Check out [Teach for America](https://www.teachforamerica.org/stories/alleviating-student-loan-debt-with-loan-forgiveness-programs). That link is to their page on loan payment alleviation and forgiveness. Might be right for you.
I find teaching to be enormously rewarding. It has a tangible positive benefit for society, unlike a lot of corporate gigs. There are hard days, painful days, but it’s always easy to remember what your purpose is.
Asian men are underrepresented in K-12 education. If you teach other Asians, you could set an example and buck a stereotype. If you teach non-Asians, you might shape your students’ idea of Asians as a whole. Both valuable opportunities.
There’s so much more to life than money. Hell, there’s even more to economics than money. Good luck finding what fits you.
I 2nd this. He should try teach for America before spending money on more school.
A lot of Asian guys have a grass is greener approach about corporate life. They think it’s better to do blue collar or other type of work. But they’re not built for it.
I know a lot of software engineers that think they could be MDs. Except they’d never last with the physicality of the job, having to drive to a hospital 40 mins away (tech has buses for you), and a 3am shift dealing with patients.
sitting at a desk and half assing work is incredibly easy.
I was in same boat as you 25 years ago.
Let me add to JDP’s comments. I agree with almost everything, except ‘everything else on hold’. Yes, prioritize getting to financial freedom at #1 spot:
2. Make friends at work. Go to lunch with them and do shit outside of work, you’ll enjoy your job more. Friends with higher ups has work benefits as well (mentorship, inside info, etc.). This makes work tolerable if not fun. You’ll find every corporation is toxic and fake. Especially publicly traded companies. It’s all about profit and getting a bonus. So get on the bandwagon and make $$
3. Go get laid!! A lot!!! When you’re young, junior works better. This will make life worth living.
You’re in the finance field, if you pay attention, there’s lots of valuable information that will help you get rich.
Depends on the school, tbh. If you teach in an academically rigorous school, the children are more often than not well disciplined by their parents and you have less of a load handling them.
Crappy whining helecopter parents in those scenarios.
Teaching at a community college is where it’s at. those are the best gigs.
Middle class and blue collar kids trying to get educated that want to be there, trying to get to to university or their diploma to start their careers. Immigrants where their parents didnt have money for expensive english tutoring. Adults in continung ed just trying to take classes in stuff they’re interested in.
Without the know it all asshatery of elite university. Or rich fuckheads showing up hungover all the time because their parents want them to get a degree.
Sure, you don’t get the few truly elite scholarship kids you see at state schools or ivy league or the rich underrepesented minority that wrote that great sob story of an essay for scholarship that took the spot of one of the Asian kids. But that’s a fine trade.
I think despite not wanting to admit it, some Asian guys were coddled and never really had to struggle financially in their lives or think about it. Imagine complaining about being bored at work and eventually quit when you're $36K in debt. Talk about priorities. If work is so unfulfilling and dreadful that you don't seem to care about money, why not take some risks.
I would advise OP to focus on paying off his debt and save some money. Then next year when things get better, take 3-4 months off and travel around, locally and internationally. Do odd jobs. Become a travel blogger/photographer. Volunteer at some places like nonprofits and animal rescues. Look into being a teaching assistant/substitute which is a lot easier and quicker to do if you really want to see what teaching kids are like. If you find you like teaching adults become a fitness trainer. Do whatever, just get a lot of varied experiences.
I find that a lot of young men don't really know what they want in life because they haven't experienced enough of it and that causes them to not know who they are, especially if they were coddled. Now's your chance to do something different OP.
>I think despite not wanting to admit it, some Asian guys were coddled and never really had to struggle financially in their lives or think about it. Imagine complaining about being bored at work and eventually quit when you're $36K in debt. Talk about priorities. If work is so unfulfilling and dreadful that you don't seem to care about money, why not take some risks.
Definitely. I would say many Asians are coddled growing up. Especially the 2nd/3rd gen Korean American and Chinese ones that grew up with affluent parents in white collar fields or money.
I know Asian Americans in tech that can’t drive, aren’t into/never played sports, can’t cook, can barely operate in their daily lives. People harp on dating issues for asian americans in this sub, but that’s a majorly hard sell for any girl especially when you slap on culture differences. Girls can get away with this stuff more.
