What to do? (lenghty rant)

Alright anonymous internet people give me some life advice.

I had a unplanned pregnancy in June which ended in a missed miscarriage in late August. The minute I woke up from my D&C I thought to myself ‘oh I’d quite like to be a midwife.’ So I applied to AUT’s programme and today I found out I got in.

At the moment I officially work as a Policy Analyst (a researcher) but am more like a secretary. There’s no prospects of promotion from within the organization and any jobs with any sort of career progression are in Wellington as the Auckland ones are going to downsized with the supercity.

The good things I can say about my gig are that it is strictly 9-5, I get overtime and the biggie is that I get nearly 2 weeks of extra public holidays a year on top of my annual leave and New Zealand public holidays. Aside from the pension plan, the money sucks and I really hate my current job. It’s mostly mind-numblingly boring aside from a few days a year where it’s so frustrating I want to tear my hair out.

I would like to enjoy my job and feel like I’m making a difference in people’s lives (yeah corny I know) at the moment I feel like I’m wasting my life doing what I am doing.

But I am feeling a little insane for jumping off this cliff. I already have a degree and still have $9k owing on student loan (though I could pay it off right now with my savings). And while I think being a midwife would be awesome, what I really want to do right now is throw away my birth control and become a mother. DP says he not ready yet for a few years yet and from what I can see it’s really hard to do this course if you have young children. However it is possible to work as a hospital based-midwife for a couple of years before doing the independent on call 24/7 thing.

DP earns an awesome salary so housing and food aren’t going to be an issue for me and I’ve got a good little nest egg saved up but nevertheless the fees alone are likely to be 24k which is a whole heap of money not to mention 3 years of not earning anything.

I could get my teaching credentials which would only take me a year. I’ve taught in Asia and know I am a good teacher but never felt ‘a calling’ towards the job. It would more likely be a means to an ends as it pays reasonable money and has good vacation time.

Thoughts?

Go ahead and do it, I'm retraining next year after 20 years in office admin as I am bored bored bored and frustrated with not having to use my brain on a daily basis. I'm doing Health Science no idea what I'll be doing when I've finished as it will take about 4 years and its fairly broad so loads of options. We're TTC at the moment and studies will slot in when babies arrive.  Remember you don't have to repay student loan until you are earning over the threashold and its interest free, so I'm using the govt's money and when I earn I have to pay it back I'm guessing I'll be earning enough to do so.

I have seen friends retrain and are now doing really well and loving their work. That's where I want to be, as I'm not satisfied with my lot atm.

Sounds to me like it's the perfect time to do it and the only thing stopping you is you being uncertain! I agree with the others that you should do something you enjoy. While it's great to earn good money and have good perks it's far better to do something you believe in and enjoy.

You've got the rest of your life to pay back student loans so if you're in a position where you can dedicate the time to it then go for it!

I'd say go for it too. Worst case scenario, you still have your other quals and experience so can always find another policy job if you decide midwifery isn't for you (BTW I've worked as a policy analyst before and agree it isn't the most exciting or fullfilling job!).

I would pay off the $9k student loan from your savings before you started your course though, just to make it a clean start....

Febgirl wrote: I would pay off the $9k student loan from your savings before you started your course though, just to make it a clean start....

I wouldn't do this. You are earning interest on your savings and its costing you nothing in interest on your loan. Just keep paying it off over the next hundred years or so

snap Becs

DO IT!
The student loans are interest free at the moment which is a bonus, you can always work part time while you are studying, and you'll be in a career which you'll love. And we need good midwives!

If you do end up having a baby while still studying, there'll be some way to make it work - I know plenty of people who had babies just as they were starting med training/work and it's tough but manageable.

Also, you don't say how old you are but I am guessing twenties? Still plenty of time to get a new qualification and really establish a career.

Good luck!

T_Rex wrote: As for midwifery training, I think you need to ask yourself some hard questions. Are you wanting to train as a MW to fill the void left by your current yearning to be a mother? Or is it something you can imagine yourself doing long term, once you have had your family? {b}In my experience, decisions made when you are grieving can be either really bad or really good - some people get a very clear idea of what matters and what they want. If that is you, then go for it!

That's what is worrying me. It's really a bit of both. I hated my current job before I got pregnant and was looking to do 'something else' just never knew what that 'something else' was. I think that's why I didn't get an abortion as being mum was always a job that I wanted do and I knew I'd regret it if I walked away because of 'bad timing.'

I know from being a step mum that having kids changes priorities a whole bunch.

But I can see this as being something I could do. But then I've seen myself as doing a whole bunch of things over my last 29 years on the planet.

If you really want to do it, then go for it. Life is far too short to be doing something you hate and from my understanding the midwifery courses can be hard to get in to - so it's awesome you've been accepted.

Also, there seem to be some schemes where midwives can be bonded to a DHB - although I think this is only for hard to staff areas so might not work.

Good luck with your decision

im in the go for it camp too....ive got a prof career but have dreamed about running a business etc for a while and starting the online one this year has been the start of that plan....yes it is costly to take the leap of faith but you will feel much better for having done it.

there are a few midwives on here so maybe talk to them about it also - depending on where you practice may affect childcare arrangements in time etc etc....as considerations.

look forward to hearing when you give notice!