So I'm going to quit teaching...

[capella]

After next year that is. I've just decided that I've had it with crappy pay, huge amounts of stress, being used and abused, and nowhere to move up.

So, you may ask, what is it I'll do instead. Go back to school full time. For Landscape Architecture. I hadn't applied anywhere yet because I wasn't sure what on earth I wanted to do with a grad degree.

It dawned on me that I love designing and creating, I've always loved plants and gardening and it's a way to make the world a better place. It also includes skills I have (such as managing projects, business sense, people skills, computer skills, etc.) that I don't get to do much with teaching.

I want to do a job that isn't in an office all day, that isn't routine and boring, and that makes a difference to the world. I think I've realized that I don't have to be a teacher and make peanuts to make the world a better place.

I sort of fell into teaching because it was a better alternative (monetarily) than journalism. I have a love-hate relationship with the job. The things I love about it often don't outweigh the things I hate about it. I tried changing levels and it didn't help. I'm feeling very worn out and disillusioned with the job and I'm tired of being sucked dry without any financial rewards for it. Other jobs that take this much out of you offer financial incentives to make up for that. Teaching just takes and takes and takes.

I had a good run of it, and I don't regret teaching, but I don't want to give the rest of my life for it. I can say I did a good job with kids for 4-5 years and that's enough for me.

Thoughts? Anyone know anything about landscape architecture? I've done a lot of research and it seems like a good fit for my personality, natural abilities and interests.

Now the grand plan is to move to DFW (so my husband can teach... he likes his job loads more than I do) and I'll teach for one more year and take one course next fall to get my feet wet. Then I'll go back full time and sub until I'm done. It's a 3 year program that'll probably take me four years. The job listing page on the UTA site had a ridiculous amount of job opportunties. All of them making far, far more than I make now. I plan to work for a firm for a few years and then gradually work for myself doing residential landscaping.

Am I crazy? Perhaps. I could sure use some thoughts/advice on the matter. :)

[winneythepooh7]

Well, my SO is in the construction business and a lot of the work he gets is through his friend that owns a landscaping company. I see a lot of the negatives to this business. Both his business and the landscaping business are heavily intertwined, and both are an extensive amount of work. I know that the landscaping company guy is always working and most of his money as well is tied up in the business (same with the SO's business). When you are working for homeowners, they are often very nitpicky and well, very cheap. You can plan on not working one day, but being stuck in meetings or called into work that day because of homeowner-related stuff. Weather plays a major factor in getting stuff done on time. People change their minds about plans that were created for them at the drop of a hat, you have to work with lots of other contractors who often WILL screw you over, I can go on and on and on and on and on.........my SO basically does a lot of designing and such as well.

ETA: Did I say that jobs like these are physically and mentally draining? Not only that but (and this might not effect you since you are married) many landscaping companies are small businesses that don't usually offer their employees benefits and such.

I don't want to be a downer, but I wish my SO would go into teaching. He often talks about it but feels it's "too late". At least he'd have something stable, with good unionized benefits and he also is great with kids. I guess the grass is always greener, right?

[kdhmps]

I am planning a career transition, too. I am moving out of social services once I pass the CPA exam. I can assure you I earn far less than you, but I can relate to the lack of financial reward. I don't want to financially struggle, but at this rate, I always will and won't be able to be on my own. I think if I did not have the student loan debt and had a SO to help support me, it might be different. But I also like nice things and hate not being able to have them. I have clients in our subsidy program who earn more than me. It is kinda depressing.

[winneythepooh7]

I am planning a career transition, too. I am moving out of social services once I pass the CPA exam. I can assure you I earn far less than you, but I can relate to the lack of financial reward. I don't want to financially struggle, but at this rate, I always will and won't be able to be on my own. I think if I did not have the student loan debt and had a SO to help support me, it might be different. But I also like nice things and hate not being able to have them. I have clients in our subsidy program who earn more than me. It is kinda depressing.

I think people assume that because I have a SO, things are more financially easy for me. Not true though. The cost of living in NY is so freakin' high, that it doesn't really matter. By the time I pay my half of the rent, school loans, car stuff, LIRR ticket, credit card bill and utilities, I have very little left at the end of the month. I can't depend on my SO's income either because his $$$ like I mentioned above is often caught up in his business, or, he is waiting to get paid from customers. Many times I've had to pay out our whole share of the month's rent because he hasn't had money because of what I mentioned (although he always pays me back). It's very stressful being involved with someone in the construction/landscaping business.