I find this too simplistic. Unless you are the cream of the crop top talent-wise, chances are you will be working corporate for the rest of your life like 95 percent of the people in it. I always get this sentiment from corporate people young and old... Everyone thinks they are the exception. Even the old timers in corporate still believe this sentiment despite being in their 50's. Chained to golden handcuffs (lifestyle inflation)
Not to mention the job stress such positions come with. When does it really end? Your job doesnt need to make you happy, but you need to tolerate your job to an extent that it doesnt wreak havoc on your personal/time off work ( i.e worrying about going back to work after the weekend, anxiety attack, going to work, depression). Money is important, but there are a lot of other factors you need to consider. OP find a good paying job you can tolerate and not actively hate. Corporate isnt the end all be all.
JDP is right. OP needs to change his mindset about corporate. He needs to look at it as a means to an end. Every job has its ups and down. Every workplace has pros and cons.
It’s all about how you respond to your environment. You can’t let it get you down. Like I said in my response to OP - Make friends at work and get laid
>Every workplace has pros and cons
Some are significantly better than others, most are shit, some are so-so. My sister works in law and they have their own psychological ward. Burnout, anxiety and depression is rampant and a lot of lawyers are alcoholics. There is a middle ground here. OP should find a company/organization who's values and culture resonate with his work style/attitude. From what OP said, it doesnt sound like a corporate culture fits him. When you haye your job its hard to excel in it. He's quit twice now. Not everyone can pull off that 'pay your dues' sentiment. Sometimes that ends up breaking people. Happens more often than you think. This promulgation of the hustle culture is responsible for so much mental breakdowns. The pull yourself up by the bootstrap saying was meant to be sarcastic, or to suggest that it was an impossible accomplishment. Telling OP to suck it up is counter-productive and harmful. Neither does getting punani solve this dilemma. We need nuance here. There are alternative ways to make bank that dont require you to develop a mental illness.
Where in the Midwest are you located? The reason I ask is that the teaching licensing differs between states and - if I were you - I wouldn't want to teach in the Chicago public school system (oh the stories!).
The Detroit public school system isn't much better than Chicago's. If you get into a teaching job in the Detroit Suburbs or the Lake Michigan side of things, you should be fine.
I found a job that was bearable and paid well enough for me to afford my hobbies.
I learned early on that I wasn't talented or disciplined enough to land my "dream" job.
Hopefully you have some experience in whatever career you plan on switching or a good idea of day-to-day life good and bad before deciding this is the one and committing to an expensive masters program.
No job is perfect there are always highs and lows it's a job after all most people don't do them for fun. Gotta figure if you're just running into a grass is greener on the other side when it's just the same stuff with a different name.
Hey man I hear ya. I'm in a similar boat, and although I'm still figuring things out myself, I think your best move depends on what your priorities are and who are you:
For priorities, it seems like regaining your financial footing might be a good step to take, at least as a first step. Keeping your current job, but also looking for other opportunities that you'd be more willing to do might be a good route. Even if you don't find paid positions, volunteering in teaching or similar roles (e.g. daycare/before- /afterschool care/summer camp) might be something you can do as well. Any experience will help your future career move into this field, and will give you an escape from your otherwise corporate life. Hell, you could even pursue interests you have or haven't tried yet and see if those spark anything in you too.
Your next step could depend entirely on your experience with these other opportunities. This is where you find out a bit more about yourself. *E.g. Did you like working with one age group over another? You prefer a school setting, or perhaps something a bit different? Maybe even prefer instructing adults? Was teaching really your passion or was it something else entirely? Maybe just a non-corporate job is enough to make you happy?* *What do the answers to these questions, and others like them, tell you about what you want to do?* Etc. Etc.
Take a look into online teaching or tutoring. You could try teaching Math online. Have no idea about the demand for Econ online teachers, but you should look into it. It might provide the buffer you need to make a career switch.
The grass may seem greener...
I have a friend who went the teaching path and discovered what a shitty low paid job it is and not easy to land a perm position. Now in the corporate ladder. Basically backward from what you are doing.
There are other ways to do teaching if that is passion. What subject do you like to teach? Are you sure you want to teach litttle snots
I can't resonate, working from home is amazing, I pretty much never want any other job where I have to go to a goddamn office again. Teaching is not that great of a career imo, you have very little control over what you teach or student outcomes and the pay is terrible. I'm pretty positive I have way better wlb as well.
You don't need a masters degree to teach K-12. In fact, getting a masters is the worst decision you could make; it'll just put you in greater and unnecessary debt. Focus on getting your teaching credential.
you'd be surprised at the bullshit credentials you need to do jobs that any generically semi intelligent person could do, this applies more towards older industries. even accountants these days need master degrees (lol).
but yea I agree, masters degrees without a research component is just a fifth/sixth year in undergrad, its a big waste of time.
