how to PRACTICALLY add the missing component in my busy life
September 5, 2011 8:00 AM Subscribe
how to PRACTICALLY add the missing component in my busy life.
I have good career and family. But I want to answer my calling. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I want to get started by either take classes or do volunteer work. What is more efficient, more practical and beneficial to me? Sincerely seeking advice here.
I am a career woman almost 40 years old with three young kids and a loving husband. I work full time in an academic institution doing biological research. People looking at me would think that I should be busy and contend. But I have a void in my heart that I am trying to fill. I have started a spiritual awakening four years ago since my depression. I have read over 80 books through recent years. I also started to learn piano. Now, I am more aware of the beauty of the world and have a deep appreciate of me just being alive. I think life is a learning journey and I am ready to learn more about myself, others and the world. But how to practically make better use of my time and feel more fulfilled? Career-wise, I want to leave my current job and do teaching. I am thinking of applying jobs to be a lecturer in community college. But just teaching a biology class is not what I want to do. I want to learn psychology and/or education. The thing interests me most is how people learn, how to connect with people. How to help people helping themselves. I also would love to work to build communities. Practically, I can't quit my job and enroll in graduate school. I have already got my phD in biochemistry. I feel that I need to continue making money from my skill set to support my family. I am thinking maybe after my kids go to college, I will go back to school to learn psychology. Right now, my primary responsibility is to take care of my kids. I want to do volunteer work, but don't know with my background, what kind of work I can do or where to find volunteer positions. I have talked to my boss of just work 80%, so I can have one day of freedom to do other works. He's ok with it. I wonder if I should enroll for a class to learn psychology. There are online classes. I don't know if they are good or not. Maybe I can just continue trying to learn things myself? I guess I crave for meeting people who are in the filed I am interested in: people in psychology and education, people who's building communities. Maybe I will then meet a mentor who can both use my volunteer work and give me directions for the next step? Any suggestion is highly appreciated. I have thought about hiring a career consular or even going to therapy to sort things out. But I have no symptom of clinical psychological disorder, except the normal emotion ranges of irritability, anger, and a little bit of still pushing my self too hard like a perfectionist. but this is not interfering with my daily function. However, I do believe I can benefit from doing therapy. So shall I do this first before I do volunteer work or enroll for a class?
I live in the bay area, so I know there's lots of opportunities. THANKS for anyone who listened to me by reading this post and share their thoughts!
I am a career woman almost 40 years old with three young kids and a loving husband. I work full time in an academic institution doing biological research. People looking at me would think that I should be busy and contend. But I have a void in my heart that I am trying to fill. I have started a spiritual awakening four years ago since my depression. I have read over 80 books through recent years. I also started to learn piano. Now, I am more aware of the beauty of the world and have a deep appreciate of me just being alive. I think life is a learning journey and I am ready to learn more about myself, others and the world. But how to practically make better use of my time and feel more fulfilled? Career-wise, I want to leave my current job and do teaching. I am thinking of applying jobs to be a lecturer in community college. But just teaching a biology class is not what I want to do. I want to learn psychology and/or education. The thing interests me most is how people learn, how to connect with people. How to help people helping themselves. I also would love to work to build communities. Practically, I can't quit my job and enroll in graduate school. I have already got my phD in biochemistry. I feel that I need to continue making money from my skill set to support my family. I am thinking maybe after my kids go to college, I will go back to school to learn psychology. Right now, my primary responsibility is to take care of my kids. I want to do volunteer work, but don't know with my background, what kind of work I can do or where to find volunteer positions. I have talked to my boss of just work 80%, so I can have one day of freedom to do other works. He's ok with it. I wonder if I should enroll for a class to learn psychology. There are online classes. I don't know if they are good or not. Maybe I can just continue trying to learn things myself? I guess I crave for meeting people who are in the filed I am interested in: people in psychology and education, people who's building communities. Maybe I will then meet a mentor who can both use my volunteer work and give me directions for the next step? Any suggestion is highly appreciated. I have thought about hiring a career consular or even going to therapy to sort things out. But I have no symptom of clinical psychological disorder, except the normal emotion ranges of irritability, anger, and a little bit of still pushing my self too hard like a perfectionist. but this is not interfering with my daily function. However, I do believe I can benefit from doing therapy. So shall I do this first before I do volunteer work or enroll for a class?
