Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People think I am wasting my education

39 replies

Lychee234 · 03/02/2021 11:16

I have a degree and a postgraduate qualification (PGCE).

I have worked in education for nearly 10 years in various roles.
I have decided that teaching is not what I enjoy anymore. I don't feel that I have the energy it demands nor the behaviour management skills.
I am still employed by my school but ready to hand in my notice. I am not well-liked there and I have for some reason been removed from the rota without explanation, despite me asking why.

I have been working part time as a care worker in addition to the teaching. It isn't fantastically paid but if you put the hours in you can earn a modest amount.

I really enjoy it, I feel that I'm much better at it than teaching and it's really rewarding. I am considering going full-time and leaving teaching.

Some family and friends have suggested I am wasting my education if I do this. That I should be doing something related to my degree or PGCE at least.

I think this is a job that makes me much happier than teaching and much less stressful, what do others think? I know it's my opinion which counts but it's got me down a bit.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lychee234 · 03/02/2021 11:25

I have 2 friends who are doing jobs which are completely unrelated to their degree and for which they likely didn't need a degree at all, they are thriving in them and really enjoy it, I have done related work for several years now and I don't think that I should have to for the rest of my life.

OP posts:
PyjamaFan · 03/02/2021 11:27

It doesn't matter what they think, you just do whatever job works for you.

I'm also a qualified and experienced teacher and am planning my route out as are many others.

vodkaredbullgirl · 03/02/2021 11:30

My eldest has a 1st class honours degree, in Forensic Biology. When she left uni she worked in a charity shop for 2 yrs. She now works in a lab testing bed making factory, testing materials.

Do what makes you happy.

EBearhug · 03/02/2021 11:32

You probably won't be wasting your education - you will have learned loads of skills which will be useful in other roles, be it care or elsewhere. You are presumably earning enough to cover your outgoings, and you say you're happy, so I'd ignore them for now.

Nicknamegoeshere · 03/02/2021 11:38

I'm a primary teacher with 20 years' experience. I've been working as a SEN HLTA for around three years now and absolutely love it. I actually get to work with the children which is why I entered the profession in the first place.

I am in a situation now where I need to go back into teaching for financial reasons but if money was no issue I think I would stay HLTA'ing. The work-life balance doesn't exist in teaching and I have three kids of my own!

Original poster
Lychee234 · 03/02/2021 11:40

Thank you everyone! It's reassuring to hear.

OP posts:
TansyViolet · 03/02/2021 11:40

I don't think education is ever wasted as it enriches your life. Sounds like they see education in terms of financial reward only. Do what makes you happy

Nicknamegoeshere · 03/02/2021 11:43

@TansyViolet Agreed. Better to have a lower paid job you love (if you can afford to) rather than a higher paying job you hate.

Misssugarplum12764 · 03/02/2021 11:47

Teaching is difficult if you enjoy it, a nightmare if you don’t. For me, moving schools made me enjoy it far more, but equally if I’d moved and STILL didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t think anything of stopping and looking for something else.

lazylinguist · 03/02/2021 11:53

YANBU at all. I have an Oxbridge degree and a PGCE. I've been a teacher for 25 years. I loved it for a long time. I've been very part-time and done bits of supply for the past 10 years. I am definitely over-qualified for what I currently do. I've been looking for a proper full time or substantial part time teaching job for the last 5 years, but tbh the idea of being back full time in a secondary school fills me with dread. I'd much rather do something else, I just have no idea what!

miimblemomble · 03/02/2021 11:57

What a pointless way to look at it (not you - them). What's wasted? Can you go back in time and get back the years you spent studying? No. Can you take back the years you've spent in a job that actively makes you miserable? No. So what's wasted? Do they think you should be throwing more "good money after bad"? Pointless.

YANBU. DH is a teacher and would leave tomorrow if he could. Why should he go on doing something that makes him miserable to justify time already spent? Daft.

dottiedodah · 03/02/2021 12:19

Just an idea ,but could you maybe retrain as a Nurse? There is nothing wrong with working in Care ,but the pay is very poor compared to Nurses,Defo give up Teaching if you want to though. nothing to do with anyone else!

StillGoingToWork · 03/02/2021 12:26

A friend of mine did a teaching degree and worked at several primaries until she had her children. She is a very good teacher, but she gave it up. I was appalled, but she simply didn't have the heart for it anymore. She's now a school lunchtime supervisor Smile and sometimes does a bit of teaching assistant stuff but she is much happier now.

LaurieFairyCake · 03/02/2021 12:27

You always retain the option to use more of your skills by moving into supervision/management Thanks

At a very basic level, always do what make you happy, what boosts your self esteem and promotes your resilience Smile

Cam2020 · 03/02/2021 12:31

It's your life, do what makes you happy, not what others think you should be doing.

It's definitely not a waste, either. I'm sure you've learned and grown during the time you've spent studying, trainnig and teaching. In the very least, you've learned what you don't want to do and sometimes that's a difficult thing to come to terms with, when it's, something you've worked towards.

VettiyaIruken · 03/02/2021 12:34

It's no less 'wasted' if you trap yourself in a job that makes you miserable.
Do what makes you happy.

CorianderBee · 03/02/2021 13:46

Not their education so not their business

ooherrmissus14 · 03/02/2021 13:48

Education just gives you options- it doesn't mean you have to take those options xx

Cpl654321 · 03/02/2021 14:03

Who cares what they think. Almost no one I know has a job that relates to their degree, unless they are in the medical field

BobbinThreadbare123 · 03/02/2021 14:08

It's not a waste - I've got a PGCE too, but I quit teaching some years ago to return to industry. The skills from it are still in my brain and accessible, even if I've not applying them to secondary education. I've noticed a lot of teachers believing that they have no ability to transfer into other sectors; it isn't true. The list of transferable skills is phenomenal! Life is too short to do jobs that absolutely drain you. I'm sure I'll get dragged for saying that but I do know what it's like to have no money and no support, so I don't say it lightly.

WalrusWife · 03/02/2021 14:10

Long term, will you be happy working in care on minimum wage? Can you live comfortably on the pay and can you imagine physically being able to do the job until retirement age at 67/68?

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 03/02/2021 14:10

OP i have a law degree. I’ve been a lawyer for just over a decade. I’m now bored out of my mind and dislike my job, so am counting down until I can quit.

You’ve used your degree. You gained skills doing so. It was not a waste.

A degree is not a life sentence - you are allowed to move on.

cheapskatemum · 03/02/2021 14:10

I did exactly the same career move as you, OP and have not regretted it. I was promoted within the pastoral care side of teaching, ie I was a Head of Year. I realised that many students were struggling to access the curriculum because of difficulties in their personal lives. There are many transferable skills between teaching and care work. You should be able to pass your Level 3 NVQ or Diploma with ease. The Care system is crying out for decent care home managers. If care work is where your heart is, I say go for it.

stonebrambleboy · 03/02/2021 14:23

With your back ground you could have a very good career in the care system. What about training carers or a management role?

snowliving · 03/02/2021 14:44

I had a degree from a Russell group uni.
My dm was horrified when I became a support worker for people with LD after graduating.
Passing judgment on the physical care element.
On the non degree nature of the job etc.

Three years later I was a homes manager and on a graduate social worker course.

I never regretted it and the physical care was good experience for having dc.

Swipe left for the next trending thread