Should I follow my life's passion if I'm not yet financially stable to do so?

Question

I am about to quit my job to go back to school to study the Culinary Arts, but I don't feel financially stable enough to do it. But I also know myself enough to know that if I don't go now I never will. I really don't know what to do.

Keeping my current job is not an option as the school is out of state. But the school does offer job placement while in school. But I would be taking a very large pay cut, and working much less...while still needing to pay all of my own bills. And yes, I do already have student loans set up for the schooling costs.

Answer 1

That is a decision that you and only you can make. If it is passion in life, then I would suggest that you follow it. Many people ramble throughout their lives not knowing what their passion is and it appears that you have found it. I admire that in a person. One thing you need to ask yourself is how long will you wait until you are financially stable? And what does it mean to be financially stable? Look at the big picture. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made in order to get what you want out of life. Will you kick yourself if you don't follow your heart and passion because you were not financially stable? There are ways around this. So you may have to give up eating out for a while, buying what you want on a whim, etc... You can take out student loans and then pay them back once you land that dream job. Then you can resume your lifestyle and maybe with more money in your pocket.

Answer 2

I took a pay cut when I changed careers, too. That was one of the things I knew would probably happen. But I'm much happier with my life now, and that alone would have made up for the money stress. But I also now make WAY more than I did when I started, so your pay may eventually catch up to where you were in your former career.

It'll be hard, living on less. See what you can cut now, in advance of making this change. Start making the needed changes now.

Also, if you can find related work while you're in school - something in the culinary arena, preferably at a "real" restaurant - then see if you can work part time. Perhaps your school has a restaurant on-campus? I know the CIA does, in NY. Their students work in these very fine restaurants to get experience (and money) while also attending school.

Answer 3

Wow, now this is a good question. Honestly, first I must clarify the meaning of passionate - this would be, in my definition, something you are completely enthralled with, something that captivates you, and you could not imagine living without. If this is how you feel about it, then I can honestly say, I have, and currently am following my own dreams (check out my webpage, and you'll see what I am passionate about, www.groups.yahoo.com/group/3latedremnant ) and I will tell yoou, It has been a struggle, and currently, because I have financial obligations, I am still doing it on a part time basis, but I do believe that if you love something, you may have to invest alot of time, energy and finances into it, but it will be worth it if you follow through. Just dont do so unwisely. Work a fulltime job, and do what you desire to on a part time basis. The money from your job, you can invest into your talents and dreams, but at the very least, you will not miss out on having your dreams accomplished at some level. Keep on, and someday, you will say good bye to the full time work, and hello to a lifestyle of fulfilling your dreams in entirety.

Answer 4

As a school teacher, I decided that it was important to work towards a master's degree in Reading. Last year, my husband and I earned about $35,000. About 75% of that income was from my teaching. We decided that if I did not go back to school at that point, I never would. We were anything BUT financially secure. If I did get my master's, there would be no way that I could continue working full time as a teacher and successfully earn my degree. I applied to a state school that cost $20,000 for the program. I kept saying it will work out, and it did. A friend from the school I taught at offered me a job teaching their children part time and agreed to pay me a salary and pay for my master's degree. I received this job offer after I had applied to the school. It seems that if it is meant to be, it somehow works out!

Answer 5

you study to get a job and then to earn money. That should be your primary reason why you go to school. You can get a job, where you make a lot of money, and go to school part time for your own satisfaction. Do not quit your job if you think you will not get a job after school that will reward as much.

Thus said, if you think you'll have a career in Culinary Arts, and make reasonable money after that, it's worth a try to get a loan or so to go for school. It's always a good investment.

If you think you will not make as much, then stay at your current job, and go to school part time.

Answer 6

The sacrifice will pay off down the line, I am in the same predicament but I plan on working for one year straight saving up as much as I can while taking few classes, so I can focus solely on school and my grades the following year. Working and studying is really difficult. I also believe if I stay at work constantly, this will never be done. So I think you are heading the right way.

Answer 7

I think you should go to school. But dont quit your job. There are other ways to get your education, by asking if there is a way to do it online. Or even part time classes, and if that does not work. Maybe take the classes all day, and take up a parttime job. If you don’t do it now that you’re motivated, you'll never go. That's how I started. I wanted to take classes for photography. Well it kind of back fired. I had a child, and that changed my motivation.
good luck.

Answer 8

If you stay with your current job, you'll need to work harder to make the same money that you would if you worked in a job that you love. I'm sure most people would have thought that dropping out of college would have been a mistake for Bill Gates, but he followed his passion and became successful at it.

If you are truly following your passion, you will be putting in tremendous hours and hard work into it. But you will love it and the financial rewards will come.

Answer 9

This is an age old question indeed, and often a troubling one. Of course no one can make this decision for you, but here is what I think.

Life is relatively short. If you can scrape by, with a part time job, or however you can manage to while in school, I say it is worth it.

If you feel passionately about this career path, find a way to make it work. The more difficult it is to achieve, the more passion you must have for achieving it.

Answer 10

It sounds like you must have some form of financial stability to even consider quiting your job. I'd say that it will probably all work out. If not, you can always go back to work. If you have the chance, you should definitely take it. There are always student loans and don't forget to check into all forms of financial aid, no matter your age or interest.

If it's something you love, you can't say no. These things just seem to work themselves out. You have to say yes to the potential!