completed) studying to be an elementary school teacher. DH and I wanted to start a family and *surprise* after 3 years of infertility, I got pregnant during a teaching detail that DH had in South Carolina. (Perhaps it was the water we were drinking?) :haha: I was so stubborn, I wanted to complete the Fall 2000 semester while going through pregnancy and all the symptoms it brings (i.e. :sign11: ). Just a month into school, I had prengnacy complications (too much to write about here), so I had to drop my classes and take it easy until I could have a c-section in March, when the baby was due. So, long story short, I didn't get to finish school, but I did take on the role/job as full-time stay-at-home mom!

With a baby, I do not feel ready to return to school. Heck, I have 3 kiddos, so pursuing school would be a full-time job on top of the one I have right now. I must say, though, that I am lucky to be at home and my DH wants to help by hiring a full-time live in maid when I am ready to return to school. Yep, you heard that one right! It's do-able...I just want the timing to be right for the whole family, KWIM?

As far as your decision is concerned, JMHO, I think the ladies have given you some ideas/experiences to think about when considering what to do. My I make a suggestion? Get tested for your interests. You can do this online or through a college/university campus with career counseling and computer guidance. (I tend to trust the college career program guide as the online ones can charge $$$, and I am not sure about how reputable they may be.) Usually there is an interactive computer program at a college/university that tests you and can give a clear picture of strengths and weaknesses where career options and interests are concerned. Adults DO change with time and life experience, so what you wanted a few years ago career-wise may not be what you want now.

Teaching in Texas is geared towards the TAKS and educators complain of "teaching to the test" and losing creativity in the classroom. This may well change with a new administration (next presidential election), or it may not. Who knows? All I know is, I would like to have a creative and fun environment in which my students could learn.

Personally, I love science and medicine and I am passionate about helping others and have considered nursing...it's just that I need to get used to bodily fluids, HA HA! :-) As a mom, I have had to clean things, smell things and do things that have desensitized me to all kinds of yuckiness :sign11: so my stomach is not as sensitive as it used to be. Ahem, so I have earned Doctorate in Motherhood!

So, I hope this helps you....just know that I am in the same boat, also, so feel free to e-mail!

Take care and best wishes to you,
Nena

For you ladies interested in jobs in the medical field or teaching and do not have the time or finances to invest in a long term commitment to school, consider becoming an occupational therapy assistant (COTA) or a a physical therapy assistant (PTA). There is a high demand for therapists and becoming one only requires an associates degree. COTAs and PTAs work directly under OTs and PTs who largely nowadays have master degrees. COTAs and PTAs do not evaluate or set up treatment plans for patients but are qualified to carry out treatment plans written by OT or PT under their supervision.

Links
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos166.htm

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos167.htm

I always wish I had gone with my head and stayed in school and switched majors from Sociology to Education so I could have been a kindergarten or 1st grade teacher. Instead I went with my heart (I had met DH and we had gotten engaged my senior) and just finished up my bachelor's in soc. and got out. If I had the time to take off to do one of those intensive year programs for teaching I'd be all over it. I keep thinking maybe when the boys start school and DH is making enough that I can quit my job I'd do it.

Aside from that I do like my job now, I just wish I could combine it with my passion for social service. I wish I could do HR for a social service agency or some kind of non-profit charitable organization that isn't driven to make money. I like the job security provided by working for a Fortune 100 company but I am not a fan of the whole big money corporate world.

Dear Pam,

Thank you for chiming in! You gave me something to think about...I appreciated your input! :-)

Nena

well i have been toying about the medical billing i can go for free and training is like 5 to 6 mos but i am just not sure if that would interest me... I love kids wouldn't mind working in a day care or like being a teachers asst i can become a sub ta right now but its only $8 an hour heck i made more than that at mcdonalds... plus its just subbing and i want more permanant thing...so i am as just as confused... go with what your heart tells ya.... my dream would be to own a book store/coffee shop I love books but unless i win the lottery that isn't gonna happen... i have been thinking about starting a cleaning service Rob did that when he lived in seattle so he knows the ropes... he left that one to his partners when he came back out here...i would eventually do just the scheduling even though i would have to start being down and dirty...