People think I am wasting my education

[Lychee234]

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.

Honestly, do what makes you happy. I was a teacher for 10 years. I was good at it and enjoyed some aspects of it, but it just got too much in the end. I'm currently a sahm, definitely want to do something again when the kids are bigger, but I 100% do not want to teach ever again!

Ok I’ll add the caution. Could this be because you don’t like the school you're in? As opposed to you just don’t want to teach?

Caring is a very hard job, and not one to go into lightly.

I actually don't think it's a good idea to do education in one area and then not work in it. Education should be an investment. Too many people take degrees in areas they don't have any career prospects in. Unless you come from wealth you should be looking at your education as career training and looking at your career overall as an investment.

That being said you worked for 10 years in your field already. You've already gotten a return for your education. It's definitely reasonable to switch into something else. I do agree you could probably do some further training to try and get a little more ahead in this new career path but its brand new give it time.

Lots of transferable skills between the two but caring work is less well paid and arguably harder physically. If you can afford to live on a lower wage and accept that as you get older then you might find it harder to work then that’s a valid choice.

I’d suggest looking to find something which blends the two so you can earn a decent wage whilst also doing what you enjoy might be better.

If care work is what makes you happy then go for it!

If I was a weary teacher though, then I think I would try being a private tutor. Maybe you could do that on the side and keep your care work going part time? Or maybe you could run some classes at care homes? These may not be helpful suggestions but I'm just putting it out there!

It’s your life. Live it the way you want to.

I was a solicitor but now work in a school in a non-teaching role. Do what makes you happy.

@Lychee234

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.

I don't think you're wasting your education, you have made perfect use of it and can continue to make use of it in the future if you want to. There's nothing wrong with having a change of career, many people do change their careers at some point.

I think the caring profession could do with more people like you, OP, as you sound really nice! YANBU. Do what makes you happy, if you can afford it.

Thanks for the replies everybody.
I think I just felt insecure that my boyfriend looked down on it as well.
He has never really said much about it or given me any encouraging words.
He's unemployed atm and they are always in need of care staff but he doesn't want to do it, I understand though it's not for everybody.
It might be my fault as I said I was looking for something part time and flexible that i could combine with the care job, something that paid well.
However yesterday he said that it's a shame i don't use my degree that I could do xyz and earn more money.
Then started talking about some friend of his who does some 'amazing and interesting job" and gets to travel the world etc. Then he was talking about 'high flyers' , and I guess I just felt a bit insecure even though I shouldn't.
I was saying that my job might not be high flying but that it was very important and rewarding, we were helping vulnerable people who depended on us and it's a shame how people look down their nose at this work.

Nobody is right looking down on care workers, it's an essential job and done with skill and compassion makes a huge difference to vulnerable people.

If you love a job and can manage financially you're in an enviable position. If you wanted to progress, you would no doubt have great transferrable skills for training, management or safeguarding, or could train as a nurse or social worker.

Your boyfriend is no doubt making comments about high flyers due to his own insecurity about being out of work. Tbh if he looks down on caring and doesnt see the value it is probably best he doesn't do it (not saying he is horrible or anything but it isn't what service users deserve).

What about a move to a different type of education setting? SEND schools are significantly different and require a skill set that is very different to mainstream.

It’s a tough job - but if you enjoy it, then go for it, it helps the country and society too. You could always keep the teaching side up by doing a bit of tutoring.

I career changed to something completely different (having done undergrad and grad courses and working 10 years). I get paid the same, but better hours and much happier as it suits my personality better. My ideal would be to combine both old and new career - but need to advance in this new one 1st.

@Lychee234

Thanks for the replies everybody. I think I just felt insecure that my boyfriend looked down on it as well. He has never really said much about it or given me any encouraging words. He's unemployed atm and they are always in need of care staff but he doesn't want to do it, I understand though it's not for everybody. It might be my fault as I said I was looking for something part time and flexible that i could combine with the care job, something that paid well. However yesterday he said that it's a shame i don't use my degree that I could do xyz and earn more money. Then started talking about some friend of his who does some 'amazing and interesting job" and gets to travel the world etc. Then he was talking about 'high flyers' , and I guess I just felt a bit insecure even though I shouldn't. I was saying that my job might not be high flying but that it was very important and rewarding, we were helping vulnerable people who depended on us and it's a shame how people look down their nose at this work.

OP. I have been a ‘high flyer’ earning more in one year than my dad did in a decade.

It sapped my soul. I ‘moved down’ in the career world to regards m a life and a sense of purpose.

I’m going to switch again soon as there’s something I could be doing (not yet but soon) that would have so much more meaning.

Don’t compare yourself to other people. Compare yourself to only your past self.