I live in the bay area, so I know there's lots of opportunities. THANKS for anyone who listened to me by reading this post and share their thoughts!
I empathize with your feelings of wanting to be more fulfilled, to follow a calling in your heart. You bring up quite a few desires and questions above, so many that it seems to me that you could benefit from talking to a professional who is trained in helping people discern their path forward.
Since you have a great fortune to already be working at an academic institution, why not seek out the career and academic counselors who work there? They can be a great resource to help you think through the welter of thoughts and feelings you're expressing. In addition, they will probably have resources that are specific to you, resources that will be affordable and convenient, I'd think.
posted by minervous at 8:16 AM on September 5, 2011
Since you have a great fortune to already be working at an academic institution, why not seek out the career and academic counselors who work there? They can be a great resource to help you think through the welter of thoughts and feelings you're expressing. In addition, they will probably have resources that are specific to you, resources that will be affordable and convenient, I'd think.
posted by minervous at 8:16 AM on September 5, 2011
You mention a few goals:
1. Teaching
2. Helping others learn to learn (helping others help themselves)
3. Building communities
If you're able to get the 80 percent work week from your boss, you might wish to consider volunteering teaching at a community college or high school or library. Heck, you may even get a lot out of tutoring students that one day a week just to help you notice what types of problems they have.
Doing this may give you a sense of how much you would enjoy teaching full time.
In terms of goal number 2, it's not clear if you wish to do academic research on this or to be a hands on person helping people.
Goal number 3 can happen in a tonne of ways, and you don't need a degree to do that. Choose a local YMCA or other youth hang out and try and make connections with your community that way.
I think if you're willing to jump in feet first with some practical experience you might learn a lot more about yourself and your goals than if you were to take more courses before deciding. Use that one day a week to start DOING the things you mentioned as your longer term goals and it'll help inform you whether or not you really need to take a bunch of academic courses.
Best of luck!
posted by fantasticninety at 8:19 AM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
1. Teaching
2. Helping others learn to learn (helping others help themselves)
3. Building communities
If you're able to get the 80 percent work week from your boss, you might wish to consider volunteering teaching at a community college or high school or library. Heck, you may even get a lot out of tutoring students that one day a week just to help you notice what types of problems they have.
Doing this may give you a sense of how much you would enjoy teaching full time.
In terms of goal number 2, it's not clear if you wish to do academic research on this or to be a hands on person helping people.
Goal number 3 can happen in a tonne of ways, and you don't need a degree to do that. Choose a local YMCA or other youth hang out and try and make connections with your community that way.
I think if you're willing to jump in feet first with some practical experience you might learn a lot more about yourself and your goals than if you were to take more courses before deciding. Use that one day a week to start DOING the things you mentioned as your longer term goals and it'll help inform you whether or not you really need to take a bunch of academic courses.
Best of luck!
posted by fantasticninety at 8:19 AM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Totally do the 80% schedule and use your 'extra' day for a therapy appointment in the morning and some kind of volunteer tutoring in the afternoon. If you want to go into education the tutoring will help you see what the school situation is like a little bit. I'm not sure how the Bay area is for teaching but I know CA used to have a huge shortage of High School teachers. You could probably get instant emergency certification (you used to be able to in LA, sorry, I don't really know CA or recent situation) to teach Biology or Science in High School. Then you would be contributing, community building, invested in education, using your current skills AND on more or less the same schedule as your own kids. I teach High School myself...and anyway, I'm surprised I'm recommending it but it seems to fit your situation quite well. Do the therapy and volunteering first though, I think that will be a very valuable and helpful way for you to spend a year or so.
posted by bquarters at 8:40 AM on September 5, 2011
posted by bquarters at 8:40 AM on September 5, 2011
Also I'm sure you could do a non-matriculated Psychology course at your local university one evening a week. Why not? I did that too before I went on and did my MA, all in the evenings. (But then I don't have kids.). Anyway, if you want to take a class, definitely do so!! You don't have to sign up for a whole financial and time committment right away, just do one at a time! (I think after 4 you have to be enrolled in a degree program though, so up to 4 non-matriculated is ok).
posted by bquarters at 8:43 AM on September 5, 2011
posted by bquarters at 8:43 AM on September 5, 2011
I agree that you should speak to a professional. In your previous post you said you used to have depression and recovered without professional help, but perhaps some of your feelings of having an unfullfilling career and lack of direction stem from lingering depression. You're intelligent, you're motivated, and you've read lots of self-help books, but you likely don't see the whole picture and probably subconsciously selectively filter your problems and solutions. A professional can help you identify your blind spots and provide you with tools you weren't aware of.
