Ideas on career

[csgray]

I am a teacher here in Hawaii, and while I love what I do, and tell people I have the best job in the world, I would not in the current political climate recommend that anyone invest the time and money to become a public school teacher, especially in Hawaii. Until NCLB is gone, and until the corner is turned on the current demonization of teachers, why would anyone want to train for a profession where you work 60+ hours a week to do your job well, and keep up with the NCLB paperwork, while being constantly denigrated in the media for having a "part time job" for full time pay.

If you go into special education, you should know up front that you will spend more time on paperwork, and in meetings, than in the classroom with students. Most of the SPED teachers I know are dismayed at how little time they get to actually spend with the students.

Have you considered becoming a vet tech, or dog trainer, or opening a good boarding facility? If you love working with animals you would probably be happier doing something in that realm.

Good luck,

Carol

[dayna]

quote:

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Originally posted by lostboystoy

And yes you will make about 40 percent less than on the Mainland but everyone else is making 40 percent less than on the mainland so you will be in the same boat as everyone else, that's just one of the many things you will have to get used to living here, ya it's paradise but it doesn't come free. It's about quality of life here, not how much we make

setting my soul free....

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frankly I have to make enough to feed myself, my parrots and my husband (I'd love for him to be able to take some time off from working). So yes, it is about how much money I make. LOL

I know, I know. People make less money there. And that's FINE. But my body is falling apart from dog grooming. My point is that I won't do dog grooming for 40% less money than I make now. That would be suicide.

That's why I'm looking into other areas as a career.

You still have to eat, even in paradise.


Dayna

[dayna]

quote:

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Originally posted by csgray

I am a teacher here in Hawaii, and while I love what I do, and tell people I have the best job in the world, I would not in the current political climate recommend that anyone invest the time and money to become a public school teacher, especially in Hawaii. Until NCLB is gone, and until the corner is turned on the current demonization of teachers, why would anyone want to train for a profession where you work 60+ hours a week to do your job well, and keep up with the NCLB paperwork, while being constantly denigrated in the media for having a "part time job" for full time pay.

If you go into special education, you should know up front that you will spend more time on paperwork, and in meetings, than in the classroom with students. Most of the SPED teachers I know are dismayed at how little time they get to actually spend with the students.

Have you considered becoming a vet tech, or dog trainer, or opening a good boarding facility? If you love working with animals you would probably be happier doing something in that realm.

Good luck,

Carol

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Carol, boarding. Never even crossed my mind. Heck I do that here at my house a couple dogs at a time. I'll look into the legalities. We have a three acre square lot zoned AG3.

And you make a good point. I actually love children, and love working with children. If it is as craptastic currently as you say I'd probably hate teaching. My daugthter is very smart and her classes always take longer because they have to go at the rate of the slowest learner. I know how much it frustrates her teachers. She's starting high school in a couple weeks and already they are talking with her about what college classes she'll be taking her sophmore year.

Dayna

[Orchidlandguy]

There are a couple dog kennels to check out if you want to get their rates, etc.
Hilo Kennels is on the Keaau side of Hilo, way before Hilo town.
Bar-King Kennels is in Keaau.
Both have websites.

We use Hilo kennels and love the doggie day care.
I have heard wonderful things about Bar-King Kennels.

[Carey]

You may not wish to dismiss full vet training if that is something you have a passion for (I foresee more need here for veterinarians in the future, as there is an aging population of them here - very few are even close to their 40's) ...

There are vet med schools that start on a 2 year AS degree, and you are not that old to start, you would only be around 40 when you finished with the degree! (I think Dear Abby had one time advised a letter writer that was hesitant about starting a med degree because they would be in their 50's when they gradated in 8 years to the affect of "How old will you be in 8 years if you do not go for the degree?")

For an idea of vet med schools (unfortunately - none in Hawaii), check here:
http://www.aavmc.org/

As to fed jobs, there are quite a few at any time (UHH sends out the listings to students & alum) and they are varied... coming from AK, I am sure you know that there is not as full spectrum of jobs as high population areas.

Some people from places like CA have a feeling that this area is highly lacking in jobs & pay... if you are from a more rural, low population area, it is not as bad... hubby has a job in Kona that is very similar to the PLC tech job he had on the mainland, at over 2x the wage he retired from... but it isn't like there are more than a handful of these positions on island (and one only comes available once a decade or so)... he was lucky to have gotten the position, and it was not 'right away' when we got here... and it is not as close to home.

Some of the things to realize.... there are some truly awesome jobs, there are high tech positions, there are positions that pay very well, but there may only be a few, and there may not be an dream job available for years. Part of the reason I recommend do some ground work (volunteering & such) when you are visiting here...to get your face & name known to as many as possible & to have a more realistic view of what is here.

[Bullwinkle]

Ive seen groomers and kennels - what I haven't seen is trainers...I dont know whether there is no demand or availability

A regularly scheduled bread and butter obedience course may do well .........

edit = sticky h and y keys on this notebook

[DTisme]

Ooh - how about a PARROT boarding service??? Good part about that would be that it would assure you'd be at home with your flock. We had am umbrella cockatoo for years and we'd always leave him with the breeder, who also offered boarding, when we went on vacation.

I hate to see you with an outside the home job and leaving those parrots alone all day. No way would my cockatoo let me leave him for more than a few hours! He'd have a fit!

I hope, btw, you've checked into Hawaii state regs on bringing parrots into the state. I did a lot of research on bringing our baby before the move; ended up for other reasons giving him up, so it ended up moot, but there are lots of Hawaii regs and red tape. My neighbor has a small mixed flock of small parrots and cockatiels. She moved here from Oahu, and they required her to build an aviary AND inspected it before she was allowed to move the birds. I'd never read anything like this in the state literature, so double-check before you come by calling. I'd hate to see a lot of parrots stuck in Honolulu quarantine for who knows how long while aviary is built, etc!

Anyway, parrot boarding something to think about. We paid $25 a day and he got his own roomy cage, was fed fresh food and water twice a day, wass let out once a day to play (aka wreak havoc), and loved loved LOVED going there.

)))
( *< --squawwk!
(())
/''''

[Carey]

There are some trainers & there is even the "dog whisperer" guy who meets up with people at Liliokalani on Sun afternoons... I do know an agility trial trainer who lives in HSRE, and there is even a K-9 Search & Rescue team (with trainers) from Puna (we talked to them while they doing trials on Mauna Kea -the K-9 SAR emblem got us curious, but they are sent through out the Pacific region).

If you are interested in establishing a boarding kennel, visit the ones here when you come, see what they are like (Bar King is also a state quarantine facility)

Oh - so many things to do....and it is never too late! (says the 'OF' student!)

[David M]

WOW 32 - to be so young
That's how old when I got my degree, then 2 Masters by age 44. Another that rode the OF train. Twenty years later it all seems too long ago LOL
There has been some great thougts posted. Seems like if you could turn your love into your own business it could be a win win. Keep exploring and have fun.

David

Ninole Resident

Edit spelling

[Alex]

Business management education can give you more fields to explore.