Leaving IT... for something much better.

[giantsnyy]

So last week I turned 26. I've been stuck working for a moderately large company of sorts here on the east coast with incredibly long hours and headaches with a very low salary to match. Two weeks ago, our area was hit by Hurricane Sandy. The owners and COO of our company decided it would be a fantastic idea to lay every one off for two weeks, providing no disaster assistance (not even to charity) or the ability to use our vacation time as pay. The competing company down the road (which is just as large as we are, if not larger) decided it would be an even better idea to help their employees, giving them a place to stay (air mattresses and food included), gas in their cars and bonuses in addition to their weekly salary.

I was on vacation last week (unpaid, since i'm not allowed to use my vacation time even though it's been pre-approved) and I did a lot of thinking. I was out in Vegas, and I stopped by the Bodies exhibit at the Luxor. Medicine and human health has always been an interest of mine, and my ex having been a doctor gave me even more of an insight on the field. The exhibit changed my mind forever. As I found out friday I wouldn't get paid AT ALL even though I was required to show up the prior week, and that my vacation would be unpaid, I made a decision to change the rest of my life.

I'm going to stay on part time, so I have some cash income, but I'm going to start college all over again, this time pre-med, then continue into Med School. Surprisingly, I've never been happier and more focused on anything in my entire life.

I have no doubts, but there are people I know that are doubting it, and doubting my motives (i.e. one person said i'm doing it to impress my ex... she doesn't even know). I know how tough its going to be... between the schooling and the residency after school, but I'm willing to put 110% of my life into it.

What do you guys think? Is it the right decision?

Edit: Please don't ask me what the company name is... I refuse to tell anyone. I won't damage the reputation of the company since it's employees are absolutely amazing, from all the way at the bottom to the corporate offices and vice presidents. The awesomeness stops at the very top with the COO and owner.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

I for one, think it's never a bad idea to further your education. It sounds like you have it all sorted out to your lifestyle, so I can't disagree, especially with something like that happening! If you have a better opportunity to take an even better paid path, why not jump on it as quickly as you can, right? I don't think you made the wrong decision. You obviously have the brains for it, so I say, go ahead! How is bettering your life/career path going to hurt in any way? Plus, on the flip side, we can all call you "Dr. Giantsnyy" here on the forums, lol! Okay, that was a lame joke, but still, imagine...being able to call yourself "Dr. (insert your real name here)....isn't that awesome! Shoot for the stars my man! I have faith in you! (Y)

[Dot Matrix]

I'd say go for it. You're young enough. :)

[Royalty]

Haha I like your edit.

Anyways, it's great seeing people doing something they love for a living, it really doesn't matter what it is.

I've seen a lot of topics online stating why their job sucks and why they need to work on Wall Street to be happy. I just want to say that it's untrue. Someone that works as a janitor at a school could be so much more happy than someone working on Wall Street. Ever since I was very little, I wanted to be a bus driver as well as a tow truck driver. I've always loved that job and I still do. But I chose computers over being a tow truck driver or a bus driver.

Also, when I was in high school, I had a janitor that was super nice, probably the nicest janitor I've ever met. And let me tell you something. The smile on his face everyday showed 101% how much he liked his job. And when I say that, I mean he LOVED his job.

So the moral of this? It doesn't really matter where you work and what job you do but as long as you're happy with it, it's all that matters.

Sorry about what I just wrote... lol I just felt like I needed to add that.

[Japlabot]

So not necessarily that IT is bad, it's that the company you have been working for is bad. It would be interesting how an IT approach to troubleshooting would work on a human body :)

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

That's awesome! Good luck!

[ahhell]

Take a trade or something. IT ****ing sucks. It's probably the most thankless industry to work in. No matter where you work, you are always seen as an expense.

If I was a bit younger/could afford to go back to school, I'd be a carpenter or something.

[remixedcat]

I work 3 jobs so im too busy to be that emotional... i would love to get into retouching and graphics full time, however that market is too saturated and the payoff is meh. since styles change too often. It's sad, as I am awesome at it but it's very hard to find good clients to deal with.

so i do retail data work, networking, and server admin/forum services

[Jose_49]

Read Rich dad poor Dad by Robert L. Kiyosaki... great book

[Nick H. Supervisor]

So not necessarily that IT is bad, it's that the company you have been working for is bad. It would be interesting how an IT approach to troubleshooting would work on a human body :)

"Patient is complaining of a chesty cough, including an abnormal amount of mucus and chest pains."

"Have you tried turning him off and on again?"

Maybe an IT guy would be more suited for heart surgery in that situation...

EDIT: Completely forgot to congratulate +giantsnyy on the decision! It's always good when someone isn't happy with their situation and so they actively try to change it. (Y)

[Nothing Here]

"Patient is complaining of a chesty cough, including an abnormal amount of mucus and chest pains."

"Have you tried turning him off and on again?"

Maybe an IT guy would be more suited for heart surgery in that situation...

