A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:This isn't a relationship question but I have always found the aunts and uncles advice so helpful so I thought I would ask.How do you decide which career path to take? I am currently four years into a law degree and will graduate this summer. Alongside my degree I work at a well renowned law firm. I am doing well in the early stages of my career, I earn good money which will increase dramatically once I have graduated and I have a good standard of living. My job however is extremely stressful and even in these early stages I find myself taking work home and stressing about it at home. To the point it has almost taken over my life. I imagine it will only get worse once I have graduated. Although I enjoy my job, it really is taking over my life. This is where my dilemma comes into play. I have had a passion for horses all my life. In my teens I worked at a riding school and adored it. I still have my own horses now and informally teach friends children in my spare time (a rareity right now!) I have often dreamed of taking this up as a career. It would mean having to take some exams but that doesn't phase me. It would also mean working some unsociable hours and would mean earning significantly less than I do now. It would also mean I've wasted 4 years and a lot of money doing my degree! I'm very torn. On the one hand I do enjoy the lifestyle I currently have but on the other hand I'm wondering if I would be happier attempting to fulfil my lifelong dream but having a much lesser standard of living. I'm in my late 20s now and don't want to waste another second being so undecided.
View related questions:
money Reply to this Question
Share |
Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (7 May 2014): Wow! You sound like you have a very lucky life....If I was in your situation, I THINK this is what I would do.First I would graduate. Secondly, see how your work load feels after that, if that means you are no longer working and studying. I found studying A LOT more stressful than work. I have worked/studied together for years, and when I only have to deal with work, life feels like a breeze.I would then work in the legal field for some time, to build up financial equity, looking at using that to financially support the horse lifestyle, with a view to doing it more (full time) in the long term.After you have graduated, you can look at your work load/stress - you may need to speak to your employers and arrange a more structured time frame that you will work. IE - you will allow an hour or two extra each day, but no more and no weekends. IF your employers can't work with you on allowing your work load to be 40-50 hr week only, then maybe look at changing jobs. As your financial situation allows, you could reduce your work hours while building up the horse training school. You could look at doing law 10-20 hours a week along side the horse training school, or ultimately, if your passion and finances lead you, your horse training school could be your entire life.It is great you have a law degree as a backup should you ever need it.
A
female
reader, cattycakes +, writes (7 May 2014):
Work the career for a limited time, enough to save what you need to have no Mortgage, or just a small one. Can you work part time or work independently from home in a related aspect of law? There must be specialist equine services that you could develop?
...............................
A
male
reader, wise-guy +, writes (7 May 2014):
Y'know I can totally relate to this. I am a qualified barrister - went to university then trained for the Bar in London All good right? Pretty proud achievement BUT something is nagging at me as to whether I carry on or not. I feel the same way you do... It's so stressful! Endless problems and situations where sometimes you just want a quiet life! There's always legal work on your mind and you never seem to be able to relax - even on weekends and holidays etc. I feel your pain in being so torn. On the one hand I feel like if I don't carry on its a waste of all my legal education and other achievements. But on the other hand - is there more to life then the rat race of the legal profession? I don't know. Plus at the same time I enjoy the whole barrister idea and find legal issues to be something I've found a natural talent for. It's the hours and stress I think - seems there's more to life that I'm potentially missing out on. Maybe you should graduate first and see how you feel about it all?
...............................
|
