A New Beginning

[MissAutumn]

Yesterday, I had my last day of work... It was a bit of a surprise because my notice period was for next week. Happily, I'm still getting paid for that period.

I don't have a new job lined up. I just decided to quit... Because now I'm a full time university student for the next 3 years. I'm studying Computer Science at undergrad level. It was pretty scary to resign and not have my own income. I'm in the incredibly lucky position that my husband will be (and can) support me over the next 3 years.

It's really lifted my mood. I've been coping with poor mental health for years. In 2020, I hit rock bottom and my doctor had to sign me off sick for a month. The time off sick made me realise how much work was a big factor in making me ill. It was a stressful low-paid job. Employee morale was low - even before the pandemic. When I handed in my notice, I immediately started to feel a heavily weight be lifted.

TL;DR - I quit my full time job to become a full time uni student. My mental health got better because of the change. :3

[galled]

Congrats on taking the next step! I love to see progress!

If the load isn't too high, you should see if you can take summer and winter sessions--it'll dramatically shorten your time in school. Many of the classes I had to take while they made me perhaps a better human being, they didn't directly transfer to my profession. You can usually breeze through those. Also keep in mind that you can land jobs in tech without finishing. The degree (paper) isn't what it used to be if you can demonstrate the required skills.

Good luck and best wishes!

[Lemon Cheesecake]

I am so incredibly happy for you! Sounds like such a positive change and having the support of your hubby makes a world of difference as well. Extra big hugs to him for being so wonderful!!

[MissAutumn]

galled Thank you. The University I study at doesn't have summer breaks. It specialises in distance learning so they don't follow the academic year the same way as traditional uni. But I can sign up to as many credits as I want in a year. I'll see how I handle what they consider full-time.

I'm keeping my eye out for trainee roles. A lot of entry level positions require a degree. My husband is training me up on web development skills in the meantime so I can build up a portfolio. Hopefully, I can help him with some of his freelance projects when I'm more competent.

Lemon Cheesecake I'm incredibly lucky that he's so supportive.

[Lemon Cheesecake]

sounds like a win-win!

[Lemon Cheesecake]

Just thought I'd dust this off for a progress report!

[MissAutumn]

I forgot this existed!

Update: I went part time with university because I wanted a part-time job and I'm building up a web project portfolio. I'm finishing off my last 2 modules for Level 2 (would be 2nd year if I was full time). From October I should be starting two-thirds of Level 3 (3rd year full-time). Then in October 2024 I'm going to spend the year to focus on my dissertation. Should be done by 2025!

Late 2021 I got a part-time job working as a kitchen porter. Kept it up until May. My uncle died in May, which meant I was travelling to my parents' house a lot between his death and the funeral so I could comfort my mum. I quit that job because of that and because I needed all the free time I could get to focus on exams since I fell a bit behind. I was also travelling to Greece and Florida in late September/early October so I was going to quit by early September anyway.

In November I got a temp weekend job at a warehouse for the Christmas period. I was meant to be finishing on New Year's Eve but I've been given a contract until January 2024.

Downside: I work 6am-6pm every Saturday and Sunday. 5am wake ups suck!

Upside: Fixed shifts and I'm on slightly more pay per annum than my old full-time.

[Lemon Cheesecake]

You have been so busy! I'm amazed at how you are able to juggle it all!
That is a long work day too! Do they atleast give you overtime for over 8 hours?
Greece & Florida seem so far apart! Two separate vacations? Any historical tours in Greece?

[MissAutumn]

I'm not going to lie, I feel a bit spread thinly a lot of the time :')

No, I'm contracted to work 12 hour shifts on Saturdays and Sundays. The pay for weekend shifts is a lot higher than those who work in the week though. If I do overtime in the week I'm paid overtime then. I get an hour and 15 mins break though.

Yep. the Greece trip was meant to happen in 2020 but then stuff happened... I spent a week in Zakynthos. I was going to do a day trip to the nearby island of Kefalonia but I left it too late to book and missed out. There were also day trips to Olympia but I couldn't afford it sadly. I did do a boat trip around the island of Zakynthos though.

After I came home from Greece I was at home for a week and then went out to Florida for two weeks. I went to the big parks, went to the Kennedy Space Center and also went on a gator fan boat tour.

[galled]

How exciting!

Which of the big parks did you like best?

Fan boat? Oh, I'm a scaredie-cat and wouldn't stop thinking I could be chopped up at any minute the whole time!

[MissAutumn]

I really loved the Universal parks mainly because they had more thrilling rollercoasters. The Mummy, Hulk and Jurassic World rides were so fun!

I was worried about gators deciding to climb on the boat. As it was a cold day the Gators were focusing on sun bathing

[galled]

I've been to Universal here in California a few times. I kinda like it better than DizzyLand--more interesting/engaging.

Woh-boy--were the boat drivers armed just in case? Or perhaps the plan was to gun it and out run them??

[Lemon Cheesecake]

Not sure i would be able to handle a gator boat trip... but Kennedy space center would be cool and of course anything ancient <sigh> would be mesmerizing.

[MissAutumn]

galled @galled: I think they were! The boats go pretty fast so probably could out run one. Oh, I saw a baby gator too

Lemon Cheesecake At the Kennedy Space Centre I saw a Space X rocket being carried down the road by a bunch of trucks. I'll upload pictures soon. Just so busy at the moment!

[Lemon Cheesecake]

cool!