posted by ellenaim at 8:43 AM on September 5, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by ellenaim at 8:43 AM on September 5, 2011 [4 favorites]
I'm going to suggest something entirely than the route that you want to go, OP: What about looking into the nearby universities and colleges to see if they have academics who are in the sciences but do outreach and/or education research? I interviewed at a few colleges and universities that had these people, and they did research oriented studies that integrated both science and education. I would talk to these people about possibly collaborating or sitting in for a graduate level class that covers the literature. That way in the future you would have something that builds on your current strengths, and the research and/or grad class component would help you learn the vocabulary, etc., relevant to the field.
Or...if you want to combine science plus psychology, look into neuroscience departments and see how the classes are oriented. Some offer half in the bio department and half in psychology, although students can take more in one area vs another.
Also, although I do agree with the first poster that you would probably take a hit in pay, I'm assuming that you would look for a full-time college or university position (which would not = 2000 a class). If you are really passionate about this, by the way, there are grants available for technology type things that you can put in a science classroom (for education/science) and not much competition IMO (I got a small one when I taught at a uni years ago, feel free to memail me if you want more details).
As I reread your question again, I would look into a faculty position at a teaching-oriented university or college. You may want to look into the research and work down at some of these places to see what they do and if your background meshes with what they do.I interviewed at a few such places years go and would be happy to point out these pple and institutions in memail.
posted by Wolfster at 8:51 AM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Or...if you want to combine science plus psychology, look into neuroscience departments and see how the classes are oriented. Some offer half in the bio department and half in psychology, although students can take more in one area vs another.
Also, although I do agree with the first poster that you would probably take a hit in pay, I'm assuming that you would look for a full-time college or university position (which would not = 2000 a class). If you are really passionate about this, by the way, there are grants available for technology type things that you can put in a science classroom (for education/science) and not much competition IMO (I got a small one when I taught at a uni years ago, feel free to memail me if you want more details).
As I reread your question again, I would look into a faculty position at a teaching-oriented university or college. You may want to look into the research and work down at some of these places to see what they do and if your background meshes with what they do.I interviewed at a few such places years go and would be happy to point out these pple and institutions in memail.
posted by Wolfster at 8:51 AM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well... I wouldn't advise any more classes. I would consider this a call to adventure. This adventure is necessarily a trip to the unknown that only you can figure out. Good luck.
posted by JohnR at 9:04 AM on September 5, 2011
posted by JohnR at 9:04 AM on September 5, 2011
The thing interests me most is how people learn, how to connect with people. How to help people helping themselves.
Personally, I think you would learn both of these things more effective by actually teaching than by going to school and taking class and getting a degree/certificate in this area. I work at a university-affiliated institution, and one of the things some of my fellow staff members do is teach at night as adjunct instructors. The fact that you work at an academic institution means that you probably have some adjuncting opportunities available.
I also would love to work to build communities.
That sounds nice, but what's the end-goal here? Do you mean you want to start an enduring club/social organization or something, like a community theater group or local charity organization? There are lots of community organizations like the rotary club and things like that-- I really have no idea what they do or who joins them, but it sounds like something like that may interest you.
I want to answer my calling.
What is your calling, exactly? You mention things you would want to do, but it would be good for your own goal-making to write out your "vision statement" of where you see yourself and what you see yourself doing in the future.
posted by deanc at 9:10 AM on September 5, 2011
Personally, I think you would learn both of these things more effective by actually teaching than by going to school and taking class and getting a degree/certificate in this area. I work at a university-affiliated institution, and one of the things some of my fellow staff members do is teach at night as adjunct instructors. The fact that you work at an academic institution means that you probably have some adjuncting opportunities available.
I also would love to work to build communities.
That sounds nice, but what's the end-goal here? Do you mean you want to start an enduring club/social organization or something, like a community theater group or local charity organization? There are lots of community organizations like the rotary club and things like that-- I really have no idea what they do or who joins them, but it sounds like something like that may interest you.
I want to answer my calling.
