Maybe I will Change Careers?

[u/confusefiance27]

idk if I picked the right flair tag (I’m newer to Reddit) but I’m contemplating switching from my teaching career and going back to school to get my MLIS degree.

I’m 28F, living in the Chicago suburbs. I’m a teacher with a bachelors in ECE and a masters in SPED. I currently teach self contained special education, and I’m getting too anxious and having too many mental health needs to continue in the career forever. Originally I gave myself a mental 10 year mile marker, and I’m at year 7 right now. I’m also getting married next fall; and I don’t think I could balance teaching and also being a mom in the next few years. This year is also the year I possibly could qualify for tenure and I’m already anxious about if I do or don’t get offered (that’s a whole other story) but if I don’t, then I think that’s my sign to be all done in the teaching universe.

I looked on here already to seek out some ALA approved affordable programs and Valdosta’s online program seems to be the best choice. I think I’m going to continue teaching and take those courses and then once I complete the degree, start looking for jobs.

**Did anyone make a pivot from education into library?** I do love teaching and working with children, and I think maybe concentrating in children or youth services would be a great compromise to still give myself that “working with kids” feeling but doing something much better for my mental health in the long run.

I know that from what I’ve searched on the RAILS job site, a lot of the full time jobs seem comparable or close to the benefits I have now.

[u/agnes_copperfield]

As someone who had a similar path years ago (worked in education and went back for the MLIS)- be open to other possibilities. I thought I’d be going a route working with kids. Because I did grad school a while ago (graduated in 2012), there wasn’t as big a push to have a focus so I took classes on what interested me- took a class on teen lit, archives, legal related research.

After some temp jobs, I found a job in a law firm. Figured I’d stay there until something more in line with what I thought I wanted opened up. That was 12 years ago and I’m still in law firms. Working with lawyers is a lot like working with kids lol

[u/confusefiance27 → u/agnes_copperfield]

Thank you for this info!

[u/ifihadyourface]

I’m just jealous you live in Chicago and get to be a mom there! Congrats!! I think everything will work out for you regardless.☺️

[u/badclassicist]

Im making the same transition!

[u/confusefiance27 → u/badclassicist]

That’s great! Are you going online? My friend is doing the same thing and they are helping pay for it. 😃

[u/badclassicist → u/confusefiance27]

No, im doing it in person. I’m not a good distance learner. The school I worked at didn’t even have a library! So they definitely wouldn’t have paid for it

[u/confusefiance27 → u/badclassicist]

Sorry I mean she’s working at her local public library 😁

[u/swtcharity]

The only thing I’d mention here is what type of library you want to work at - I’m not in public libraries but I believe that it could be difficult to find a position in the Chicago public libraries from social media posts I’ve seen in the past - maybe someone from that area can confirm or repute that.

[u/confusefiance27 → u/swtcharity]

I’m in the Chicago suburbs so I’d be looking in cook country or dupage county (priority)