I’ve been a HS teacher for 12 years now, and although I enjoy it, I also could conceivably see a burnout in the future.
I’m pondering going back to school for Physical Therapy, but so many things make this a daunting task.
Just a few include: Taking the GRE, taking or retaking pre-requiste courses, quitting work to attend classes full time, training would probably suffer, and what to do for money?
Has anyone “given it all up” and completely changed their careers?
Are there any PT’s out there that could advise what ducks to get in a row?
I can’t comment from personal experience or from the PT standpoint. However, my good friend at about age 45 quit his well-paying engineering job and started a building design and construction company…he’s pretty much the only employee. He makes about a quarter of what he made before, he busts his butt every day, but he’s happier than he’s ever been. I guess it’s never too late.
I am ready for a career change. I am going to become a Professional Tri-Atlete!
Hey, wait a minute. I am 47 years old, I cant do that. Bummer, I was looking forward to taking on Stadler and Macca, and meeting Desiree and impressing her with my ultra fast times. Oh well. Damn, my bubble is burst!
Do what makes you happy and you will be a successful person. Good luck!
National Public Radio ran a whole series last year on this exact subject. It was very interesting. I can’t remember a single person who regretted doing it. One lady even gave up everything to push around a little coffee cart. I think she ended up going out of business but she was still very positive about the whole experience.
First me. Went back to college at age thirty with a completly different major. Going from biology to construction management meant basically starting over. Studying, going to class, etc. was a bit of a shock, but soon was getting all A’s and enjoying the rigors. If you go back, it’s for a purpose, and you will love it. Do it.
Second, good friend currently in PT school. Same thing, went back when she was thirty. Three year program, ending with a doctoral degree of some sort. She does nothing but study, but she loves it. So will you. Do it.
Not quite mid-life but I quit being a lawyer at 32 and went back to school to go into computer programming (my wife did as well). We have never, not for a single moment, regretted that decision.
First me. Went back to college at age thirty with a completly different major. Going from biology to construction management meant basically starting over. Studying, going to class, etc. was a bit of a shock, but soon was getting all A’s and enjoying the rigors. If you go back, it’s for a purpose, and you will love it. Do it.
Second, good friend currently in PT school. Same thing, went back when she was thirty. Three year program, ending with a doctoral degree of some sort. She does nothing but study, but she loves it. So will you. Do it.
So if you had a mid life at age 30… you’re only going to live to be 60? That is sad.
I had a 90 year old woman in a corporate tax class I took. Her husband was a tax attorney who had died recently. She wanted to find out what is was all about.
Choosing a new career is like shopping for a tri bike - get the one that fits.
I spent 10 years in an industry wondering why I wasn’t making it to the next level. Did lots of research and personality profiling before changing careers. I’m 2.5 years into the new career and it’s going great. I work just as hard as before, but now I’m really getting results.
Do your homework on what will make you motivated and happy. The site that really helped me is http://www.assessment.com/. Cost is like $30, but it’s worth way more than that. Best of luck.
Funny, but I’m thinking of getting out of private chiro practice to relocate and go into teaching, either at a chiro college or a community college. I’ve put 24 yrs in. Time for a change.
Choosing a new career is like shopping for a tri bike - get the one that fits.
I spent 10 years in an industry wondering why I wasn’t making it to the next level. Did lots of research and personality profiling before changing careers. I’m 2.5 years into the new career and it’s going great. I work just as hard as before, but now I’m really getting results.
Do your homework on what will make you motivated and happy. The site that really helped me is http://www.assessment.com/. Cost is like $30, but it’s worth way more than that. Best of luck.
Do you mind me asking what career owned you before and which one you own now?
Live to 60? Are you nuts? My “mid life” started when I was 30, and will end when I’m 60. At sixty I start my thirty year taper. I’m in the ground at 100, no sooner.
i have done a major career change twice. i started out early 20’s as a registered nurse with BS degree. worked in nursing for about 10 years. in my early 30’s decided to go back to school to be a Doctor of Chiropractic. needed almost 4+ more years full-time to get that degree. had a private practice in sports medicine and regular practice for about 10 years. in my early 40’s was at a continuing education seminar and the instructor was a chiropractor and attorney. within 6 months I had taken the LSAT and started into law school. finished law school in less than 3 years by going full time in the summers and have been in private practice for over 7 years. BEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE! you are never to old to do what ever you want. also almost 4 years ago we opened a speciality running store and this past April a tri shop. ( i still practive law full time) so,my life is all about change and taking risks. you never know until you try it. i say go for what ever you want. Life is too short to be wishing you did it and never knowing if you could.
Unless you were a non-traditional student, 12 years in teaching hardly makes you “mid-life.” You are still young, the kids and mortgage are the bigger issues.
I gave up teaching at the age of 30 (though I only di dit for 3 years). I began college as a mechanical engineering major but switched in the middle. When I went back I only had 25 more credits to complete the BS. I was only able to do it becasue my girlfriend let me live with her rent free.
Now I get half the stress, half the BS, and 50% more money (starting).
To be a PT you have to go through a Phd program. You may want to consider some other options as well that won’t cost you 5 years of your life. My girl friend’s brother wants to go to med school and become a plastic surgeon because he doesn’t like his engineering job. He figures they make a lot of money…but I don’t think he’s considering the fact that it’ll take him 10 years to start making a lot of money…or even if he likes biology.
Spent 10 years in direct marketing/advertising - essentially the infomercial business. Started out as a media buyer and moved on to marketing manager and product development. I’d always wanted to be a writer, but writing advertising copy just did not appeal to me.
After doing the motivational assessment, I got a job writing proposals for a large defense contractor. The job is faced paced and stressful with long hours and lots of travel, but it’s a great fit for me. As a result, I’m doing well and people seem to think I do a good job.
You could say I’m still in advertising/marketing, but the industries are so vastly different it’s like a different career.
10 of those years as a Chief of Police and 2 years in there somewhere I was a hospital administrator
at age 43 I gave up the cop carreer and moved from VA to FL, without a job!!! : )
4 years as a high school teacher in Tampa,FL
4 years ago we got into the B&B business in St Augustine, FL now in Sedona, AZ
Thats a big change at age 43, then again at age 47. Twice I’ve changed careers after the age of 43. I’m very glad I did. I’d do it all over again. I LOVE owning my own business!! I didn’t want to spend my whole life doing one thing and living in only one place.
At 37 I’d had enough of the entertainment industry.
I took some pre-requisites and applied to the Ex Phys department at UNC Chapel Hill.
I graduate this coming May.
The benefits of this change are already way more than I’d ever expected. My wife says I’m much easier to live with (not EASY, but easIER :D). The only caveat is that after 15 years of being out of school going back and living out of a backpack for two years has been a major pain in the ass.
But hey, I do it every time I go to a transition area so I survived.
