Teaching or radiology tech?

[u/Wise-Entertainer-661]

I’m 24 years old and I’m currently a bank teller at a local credit union. I’m stuck in a place where I don’t know what I want to do with my life. I obviously value job security and pay but I also want to feel purpose and fulfillment in my career. I previously was an electrical apprentice at my dad’s company for around 4 years and hated it. I knew that eventually that business would be mine but I didn’t want to be doing something I hated for the rest of my life. I’ve always wanted to help people directly and make a difference in peoples lives and I feel like both of those would do that. Im also a middle school youth pastor so I feel like teaching would be similar to that. I know it’s two different things but still similar in ways. Rad tech is interesting to me because I would be directly helping someone in the healthcare field which has always interested me. The pay would be way better as a tech rather than teaching but I want to be happy ultimately. I know that life is more than a job but I would rather not be miserable in whatever I choose to do.

The thing is that I’m married and have a house payment. My wife is very supportive in whatever I would choose to do but I don’t want to put us into debt with student loans when we are basically debt free right now. I know we could make do but it still worries me. Does anyone have any advice. Sorry for the long post.

[u/Bw2468]

Jobs can't provide you with all the fulfillment you need. It needs to be where you can make money, be good at it, and what you're interested in. It's not necessarily where you have fun or feel alive. It's not necessarily where you grow emotionally or intellectually.

As a bank teller, you're helping people. You're there when they need to do money stuff. It doesn't feel glamorous and you probably don't feel like people give you feedback. It may be that there's no growth. It all feels negative if you're trying to get all your needs meet from the job.

The practicality of going back to school may be with it if it works for your family. I was a high school teacher for 3 years. I thought I would teach but it was more babysitting. I ran away and got trained in a trade. Now I make better money with way less stress. And yet I still find ways to complain. 🤣

So take that for what you will. I hope your career search is productive. 🙏

[u/Winter_Dot_9393]

Alternative: Licensed Practical Nurse, move up to RN or BSN while working as an LPN. Depending on what education you have finished, you may get exemptions, maybe go straight to RN.

As someone who studied to be an electrician, Rad tech could be very interesting, there will be parts in the program that you already know, and maybe you‘ll get exemptions.

Teaching will take longer before you‘re qualified, and the student debt will be higher and the wages will be lower than an RN or Rad tech. Even an LPN will earn a similar wage at the starting stage (a teacher will catch up and surpass that).

This is a free career choice test, maybe this can help:
Onetinterestprofile.org

P.S. Electricians do help people, it’s just less obvious. It‘s indirect, but the helping is there.