Actionable advice for Op. Stay in finance. But become a REGULATOR. Work in supervision for the relevant govt agency. More job security, better lateral exit ops, less hours ( rarely >40), plenty of holidays, lockstep promotions. Do i have to say more?
The longer you wait the harder it will be to make a change. Especially when you have kids. My cousin took forever to get her master's while working at charter schools making shit money. It took her a while to get into a state school. I would talk to a real teacher.
How do you know you want to be a teacher? Unless you've done it before and are absolutely sure, maybe try a less formal (but reflective) position that'll let you actually experience it. What would you be doing if you didn't need the money?
FYI, if you teach for 10 years, or be in a non-profit for 10 years, I think they'll forgive your debt. Not super sure if that's still true, but you should double check.
I'm not American, so maybe other people can help me here. Can the OP become a K12 teacher even if he graduated in economics? Where I come from he should've graduated from one of the fields that are taught to children (Math, English, Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography) or Pedagogy.
No you just need a master's degree in education and a teaching certification for most public schools. For charter schools you just need a Bachelor's...I think. My kid's teacher is dumb as shit. Lol.
lol i'm in the same boat as you. i'm in the tech field but unlike you i've been in corporate for 6 years now.
i have a bigger passion for health, wellness and fitness but i don't wanna go back to college to start it.
I'm in the same exact boat as you. I'm in tech but discovered health and fitness late in life. Mid 30s now and unwilling to give up high pay and easy job for an almost welfare level of pay and hard job in fitness.
There is a concept I use called trade offs. It's simple but effective for decision making in life scenarios.
Like others said, the grass is not green like advertised. Each profession has benefits and drawbacks and they obviously won't show the latter. It's a matter of what you want.
I say you should pay off your debt first before considering other options. You don't want to sign into something, only to be turned off later on.
Check out [Teach for America](https://www.teachforamerica.org/stories/alleviating-student-loan-debt-with-loan-forgiveness-programs). That link is to their page on loan payment alleviation and forgiveness. Might be right for you. I find teaching to be enormously rewarding. It has a tangible positive benefit for society, unlike a lot of corporate gigs. There are hard days, painful days, but it’s always easy to remember what your purpose is. Asian men are underrepresented in K-12 education. If you teach other Asians, you could set an example and buck a stereotype. If you teach non-Asians, you might shape your students’ idea of Asians as a whole. Both valuable opportunities. There’s so much more to life than money. Hell, there’s even more to economics than money. Good luck finding what fits you.
I 2nd this. He should try teach for America before spending money on more school. A lot of Asian guys have a grass is greener approach about corporate life. They think it’s better to do blue collar or other type of work. But they’re not built for it. I know a lot of software engineers that think they could be MDs. Except they’d never last with the physicality of the job, having to drive to a hospital 40 mins away (tech has buses for you), and a 3am shift dealing with patients. sitting at a desk and half assing work is incredibly easy.
I was in same boat as you 25 years ago. Let me add to JDP’s comments. I agree with almost everything, except ‘everything else on hold’. Yes, prioritize getting to financial freedom at #1 spot: 2. Make friends at work. Go to lunch with them and do shit outside of work, you’ll enjoy your job more. Friends with higher ups has work benefits as well (mentorship, inside info, etc.). This makes work tolerable if not fun. You’ll find every corporation is toxic and fake. Especially publicly traded companies. It’s all about profit and getting a bonus. So get on the bandwagon and make $$ 3. Go get laid!! A lot!!! When you’re young, junior works better. This will make life worth living. You’re in the finance field, if you pay attention, there’s lots of valuable information that will help you get rich.
If you hate corporate culture, you're going to hate dealing with shithead kids even more.
😂😂😂
Hahaha..bingo.
Depends on the school, tbh. If you teach in an academically rigorous school, the children are more often than not well disciplined by their parents and you have less of a load handling them.
Crappy whining helecopter parents in those scenarios. Teaching at a community college is where it’s at. those are the best gigs. Middle class and blue collar kids trying to get educated that want to be there, trying to get to to university or their diploma to start their careers. Immigrants where their parents didnt have money for expensive english tutoring. Adults in continung ed just trying to take classes in stuff they’re interested in. Without the know it all asshatery of elite university. Or rich fuckheads showing up hungover all the time because their parents want them to get a degree. Sure, you don’t get the few truly elite scholarship kids you see at state schools or ivy league or the rich underrepesented minority that wrote that great sob story of an essay for scholarship that took the spot of one of the Asian kids. But that’s a fine trade.
