Career change/retraining

[lizw]

I wondered how many of you have gone through this because of your health?

I'm looking at doing this at the moment and have made some sort of decision regarding what direction I want to go in. I'm a bit anxious about it but excited at the same time.

Prior to being ill I had started my own business as a copywriter/freelance writer but after I got ill, I found it too hard to keep it all up and only a few months ago took down my website etc... I've found it quite hard to face the facts on this one.

But I've decided I want to go and get some training that would enable me to teach english in (what you guys call) high school. Over here we call it college. I'd teach kids aged 13 - 17. Maybe only part time too.

I'll have to do a English Lit degree then a years teacher training. It may end up taking me 10 years or something (if I go to school part time) before I get there but I'll only be 40 then (I'm only 30 now) so I'd have at least 25 more working years ahead of me.

Anyone else got any ESH on this?
I'd love to read it.

[nandm]

I can relate to what you are saying.

I am back in school after ending my career of 20 years nursing partially due to my back injury. I am going full time and I am 43. One of the reasons that I don't mind this so much is after 20 years of nursing and 12 as a paramedic I am burnt out on medicine so my back injury is a blessing in disguise. I also went to nursing school with two ladies that were in their 50's. I feel like if they could go back to school at their age then why can't I? I see this as a second chance at life.

I did finally figure out though that at least here in the US you are better off not working at all as you would be eligible for more financial aid that way. Here they base your financial aid on your income. I have been having to take out student loans to pay for school the past 2 years but this year all of it including my room and board is paid for in grants. I am fortunate though as my partner makes enough to keep us ok in the meantime.

[lizw]

Yeah, I feel like that I've got that whole 2nd chance thing too. But it is like a 2nd, 2nd chance since my 1st 2nd chance was getting sober. At times it feels a tad bizzare.

[Freedom1990]

Full time college student here, online classes, at age 50.

I could no longer work the jobs that kept me on my feet all day, and although I was a jack of all trades, I didn't have a degree.

I'm in the RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) program, and will be able to do medical billing/coding/transcription and a variety of other jobs in the medical information field.

I am considering going for an associate degree in addictions counseling after I have graduated the RHIT program and am working. I can go on to earn certification in specialized coding if I want to.

I'd really like to work part-time as an addictions counselor too

This is my first semester (just started on the 18th) and I am so very excited!

[DesertEyes]

Before I got sick I had a very active, outdoor kind of job. Was building up an advertising production house, and doing the buying and selling of real estate. No more. All I can handle is a desk job, indoors, with very little walking. So yeah, I've had a huge switch in careers I'm not bothering with school or re-training. First off, I don't have the energy for anything more besides work, and by the time I finish any new education I'll be too sick to work at all, so why bother. Dunno what I'll do for a living when I'm too sick to go to an office, but I'll think of something

Instead I'm focusing on enjoying what I have today. I'm seriously thinking of moving to Colorado, I just love it out there. The state is a lot more helpful to disabled people than where I am now. As I become more and more limited I'm going to need that kind of help. As much as I love Vegas and the desert and all the wonderful friends I have here, I really miss trees and streams and mountains. I need to move while I still can, yet at the same time I am _so_ tired having to give up the things I love.

So basically I haven't made up my mind what I want to be when I grow up

Mike

[Alera]

Full Time student, one more quarter before I graduate with my BA. I got my AA two years ago, and decided to continue on. Best thing I ever did. I also am part of the federal work study program as well as financial aid.

Then when I hit 40 it looks like I'll be in law school. Its the best thing I've ever done.

Hope you got something out of my experience. If you have any questions let me know.

One last thing. Always find time for at least one class you WANT to take. Even if it won't count for your degree, it keeps you sane. I just started a course in Latin that I don't need, but it gets me out of bed and wanting to go to school even when the rest of the classes are a drag

[Sugah]

I just graduated in May with my BA and am now working towards my MFA. I'm also teaching composition. I really don't think this is any easier than some of the things I was doing before - at least, not the training end of it. I hope I don't sound discouraging. There are incredible demands on my time and energy, two things that send me more often than not towards a flare. The good news is that as responsibilities and commitments increased, so did my endurance for them and my ability to work through a flare. I've been in one for the past two weeks - but haven't missed or been late for anything. When it gets difficult, I meditate on getting through the moment and the reason I'm doing it in the first place - to a) be better able to make a living, b), do something that I love doing, and c) be a better example for my children.

I wouldn't have done anything differently up to this point, even knowing how hard it is (okay, maybe I would have eased back on that one 19 credit, part-time job, involvement -in-three-organizations semester!). I hate to be corny, but it's proven to me that I am truly disABLEd!

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[barb dwyer]

Hi Liz -

I'm gonna be entering a program here for just that hopefully as soon as this winter quarter. This is through the university and the Gov't systems - do y'all have anything like that down there?

It's funded by grants and tax dollars here,
and the information is with the human services disivion.
Although the financial aid counselors at the University here in town do some of the work too.