EDIT: Completely forgot to congratulate +giantsnyy on the decision! It's always good when someone isn't happy with their situation and so they actively try to change it. (Y)

I would have thought an IT person would have been more suited for brain surgery. Congratz on the change. I hope it works out. It's a bit rough switching like that, but your young enough.

[Ryan Hoffman]

Just so you know OP, you qualify for New York State Disaster Assistance Unemployment. Ring them up and get some cash.

All the good details: http://www.labor.ny.gov/ui/claimantinfo/disaster-unemployment-assistance.shtm

[Glassed Silver]

I'm in a similar situation, if sou want to have a chat about it, PM me and we can chat there or in a messenger or something.

It's good to hear another person is in such a situation.

I know it made and still makes me sick feeling lost in what I do right now, even though it's just college, but in principle, everything applies to me as well. :)

Art for me by the way. :)

Glassed Silver:ios

[briangw]

I say go for it. I started out in Public Health and not being able to find a job in it, I went into IT because I loved computers. Every now and then, I think "what if I tried to stay just to find something" but decided that I am happy with where I'm at even if it's sometimes a "thankless job." You got to do what makes you happy and this sounds like a great move!

[Teebor]

Good on you!

Sometimes its good to make a massive difference, I did it once in the past when I went from working in IT to working in a Casino. I loved it and I still miss doing it today but there is no money in it and due to several reasons I had to move to be closer to my family and went back in to IT again. But I certainly don't regret making the change.

So go for it and don't let anyone put you down about it or try to hold you back. Remember if there are people who laugh at you about it or try to take the **** it because they are actually jealous and don't have the strength to make the decision you have to change your life

[Tuishimi]

You know what, if you CAN do it, you WANT to do it, DO IT!!! I have a good life, but I still, to this day, regret not attending college (I was accepted, just decided not to) as a biochemistry major right out of high school... instead I decided to start a low-level job and to buy a car. Now, over time that paid off because my company paid for all kinds of education, and I became a software engineer... but I still love biochemistry, biology, science in general and am an amateur wanna-be in all sorts of things.

[game_over]

We need more people like you, i know so many who have settled for second best with their work just because they can't be bothered to make a change. It's so much easier to stay where you are, so congratulations on taking a risk.

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

Great idea and kudos to you for just going and doing it. Good luck and I hope it all works out for you :)

IT is one of the most dull, soul crushing things... I've got a lot of respect for anyone that manages to get out of it!

[Arceles]

I'm in a similar situation, if sou want to have a chat about it, PM me and we can chat there or in a messenger or something.

It's good to hear another person is in such a situation.

I know it made and still makes me sick feeling lost in what I do right now, even though it's just college, but in principle, everything applies to me as well. :)

Art for me by the way. :)

Glassed Silver:ios

Man everyone is restructuring themselves... may as well thinking about that too then...

[giantsnyy]

Thanks everyone! I'm so happy that I've had very little negative reaction to this. Even my coworkers are happy for me including my HR director... in fact she's trying to help me get settled in the right school for pre-med.

[Glassed Silver]

Thanks everyone! I'm so happy that I've had very little negative reaction to this. Even my coworkers are happy for me including my HR director... in fact she's trying to help me get settled in the right school for pre-med.

Sounds like...

Bad employment reference incoming...! :laugh:

:p

Glassed Silver:mac

[Growled Member]

I think it's an excellent idea. Always follow your heart.

[Mr.ed]

I also work in IT, and used to agree that it's a thankless job. You see, I worked in a bank, so everything WAS nickels and dimes... But you know what? Last December I moved from the banking industry to the healthcare industry (system and network administration for a dialysis company, 20 facilities), and my mind was blown. I continue in IT, but its no longer a thankless job. I get to see how my work makes a difference in peoples lives. Maybe im not shown appreciation every day, but man, the satisfaction is there. Healthcare is generally awesome, even more if your company does charitable work (which mine does).

Now you will get to appreciate both sides (to the OP).

My advice? Never fear change, as change is always good, and good things come for those who seek it.

And, Glassed, my firend, do not fear. Those are stages in life... and you are awesome enough to surpass that, as you always handle things so well around here. I should say, consider that a gift. And if it's art, art it is! (I come from a family of artists, singers, painters, musicians, sculptors; and I went into IT, masochist maybe, lol).

I'm in a similar situation, if sou want to have a chat about it, PM me and we can chat there or in a messenger or something.

It's good to hear another person is in such a situation.

I know it made and still makes me sick feeling lost in what I do right now, even though it's just college, but in principle, everything applies to me as well. :)

Art for me by the way. :)

Glassed Silver:ios

Mr.Ed

[fusi0n]

Sorry to hear about your old job but it sounds like things happened for the best.. The IT field isn't bad, but there are some bad work environments.

[devBrian]

My "IT" (web development) job is going well enough that I can take the time to learn game engine development. I'll be going into the field that I want to be in, while still doing what I need to survive. If I could go to college for something, I don't know if I would change my field, honestly. Maybe archaeology or paleo, but those are hard to get into.