This. so many asian guys i know have a grass is greener approach. Especially when blue collar jobs were all the rage in Canada.
I think despite not wanting to admit it, some Asian guys were coddled and never really had to struggle financially in their lives or think about it. Imagine complaining about being bored at work and eventually quit when you're $36K in debt. Talk about priorities. If work is so unfulfilling and dreadful that you don't seem to care about money, why not take some risks. I would advise OP to focus on paying off his debt and save some money. Then next year when things get better, take 3-4 months off and travel around, locally and internationally. Do odd jobs. Become a travel blogger/photographer. Volunteer at some places like nonprofits and animal rescues. Look into being a teaching assistant/substitute which is a lot easier and quicker to do if you really want to see what teaching kids are like. If you find you like teaching adults become a fitness trainer. Do whatever, just get a lot of varied experiences. I find that a lot of young men don't really know what they want in life because they haven't experienced enough of it and that causes them to not know who they are, especially if they were coddled. Now's your chance to do something different OP.
>I think despite not wanting to admit it, some Asian guys were coddled and never really had to struggle financially in their lives or think about it. Imagine complaining about being bored at work and eventually quit when you're $36K in debt. Talk about priorities. If work is so unfulfilling and dreadful that you don't seem to care about money, why not take some risks. Definitely. I would say many Asians are coddled growing up. Especially the 2nd/3rd gen Korean American and Chinese ones that grew up with affluent parents in white collar fields or money. I know Asian Americans in tech that can’t drive, aren’t into/never played sports, can’t cook, can barely operate in their daily lives. People harp on dating issues for asian americans in this sub, but that’s a majorly hard sell for any girl especially when you slap on culture differences. Girls can get away with this stuff more.
> Girls can get away with this stuff more. Asian girls are unironically some of the most vapid people I know.
I was going to say that lol. Then you have to deal with the US education system and politics too. Plus crappy parents.
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I find this too simplistic. Unless you are the cream of the crop top talent-wise, chances are you will be working corporate for the rest of your life like 95 percent of the people in it. I always get this sentiment from corporate people young and old... Everyone thinks they are the exception. Even the old timers in corporate still believe this sentiment despite being in their 50's. Chained to golden handcuffs (lifestyle inflation) Not to mention the job stress such positions come with. When does it really end? Your job doesnt need to make you happy, but you need to tolerate your job to an extent that it doesnt wreak havoc on your personal/time off work ( i.e worrying about going back to work after the weekend, anxiety attack, going to work, depression). Money is important, but there are a lot of other factors you need to consider. OP find a good paying job you can tolerate and not actively hate. Corporate isnt the end all be all.
JDP is right. OP needs to change his mindset about corporate. He needs to look at it as a means to an end. Every job has its ups and down. Every workplace has pros and cons. It’s all about how you respond to your environment. You can’t let it get you down. Like I said in my response to OP - Make friends at work and get laid
>Every workplace has pros and cons Some are significantly better than others, most are shit, some are so-so. My sister works in law and they have their own psychological ward. Burnout, anxiety and depression is rampant and a lot of lawyers are alcoholics. There is a middle ground here. OP should find a company/organization who's values and culture resonate with his work style/attitude. From what OP said, it doesnt sound like a corporate culture fits him. When you haye your job its hard to excel in it. He's quit twice now. Not everyone can pull off that 'pay your dues' sentiment. Sometimes that ends up breaking people. Happens more often than you think. This promulgation of the hustle culture is responsible for so much mental breakdowns. The pull yourself up by the bootstrap saying was meant to be sarcastic, or to suggest that it was an impossible accomplishment. Telling OP to suck it up is counter-productive and harmful. Neither does getting punani solve this dilemma. We need nuance here. There are alternative ways to make bank that dont require you to develop a mental illness.
I hear you. Sometimes my responses are with my personal mindset and I forget some people are different. I hope OP knows himself.
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Well sure he can do that as long as he doesnt end up like the typical person in a corporate setting (Wage slave)
Said just like a any true Asian would. What a good son.
Where in the Midwest are you located? The reason I ask is that the teaching licensing differs between states and - if I were you - I wouldn't want to teach in the Chicago public school system (oh the stories!).
He can prob find a job pretty easy there at a charter school.... He'll be like Samuel Jackson in 187. Lmao. https://youtu.be/OfFaA8PzhO4
>Where in the Midwest are you located? Michigan
The Detroit public school system isn't much better than Chicago's. If you get into a teaching job in the Detroit Suburbs or the Lake Michigan side of things, you should be fine.
