I need advice..I want to quit my job to go to school and my parents think I am NUTS

tbone420 · 20-10-2013, 05:45 PM

Hi All,

This is my first post. I am 23 years old and went to college for 3 years for engineering. I did really well and ended up getting a job 2 months after I graduated...however, it was not in the field of study that I went to school for. I am a Business Rep (Salesman) for an environmental company even though I went to school for civil engineering. I have been with the company for 2 years now and I have really exceled in this role. I am making very good money for my age, have full benefits, plenty of vacation plus the company pays for my gas in my car, my cell phone and even a gym membership! I also still live at home..........only thing is I HATE my job. I don't even want to go anymore and it is showing in my work. In the last month, the senior Vice President, my manager and our top Sales rep all resigned because of how the company is run. Not only is it run poorly, I do not enjoy what I do.

For years I have always contemplated going back to school for Business. I have always wanted to open a business of my own. On a side note, I am in a long distance relationship and I get stressed out very easily. My girlfriend goes to school 2 hours away and she still has 2 years left at school. It occurred to me this summer that I could possibly take a business course and quit my job. I also noticed that the same school my girlfriend goes to offers a great 2 year business course. On top of that, her roommate graduates this year and my girlfriend will need a roommate for the next 2 years. I could potentially live with her and go to school! We discussed it all summer and both got very excited about that option. Only problem.....I didn't tell my parents I wanted to do it. I waited until 2 days ago to tell them and my girlfriend needs an answer by January 1st, 2014 (2 months) in order to start looking for a new roommate.

So I told my parents, and they were completely against it!! My dad is very old school and 9 times out of 10 everything good in my life I have, I got by taking his advice. He is very good at giving advice and is very successful. He also gets very stressed and worried when things don't go his way. He likes that I am working and making money and have a girlfriend I want to start a life with. Now that I told him I want to quit my job and move in with her and do school he thinks I am stupid. He cant understand why I want to quit a high paying job I have and said I should suck it up and work there. Or do night school in the evenings or look for a new job. So here is my dilemma:

On one hand, I have got both myself and my girlfriends hopes up by talking about our future plans to live and both go to school together. If I decide to no longer go that route, I let her down and myself. However, if I DO decide to do school, I am letting my parents down. And on top of that, what if I don't find a job as good as the one I have after school? plus that would mean 2 years without working and all that money I made in the last 2 years I would be spending to put myself through school.

Someone please help!!!!! I need advice.... I need to make a life altering decision in only 2 months and don't know what to do

Thank you all very much for reading my situation and I look forward to replies from anyone who may have some help or advice for me.

whirlpools · 20-10-2013, 06:00 PM

My feeling from having read your post is that you have proven that you're a hard-worker, you're ambitious and you're highly skilful. As long as you keep doing what you've been doing (ie trying your hardest and putting 100% into everything) you're likely to do well and be snapped up in the future.

Obviously, in today's economic climate nobody can say for sure that you'll walk into a good job when you finish school, or that your business will be viable. But your attitude, i think, puts the odds in your favour.

It is a risk, no doubt. But i think you need to make an assessment over whether your happiness or financial situation is more important. Going back to school may mean you won't live as comfortably for a while - but then, you'll be with your girlfriend so that's likely to make up for it a bit. It's likely that either way you won't stay in the same job forever. So it might be worth changing paths now before you're burnt out and disillusioned with everything.

That's just my opinion though. What really matters is what you want. Your parents are going to need to be mature enough to understand that you're old enough to make your own decisions now.

tbone420 · 20-10-2013, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whirlpools

My feeling from having read your post is that you have proven that you're a hard-worker, you're ambitious and you're highly skilful. As long as you keep doing what you've been doing (ie trying your hardest and putting 100% into everything) you're likely to do well and be snapped up in the future.

Obviously, in today's economic climate nobody can say for sure that you'll walk into a good job when you finish school, or that your business will be viable. But your attitude, i think, puts the odds in your favour.

It is a risk, no doubt. But i think you need to make an assessment over whether your happiness or financial situation is more important. Going back to school may mean you won't live as comfortably for a while - but then, you'll be with your girlfriend so that's likely to make up for it a bit. It's likely that either way you won't stay in the same job forever. So it might be worth changing paths now before you're burnt out and disillusioned with everything.

That's just my opinion though. What really matters is what you want. Your parents are going to need to be mature enough to understand that you're old enough to make your own decisions now.

Thank you so much whirlpools for taking the time to reply to my question. You give very good advice, and I agree with your reply. You brought up a lot of good points to consider. I am leaning towards going to school and doing what it is I want to do. My mother is on board and she is more supportive after some more talks. Its my father who I will have to work on, but in the end, you are right. It is MY life. Thanks again...

Aquifolia · 21-10-2013, 12:41 AM

I agree, it sounds like you have a pretty good idea of what you want to do and are fully capable of doing it. It's not like you're just quitting your job on a whim simply because you don't like it, you have a plan.

As far as money goes, education is a good investment for the money you have made. And with two degrees and experience in sales, I'm sure you will be able to find a job after you finish school. So what if it doesn't pay as well if you're doing something you love?