What would Bigfooty do...

[HugeJohnson]

I thought a general help thread about everyday dilemmas could be handy.

My situation: finished high school in 2011, spent last year working around as a dishie then got some certificates/licences (truck, first aid, working at heights, confined space entry etc.) and got a job as a drillers offsider for a few months in WA. It was brutal so I pussied out and moved back home. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life but figured I can't just sit around waiting so I applied for primary education at uni. Got accepted and am about 2 months into it but the problem is I'm not sure if I want to be doing it. Im really have no motivation for it and I hate the stress that comes with assignments etc and constantly keep telling myself "you don't HAVE to be doing this". I don't even really know why I'm doing teaching to be honest. So what do I do from here?
Drop out and remove all the unnecessary stress, and just keep working and waiting until I do know what I want to do?
Or stay, knowing that I'm at least working towards something? Even though I'm not really enjoying it?(Also racking up more and more payments)

Will dropping out now affect any possible future uni application? (I really just think uni in general isn't my thing but I know plenty who said the same thing when they were younger and went back to uni at a later age)

What do I do?

 

[Footypie32]

pr0n.



Nah, but seriously, I've never been to Uni, so I can't really give you much advice there, but I will say that being stuck in a job you don't like, plus having massive debt sounds shit. I've always believed that you shouldn't go to Uni unless you really know what you want to get out of it. You've already got some certificates, so why not see if you can keep building your qualifications in the work force? You never know where that might take you.

 

[courtjester]

Dropping out of uni won't do you any favours. Unless you have something to go to.

Do you want to be a teacher? (if yes, you'll just have to put in the work for the next few years).

If you don't really want to be a teacher, finish the year at uni anyway (providing you're capable of the work). Maybe access a course advisor later in the year and see what you might be able to change to. You should get credits for some stuff you've already passed.

There are a heap of benefits to finishing something like a teaching degree. Heaps of options beyond straight classroom teaching.

That said, if you can find something in the workforce that suits you, go for it. Consider strongly what you'd like to be doing in 10 years time though. Jobs in the workforce (non trade/uni) can be limited in options for change and could get monotonous.

 

[checkraiseulite]

I think it's rare for people to find something they love and know what it is that they should do career wise.

Suck it up and commit to something for a decent period of time before you quit. Sometimes you have to do things you don't like.

It's very easy for quitting to become a habit.

 

[rayven]

Your teaching degree takes 4 years? Your 20? for the next three and a half years, buckling down and getting your degree, which means you can get work anywhere in Australia and possibly the world? At 24? with 45 years of your working life left, to work out what you want to do?

Its something you can always fall back on, unemployment will never be an issue for you. Plus in your teaching degree you'll learn some really good skills if you ever have a family. Those skills can be also very usefull in your community as you get around in it...

 

[LANGFORDandSON]

What do I do?

Have you considered an apprenticeship? Since completing my A grade electrical licence it has been invaluable in opening doors. I have traveled around Oz twice now surfing the whole time and living on beaches without ever having a problem finding work when I have needed to thanks to my qualification. It not only opens doors into blue collar jobs but also management roles running teams of contractors, couldn't have done it without the licence.

 

[HugeJohnson]

Yeah I think I'll stick with it for as long as I can. I've done two assignments and got high distinctions for both so the work isn't an issue. Probably unwise to drop out mid-semester anyway.

 

[Poseidon]

Speaking as someone who has changed Uni courses more often than I've changed my underwear, stick with it for the year at least before making any decisions. Quitting when it becomes too hard can become addictive. There'll always be a voice in your head saying "screw this, live your life, do what makes you happy" which is a good philosophy generally but don't let it convince you that you're doing the wrong thing just because you're momentarily unhappy or fed up.