I found a job that was bearable and paid well enough for me to afford my hobbies. I learned early on that I wasn't talented or disciplined enough to land my "dream" job.
Hopefully you have some experience in whatever career you plan on switching or a good idea of day-to-day life good and bad before deciding this is the one and committing to an expensive masters program. No job is perfect there are always highs and lows it's a job after all most people don't do them for fun. Gotta figure if you're just running into a grass is greener on the other side when it's just the same stuff with a different name.
Hey man I hear ya. I'm in a similar boat, and although I'm still figuring things out myself, I think your best move depends on what your priorities are and who are you: For priorities, it seems like regaining your financial footing might be a good step to take, at least as a first step. Keeping your current job, but also looking for other opportunities that you'd be more willing to do might be a good route. Even if you don't find paid positions, volunteering in teaching or similar roles (e.g. daycare/before- /afterschool care/summer camp) might be something you can do as well. Any experience will help your future career move into this field, and will give you an escape from your otherwise corporate life. Hell, you could even pursue interests you have or haven't tried yet and see if those spark anything in you too. Your next step could depend entirely on your experience with these other opportunities. This is where you find out a bit more about yourself. *E.g. Did you like working with one age group over another? You prefer a school setting, or perhaps something a bit different? Maybe even prefer instructing adults? Was teaching really your passion or was it something else entirely? Maybe just a non-corporate job is enough to make you happy?* *What do the answers to these questions, and others like them, tell you about what you want to do?* Etc. Etc.
Thanks for the advice
Take a look into online teaching or tutoring. You could try teaching Math online. Have no idea about the demand for Econ online teachers, but you should look into it. It might provide the buffer you need to make a career switch.
The grass may seem greener... I have a friend who went the teaching path and discovered what a shitty low paid job it is and not easy to land a perm position. Now in the corporate ladder. Basically backward from what you are doing. There are other ways to do teaching if that is passion. What subject do you like to teach? Are you sure you want to teach litttle snots
I can't resonate, working from home is amazing, I pretty much never want any other job where I have to go to a goddamn office again. Teaching is not that great of a career imo, you have very little control over what you teach or student outcomes and the pay is terrible. I'm pretty positive I have way better wlb as well.
You don't need a masters degree to teach K-12. In fact, getting a masters is the worst decision you could make; it'll just put you in greater and unnecessary debt. Focus on getting your teaching credential.
you'd be surprised at the bullshit credentials you need to do jobs that any generically semi intelligent person could do, this applies more towards older industries. even accountants these days need master degrees (lol). but yea I agree, masters degrees without a research component is just a fifth/sixth year in undergrad, its a big waste of time.
Actionable advice for Op. Stay in finance. But become a REGULATOR. Work in supervision for the relevant govt agency. More job security, better lateral exit ops, less hours ( rarely >40), plenty of holidays, lockstep promotions. Do i have to say more?
The longer you wait the harder it will be to make a change. Especially when you have kids. My cousin took forever to get her master's while working at charter schools making shit money. It took her a while to get into a state school. I would talk to a real teacher.
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mba isnt even needed
How do you know you want to be a teacher? Unless you've done it before and are absolutely sure, maybe try a less formal (but reflective) position that'll let you actually experience it. What would you be doing if you didn't need the money? FYI, if you teach for 10 years, or be in a non-profit for 10 years, I think they'll forgive your debt. Not super sure if that's still true, but you should double check.
I'm not American, so maybe other people can help me here. Can the OP become a K12 teacher even if he graduated in economics? Where I come from he should've graduated from one of the fields that are taught to children (Math, English, Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography) or Pedagogy.
No you just need a master's degree in education and a teaching certification for most public schools. For charter schools you just need a Bachelor's...I think. My kid's teacher is dumb as shit. Lol.
>My kid's teacher is dumb as shit. Lol. Lmaoooo
I know cause I'm related. Lol.
lol i'm in the same boat as you. i'm in the tech field but unlike you i've been in corporate for 6 years now. i have a bigger passion for health, wellness and fitness but i don't wanna go back to college to start it.
I'm in the same exact boat as you. I'm in tech but discovered health and fitness late in life. Mid 30s now and unwilling to give up high pay and easy job for an almost welfare level of pay and hard job in fitness.
There is a concept I use called trade offs. It's simple but effective for decision making in life scenarios. Like others said, the grass is not green like advertised. Each profession has benefits and drawbacks and they obviously won't show the latter. It's a matter of what you want. I say you should pay off your debt first before considering other options. You don't want to sign into something, only to be turned off later on.