What is your calling, exactly? You mention things you would want to do, but it would be good for your own goal-making to write out your "vision statement" of where you see yourself and what you see yourself doing in the future.
posted by deanc at 9:10 AM on September 5, 2011
I know you're very busy, but would you have any time to volunteer? I'd think giving presentations to high school students who aren't exposed to women in academia or in the sciences might be fulfilling. SF State has an outreach program, which might be useful.
posted by Ideefixe at 10:25 AM on September 5, 2011
posted by Ideefixe at 10:25 AM on September 5, 2011
You have put yourself in a really good situation by earning your Ph.D. Regardless of what field your Ph.D. is in, I consider it sort of a passport to doing whatever you wish to do in terms of intellectual engagement. You're qualified to teach yourself --- and then teaching others --- just about anything, because you have reached the peak in terms of mastering difficult subject matter with the highest degree of competence. You do not need anyone else's guidance, or permission, or certification, because you are already a Doctor of Philosophy. Sure, if there is some specialized, technical thing you need to master and a class will help you do it most efficiently ... that's fine. But I'm sensing a lack of confidence in yourself, when you should have all the confidence in the world.
posted by jayder at 10:45 AM on September 5, 2011
posted by jayder at 10:45 AM on September 5, 2011
I agree with other folks that if you are not finding research oriented academia satisfying then you should consider a more teaching oriented college or university. And yes, with a PhD you should be looking at full time, tenure-track (or equivalent) positions, not adjuncting. Now is the perfect time to get started, because new job ads for next year begin to be posted in September.
However, and this is a big however, the market for teaching jobs is just as competitive as the market for research jobs. You clearly have a passion for teaching, but it's not clear what background you have in teaching. Did you TA as a grad student? Does your current job include any teaching responsibilities? Even if you don't currently teach classes, if you are responsible for mentoring undergrads or grad students in the lab that would be good experience for your job search.
posted by hydropsyche at 10:56 AM on September 5, 2011
However, and this is a big however, the market for teaching jobs is just as competitive as the market for research jobs. You clearly have a passion for teaching, but it's not clear what background you have in teaching. Did you TA as a grad student? Does your current job include any teaching responsibilities? Even if you don't currently teach classes, if you are responsible for mentoring undergrads or grad students in the lab that would be good experience for your job search.
posted by hydropsyche at 10:56 AM on September 5, 2011
First, let me recommend the Yale intro to psychology course. available free on line.
I was a software engineer who (while keeping his job) trained to become a psychotherapist, so such things are possible.
posted by Obscure Reference at 11:18 AM on September 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
I was a software engineer who (while keeping his job) trained to become a psychotherapist, so such things are possible.
posted by Obscure Reference at 11:18 AM on September 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Many thanks for all people who replied to my post. One thing I got from this discussion is the realization that I do not want to spend time to get a degree in psychology or education, then compete for academic jobs. I am glad that now I can cross-off this option, and focus on others. Today I signed up for volunteer teaching opportunities offered at our research institution to partner with high school science teachers. This will give me new experience. I also do writing club with my kids and English learning club with my coworker once a week to interact with people helping them to learn. I will continue study by myself psychology courses and will start look for a suitable therapist to work on myself at some point.
I'd be open to more suggestions if you have any. I guess I still crave for higher level intelligence and interaction in the field I am interested in. Thanks folks!
posted by akomom at 2:06 PM on September 6, 2011
I'd be open to more suggestions if you have any. I guess I still crave for higher level intelligence and interaction in the field I am interested in. Thanks folks!
posted by akomom at 2:06 PM on September 6, 2011
« Older Preparing to travel to Paris in the year 1900 | Is there a free online resource for British... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
I cannot recommend this new book highly enough - Professor Mommy -- for all of your issues.
If you THINK that you want to be at a less research-y, more teaching school (or city college), please take into consideration that those teaching schools are much less flexible than you think that they are. So, at a California city college, you'll get paid less than $2000 for a semester's worth of prep, teaching, grading, etc. -- might not even be enough to cover childcare. From what I hear, people sort of hate it. But check out Professor Mommy for more on this.
As far as going back to school for psych or ed... as you say, it might not be practical. (Although, PERHAPS, if you get student status, you'd be eligible for subsidized childcare and could possibly get enough of a stipend to make it work... might be worth looking into.)
But in the long run, what's the point of getting another degree? You'll be 47 or whatever when you're done. Then what are you going to do? Start up as an assistant professor? You might reach this same dilemma.
And what do you mean by building communities? Psych and ed academics are just as weird as biologists!
posted by k8t at 8:07 AM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]