[SmilesSoSweet]

My BS degree is in Landscape Architecture. The one thing I'll tell you though is that you still will be in an office setting most of the time working in front of a computer on AutoCAD. Even if you get a Masters degree, you'll still enter the profession at entry level.

I do like what I do, but I've had my doubts as well. I still need to attempt to study for my licensing exam, but I'm scared shit to take it because my test taking skills aren't the greatest. Most people don't pass each portion on the first try. It's tough.

I do a lot of project management, getting construction documents prepared for projects and I'm out in the field for site observation.

This is completely different from a landscaping contracting company. There aren't too many people that know what landscape architecture really is. My own family still thinks I'm an architect and that I just work on people's back yards. I HATE doing residential design. I love working on master planned communities, parks, and urban plaza design.

I may go back to school one of these days. I might try and get my masters in Urban and Reional Planning. ASU has a program here, but I haven't quite looked into it. I'm still trying to figure out if I can still work full time and go to grad school and studying for a licensing exam. Who knows.

capella, you can PM/email me with any questions. I can also tell you which schools have good BSLA/MLA programs.

[capella]

Ah, yeah I forgot to add that it's not the same as working for a landscaping company. It's more the design side of things. I wouldn't necessarily be the one digging the holes. I think creating a new community and planning parks or a community space thing or something would be fantastic. How cool would it be to take someone to a neighborhood and say, "I helped design this."

I realize it's not completely out of the office, but it doesn't seem to be the exact same thing as a business office job.

[ocean24]

I have several friends and family members who are landscape architects. I know that learning AutoCad is a must nowadays. If you work in the private sector, there is much less job stability than teaching in public schools (no union). The work can be very cyclic and stressful, especially with big project deadlines. I would say that the teaching profession has probably prepared you for meeting the needs of a variety of people (city planners, consultants, project managers, clients, etc.). Plus the job can be rewarding when you see a site you helped design being used. Good luck!

[kdhmps]

I think people assume that because I have a SO, things are more financially easy for me. Not true though. The cost of living in NY is so freakin' high, that it doesn't really matter. By the time I pay my half of the rent, school loans, car stuff, LIRR ticket, credit card bill and utilities, I have very little left at the end of the month. I can't depend on my SO's income either because his $$$ like I mentioned above is often caught up in his business, or, he is waiting to get paid from customers. Many times I've had to pay out our whole share of the month's rent because he hasn't had money because of what I mentioned (although he always pays me back). It's very stressful being involved with someone in the construction/landscaping business.

Winney,

I can certainly understand your perspective... I try to think of ways my current situation could work, I guess.... But it is not right now, and I am not sure I want anyone rescuing me, either.

NYC is more expensive than Chicago, and it is not exactly cheap in the Chicago area. I've actually heard that we might be the first generation to do worse than our parents, and sometimes I think that is true... Hopefully I am wrong about that!

[Deni81]

Amy, I agree with your comment on how teaching just takes and takes. I am at the half way point of my second year and find myself questioning if I have the energy to do this for the rest of my life.

[wordsmith]

I identify on the love-hate thing.

Don't forget that you don't have to be employed as a teacher to work with/help kids in ways that may suit you better, regardless of what you end up choosing as primary employment.

[Kitty]

Good for you!

There's an ex teacher in my department now and she left teaching for all the reasons you mentioned in your post. I think a big one for her was that there wasn't really room for growth. It was cute because when she started here she couldn't believe that we actually got reimbursed for gas and that there were things like free lunches, supplies, coffee, etc. She says she's a lot happier now but that she learned a lot from teaching and uses those skills all the time.

[capella]

Good for you!

There's an ex teacher in my department now and she left teaching for all the reasons you mentioned in your post. I think a big one for her was that there wasn't really room for growth. It was cute because when she started here she couldn't believe that we actually got reimbursed for gas and that there were things like free lunches, supplies, coffee, etc. She says she's a lot happier now but that she learned a lot from teaching and uses those skills all the time.
I absolutely think the skills I've learned while teaching will apply elsewhere. I think teachers have skills that rival CEOs. We have to manage paperwork, people (students, co-workers, parents), plan out the future, research, create, present, analyze data and put it to use, report to the "stockholders" (LOL, the admins and legislators I suppose), and do it all under an intense time pressure. I think a lot of my experience will transfer... it's all in how I package it.

It won't be immediate. I have to keep teaching while I get my shit together and we're still moving. But I feel a lot better about it knowing that it's not all I can do and I'm not stuck in it. I see a light at the end. I am probably going to go back to middle school after this year. Teaching elementary is for the birds.