[BadWolfC]

I'm 22, and am in a stable career field that I previously went to school for, but am not happy with. I don't have a degree, just a certificate, but that's all I need for my job. I'm a CMA (certified medical assistant), and my main problem is that I have to re-certify every 5 years if I stay in the medical field, which will be really hard and a bit costly. I liked working as a CMA at first, but I've only worked as one for 2 years and I'm getting sick of it. It's just really hard for me to deal with patients all day, and the work I do isn't challenging enough.

I want to go back to school because being a CMA wasn't my first career choice, and I want to switch to a hard science field such as biochemistry or physics, both of which require a lot of school. I really enjoy science, and I know that if I tried I could handle going to school for something like that. I just am unsure if it would be the right thing to do because my fiance would have to support both of us while I am in school.

I think I'd feel bad asking him to do that because he's already had to take care of me so many times for various reasons, and he wanted to go back to school too. It would be really difficult for both of us to be in school and support ourselves at the same time. I just don't know whether to choose going to school and making myself happy, or working as a CMA for maybe the rest of my life even though I think I'll hate it...

[mazing]

Have you spoken to your fiance about what you want to do? It is probably a decision that you need to make together as it will impact both of you.

I can understand not both being in school at once but could you even plan for one working while the other studies and then swapping once they are settled? Or looking at classes alongside part-time work?

Ultimately it is something you will need to look at and decide yourself but I definitely know that there is nothing worse than being in a job you hate.

[Little Lulu]

There is nothing wrong with reevaluating your life from time-to-time, especially when you are growing unhappy with your current situation.

Have your gone to an academic counselor at your local college for advice? That might be a good place to start. I like mazing's idea of working and taking some classes at the same time. It would be a good way to get your feet wet in the world of academia.

Best wishes and welcome to PC.

[nicoleflynn]

I went back at age 60 and am a Sophomore at 68!

I did biochemistry to PhD level and regretted it, so my only advice would be to research the jobs you can get once you qualify. Do they pay enough? What sector? Where would you have to live? The science is interesting but in the UK at the time, the salaries were poor, permanent jobs rare and moving house every 2 years a standard expectation. Most employers were based in parts of the country where house prices were astronomical and as a biochemist, I was unable to have anywhere near a decent standard of living unless I rented all my life and lived like a student. So please do your research, don't just go for how something interests you - what will you do when you qualify? Good luck, whatever you decide.

[BadWolfC]

Thanks for the responses everyone, I've spoken to my fiance about it and he thinks that we could handle me being in school if I want to go back. The career that he wants to be in doesn't require a lot of school, if any, and he doesn't know if he's going to go back yet, so he'd rather me figure out what I want to do first. I'm waiting until we move out of state next year to start looking into classes for me, then I'll figure out all the details. I'm probably going to do it because I don't think I can deal with being in the medical field much longer, and my CMA expires in 2018 anyway...

[SilverNeurotic]

Good luck!

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[Little Lulu]

Best wishes. I hope you find something you are passionate about doing.

[Perna]

I would take a few courses at an accredited online university, (All Bachelor?s Degrees | UMUC) see if you can't get a better idea of whether you could make it work going to school full-time, etc. You could get a couple of preliminary courses out of the way and just transfer to a school near where you move if that ends up being what you want to do. Meanwhile, you would have some financial support with your job and taking courses might make it less of a drag since you'd have a plan for moving ahead.