cadre

Alright so my story is that I finished my BS in Photography about three years ago. Since then I've owned a few businesses and hopped around within the marketing and sales industry. I even started getting into finance a bit. Maybe I'm just naive or impatient but I never found myself in a position where I was truly happy. Of course the economy has a lot to do with this but after some long nights of contemplating I decided to consider a different career path. I had a few long plane rides that week so I had plenty of time to sit and think. So I made a list of what I really loved about my current job and previous positions and what I want in the future. This is what I came up with:
-developing people and helping them achieve their goals
-solving problems
-having intelligent conversations
-working with a team
-having free time, at least some

So I'll skip over a bit of the story but I have always had an interest in fitness and nutrition so I decided to pursue that as it is a bigger field than some of my other interests. After some research and a lot of talk with my family (quite a few of them are in the health field) I decided that a faculty position where i can do research on nutrition and teach classes would be a good fit for me. Right now I'm getting ready to go back for undergraduate classes because I have no science background. When I have met the requirements to apply to the Masters program I will pursue an interdisciplinary Masters in Nutrition and Public Health. After that I hope to get my PhD in Nutrition and find a faculty position in a respectable school.

Now, I'm not too far along in my career so I guess this won't be too hard for me but I still think I am facing a few challenges. Going back to school will be a big change from the working life and I do not have the funding to be able to focus on school like I should.

Sorry for my essay, I haven't really discussed this with anyone other than my fiancé so it's nice to put it down in words. What I am wondering is if anyone here has made a career change like this? If so how did you do it? Did you have to go back to school and if so how did you adjust to the change? Are you happy you made a change? Did the economy play a role in your decision? Any advice would be great.

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My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.

jewels

I haven't done it but am hopeful I will be able to do something similar in the not-distant future. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for those who are doing it and those who have done it. But I have changed certain aspects of my life dramatically and can say that when the change is to take yourself to a better place, it makes the transition a lot easier.

Hopefully you've taken full advantage of any scholarships and grants you can possibly get as these might help take up much or all financial slack. You also have to decide what, if any, sacrifices you might be willing to make to ensure you are able to focus.

Based on your thoughts and conclusions above, I get the feeling you're going to be just fine.

BTW, I know of at least a couple of TFPers that are in school to make a career change. You are not alone!

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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
Mark Twain

cadre

Thanks Jewels. Unfortunately we aren't being offered much in the way of financial aid so it will be tough. We are taking advantage of whatever we can. We are definitely sacrificing my credit score but oh well!

__________________
My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.

bagatelle

I'm seriously thinking and trying to find some courage to apply to university to study English.

My language skills were great in highschool and I should have started then, but somehow I was too afraid to plunge into academic studying. My parents wanted me to study, but they had no experience of educating themselves, so they could not give me the kind of support, I would have needed. I was also worried about coping, if I had to study and move away from home.

So I chose nearby commercial school as more familiar and shorter studies to quickly get to working life. Didn't do really well, but finished it and managed to get a job as a substitute. Then I met hubby-to-be and he was already working as a car mechanic, not keen on studies himself. I had some idea, that maybe I could study then, since he was working, but he was more interested in getting us a home and family...

I have teenage sons now and daughter is going to preschool next autumn. Husband has steady incomes, after five years of staying home, I've been back to working life since summer and it looks like I might have a chance to work now and then, even along the studies, if I only would get accepted in.

I'm past 40, only hanging on to temporary computer/office jobs, so I should really take some shots at starting something new soon, if ever.

Age is not an issue when getting in, if I do well enough in entrance exams. My school certificates are outdated and wouldn't give me enough points for getting accepted in straight based on them.

I know the dates when application has to be sent in, what to read for the exam and when the exam is held. Now I should find someone, who has gone throught these studies, to spur me a bit... The hardest part is to get in, after that you can plan the studying schedule to something that suits you.