[ellie]

I didn't quit my job as such, but was kind of pushed out, which was fine because I didn't want to stay there anyway. I didn't like the people at all, and I almost had a breakdown.

Since then I have been freelancing and teaching for 7 months in my field, which has given me time to really try and figure out what I want. I noticed I was avoiding applying for most jobs in my field and the interviews I went to felt so uncomfortable. It just didn't feel right. So I sat back and really thought hard about what I wanted to do, this took a good few months to come to an apithany that I had to change careers. It was hard because I studied so long in my current field only to come to the realisation that I had to work in something completly different, which is quite a big step.

So I realised that I really did want to work with children ( I always have, but didn't want to teach as I am terrible at Maths and English). So I thought about it some more and thought I could probably work in a kindergarten as teacher, because I would only need the basics in maths and english. So I arranged with my local kinder to meet-up with teacher and see what's involved during the day. She was so helpful on the phone I was quite excited. When I went in to the kinder I just felt a weight lift off my shoulder, I just knew instantly that this was what I wanted to do. I felt a smile instantly appear on my face. The children were gorgeous and the teacher and assistants were just so lovely. They were they type of people that had my nature and realised now why I never got a long with people in my field, it's because they were not nuturing by nature and I am nurturing.

So I decided after what steps I could take to work as a kindy teacher. I found out I only needed to do another year study to get my grad dip in teaching, but there are no midyear intakes to uni and I didn't want to do a diploma or certificate, but wanted to get the ball rolling in working in this field to see if it's really what I wanted to do. So I thought working in childcare would be a good step and although I had no experience in this area I applied for a few jobs. To my surprise I got offered a few casual jobs straight away, which suits me because I can freelance in my field which pays more money. I was really upfront and honest in my cover letter, because most people wouldn't understand why I would want to go from a high pace career to working with children. So I basically told them that I do not suit design, that I am a nurturer and that in my current field you need to be really ballsy, talk-the-talk, which I am not! They all liked my honesty and that definetly helped get me the jobs. It was so refreshing to be upfront and honest.

I've also been offered a bit of teaching and tutoring work in my field which is great to do and good money.

So at the end of the year I will apply for the degree if all goes to plan. it's a hard course to get into as there are not many places and not many uni's that offer the course. They look at your previous uni scores and also you can try and prove your case. Hopefully having some childcare training behind we prove that I really want to get into this area.

Anyway, the job that I have taken in childcare, I felt a real connection with the lady who took me on. She was really nice and she gave me a chance. I have a feeling I will be much happier in this field. Fingers crossed.

Another great thing is the course is only two days a week in the late afternoon, which means I can still teach and work.