I know that these are two very different career paths doing different jobs, however I am planning a career change and these are the two options that I love equally for different reasons.
I went back to university as a mature student, completed my BA and am finishing my MA. More than one lecturer has encouraged me to follow up with a PhD as I did well at undergrad and secured funding from a scholarship for my MA. I have long-term research ideas that I am told are good, have potential to attract funding and will add something to my discipline. I enjoy research, I love engaging with many of the new methodologies and cross-disciplinary ways of working that are emerging and really get a lot out of writing. I have presented my work in progress (part of the scholarship) engage in my discipline's social media platforms building my network. I realise that a job in academia will in the longer term be harder to come by as my field is competitive but I feel as though I will regret it if I don't try.
However, I went back to university so that I could pursue a career in teaching, which I think that I would be very good at. It is something I have wanted to do since I was 11 and I have volunteered in a secondary school for a lengthy period of time to make sure of my decision. I really enjoyed the experience and have resources that I have made that I have used in workshop scenarios in secondary schools to good effect.
I know that both of these professions have downsides - I lurk on the academic threads and in the staff room so I have only covered why I want to pursue these careers. I am an admin professional at the moment and it is soul destroying and I know that I will be pursuing these option(s) within the next year I just cannot decide which to pursue.
I am 37 this year and have considered PhD, see how I go in academia and then PGCE but I would then be starting teacher training at 43.
Or is there a way that a teaching career would allow me to dabble in writing?