[lizw]

Originally Posted by barb dwyer

Hi Liz -

I'm gonna be entering a program here for just that hopefully as soon as this winter quarter. This is through the university and the Gov't systems - do y'all have anything like that down there?

It's funded by grants and tax dollars here,
and the information is with the human services disivion.
Although the financial aid counselors at the University here in town do some of the work too.

I think the govt will pay for some of my retraining. Maybe even all of it. Have an appointment at the school I will attend this Thursday. I'm abit nervous about it.

I have no problems saying I stopped going to school regulary when I was 13, in AA meetings, but in the outside world I still cringe a bit.

[barb dwyer]

Hi Liz -

I understand.
Many people find it necessary to flex the 'anonyminity' (g) muscle in their careers and work ventures.

For me,
just one of MANY flies in the ointment of life -

I don't care any more.

I am going to be fifty in October.
I'm pretty sure no one is gonna calling on me to preform brain surgery on the Pope, or need me because there's a problem on the space shuttle and they need me to 'talk them down' ...

Those ships ... have pretty much sailed for me.

Sooooo... I'm very open and up front about being in recovery,
about living with chronic pain and chronic medical conditions.
Sometimes, revealing one's battle with substances helps ...
here in the US, there's a good bit of money available for a seriously recovering person to make a new start....
sometimes it doesn't help the situation to reveal a substance history.

[anewLife4me]

Ive been trying to reenter the work force, find work that I can do with low back pain. i left my job about 3 yrs ago. sitting/desk job. Left the job because of sever low back pain/pain down my leg, in my buttocks and hips.
And now the past year I've had pain in my neck, in shoulders and down the arms.
I want to go back to work, have a rehabilitation counselor working with me, due to my long term disability insurance. i approached them about 6 months ago with wanting to get support to go back to work. I know I can't sit at a desk, and I'm trying to focus on WHAT I CAN DO. I have a BA degree in counseling, but can't do much with it. I have been job hunting, but all I seem to come up with is office jobs. My rehab counselor tells me that my insurance will pay for a good chair, a work station where I can have a combination of standing and sitting.....
But I'm no sure of that. Does anyone have any experience with trying that?
Does anyone have any outcome...good or bad....with sever low back pain, and what kind of employment has worked for them?
I want to go back to school to get my Masters to be a school counselor.
I have so much drive and energy in my mind to do more, but my back pain slows me down, and even stops me from accomplishing what I really want to do. I need to be able to support myself, I just turned 40. I have the desire, a very strong one to beat this, I know the back pain isn't going to go away, or even get better. I take pain meds, but very carefully and probably under take them as I hate taking medication. And I hate being tired and if I took the amount I needed to put my pain to a scale of 2 or 3 I would be a zombie. Plus its not just the Pain, its that my back just gives out on me. Like I have nothing there, and boom I have to go lie down.
I want to be something besides a person who is in pain.
So share with me what type of employment has worked for any of you with this low back issue.
My surgeon wanted to do a Double Fusion, but I decided last year NOT to do it, unless I lose control of my leg or I can't stand up straight any longer.
I've already had 2 surgs, and did nothing for me.

[lizw]

My venture to the uni to talk to someone about doing a degree was a disaster. I got public transport as the parking there is dreadful but by the time I got off the train it was pouring with rain. While I had an umbrella, my shoes got soaked and were up tp making that squishing sound when i reached the uni.

Then guy I was suppose to met never showed. No one knew where he was either. So after waiting for half an hour, soaking wet, I then got public transport home again. By the time I got home it felt like I had done 10 years hard labour or something.

How I managed to get through the whole expereince without crying or throwing a tatrum, I don't know. The only thing I can put it down to is telling myself 'nothing in God's world happens by mistake' in between shoe squelches.

Haven't heard from the guy either and I thought he'd at least email me an apology. I did tell someone who said they'd tell him I'd been there.

Have found what I want to study with another uni BUT it is extramurally, from home and I quite liked the idea of 'going to school'. I work from home at the moment and some social interaction would be great, so am now back to waiting, thinking and praying. Will talk to my sponsor too and see what she reckons.

I could get back in touch with the guy I was orginally meant to see but if what happened is any reflection of how they run their school, I want no part of it. In other words, I have a resentment. Lol.

[DesertEyes]

Hey there Liz

sorry to hear your visit to the Uni was such a fiasco. I get plenty tired of having to fight the "system" in addition to having to fight my physical ailments.

I hear you about the resentment. My sponsor gets to hear my inventories quite a bit when it comes to insurance companies, bad doctors, etc. etc.

I'm praying for you, and for sunny days next time you venture out.

Mike

[lizw]

Originally Posted by DesertEyes

I hear you about the resentment. My sponsor gets to hear my inventories quite a bit when it comes to insurance companies, bad doctors, etc. etc.

Sponsors are great eh? I spoke to my last night and I think she said more bad words about the guy than I even thought. Lol.
Her response is never what I expect!