Should continue to be in Teaching or change field?

Question

I m 24, working as Lecturer for the past 4 years. I have great passion for teaching, the salary and growth prospects looks dim. But my friends & students who are into software(programming) are earning 4 times my salary(even my present passed out students earns 3 my salary, previous are settled in abroad) Even my collegues, resigned there jobs and learned software, now they are earning $7000 p.m, some of them are also travelling across the globe. I feel totally feel stuck & lost( i should not be, i know, i should be clear, i should guide people...hey what can i do, i m human too), what should i do quit job and join software and move to software field?

Answer 1

If you are moved to ask the question then it is time for you to leave the teaching profession. Your "desire" to teach will not overcome your "desire" to make a better living; therefore, your students will eventually be poorly served and you will be equally unrewarded.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I know how you feel - I've been teaching full-time at the college level for 6.5 years, and I feel like I make diddly-squat compared to my peers! Unfortunately my background is in astronomy, so it's not as easy for me to find a job in the real world as it is for you with your knowledge of programming (I sometimes wonder what life would be like if I had studied programming instead, as I do seem to have a knack for it). It's a tough decision to make, and unfortunately you're the only one who can make that decision. Unless you have a family you have to provide for, I'd recommend that you follow your heart. Imagine yourself 40 or 50 years from now, looking back on your life - what do you see?

Answer 3

Sounds like you already answered your question.. you have a passion for teaching and love for one's job is worth it's weight in gold.

Sure, you could be a programmer, make alot of money, and be miserable every day you wake up and have to go to work. Or you could wake up everday and go to a job you love, knowing that you have helped others.

Or you could have the best of both worlds by becoming a programmer by day and teach classes online at night.

Answer 4

You have to decide what is more important to you - money or doing something you love. I see the teachers at my college making diddly and teaching to students who could care less and I think I would not like to do that, perhaps if the students were not so apathetic...

I didn't say anything about your English to the guy below.

Answer 5

I would recommend, at your age, that you go for the travelling job and try the new career. It's a perfect time in your life. Finish the school year and leave on good terms. That way, if one day you want to return to teaching, you can. Good luck!

Answer 6

In what country do you live,dude?Is by any chance R.?
Cause it looks to me so because of your name and what you said.HA!We are neighbours.
I would have said to you something in R. but yahoo previously removed one of my answers because it was in a foreign language.
And by the way of your answer, of course you should change field as permanent base salary to come from something else but you can also teach even more happily when you have your decent income assured. You can teach to university summer classes,volunteer or even to effectively have hours of teaching to a college or university or god knows what else.
Don't be scared of what crct 2004 said about your English it happened to me too.

Answer 7

If that's what you want to do- go for it! Have your adventure! Not every one is cut out to be a teacher!

Answer 8

If you keep at it you could be a college profesor.

Answer 9

I'm hoping that English is your second language. If it's not, please for the love of God and the sake of the children you teach, PLEASE stop teaching and do something else, anything but teach!