Thinking about not finishing school....

Been thinking alot lately. I am in school right now working on my Paramedic. I do enjoy it, and helping people, and the fact that it changes everyday. The bad though, hours suck and way under payed. The national average for a Paramedic is only 38,000 a year. In my area they only make around 33,000 a year.

I work right now for one of the biggest mining companies in the world. They also have there hands in energy, materials, fabrication all sorts of things. I make right at 50k a year right now, with room to advance. I have been offered to join the fast track to suscess program. I have a really good 401k, great insurance, and I can build up to 2 months vacation a year eventually. I can retire at 55 also.


Just feel torn about everything I do enjoy the EMS field but with the new Obama care it's gonna get worse for EMS. Also with what I do now I have much more oppurtunities in life to follow some of my true passions.

Any guys got any advice for me.

I'm 24 btw.

 

I think it would be prett silly to leave the program. I assume you live either in coal country or out west. OBama wants to destroy coal so that negates the Obamacare point. Yes for the momen you make more money but what hours do you work? My father in law has been a paramedic for 30 years he makes a grip of money, especially if you countthefact that being a paramedic has opened up a side job at a hospital to give him something to do with all his days off. I think leaving the program would be a shit decision in the long run.

 

So your situation doesn't sound that bad for anyone let alone a 24 year old.

Do you enjoy your current job enough to work until retirement if it's an option?

Will the coal industry be able to support current levels of employment over the long term?

Have you considered finishing school (I know you have) and staying in your current industry?

If it were me, without a passion for either, I would go for $$$ outlook for the term of my career (if the quality of life was decent) while keeping a back up plan. Also would hate to throw away what school I had without obtaining a certificate or degree.

 

Stay in school. Don't make the mistake others have made. (Myself included). Lost good paying job and since I said F school I want the money now. I'm paying for it now. Stay and get it done. You will be glad you did on ten years.

 

at 24 you may think you can move stuff till your 55...(mining) guess what? in 10 years you are going to be hating it, stuck at 50k, and your body will hate it too... STAY IN SCHOOL! If you started, finish... for nothing else than a back up plan if the mining thing goes bad... you are thinking 5 years in advance when you need to think 20... at 39, I can tell you how things change physically...

but it comes down to this - you can put a poll up on every site in the world but what do we know? You need to make the decision, not us... trust me, money isn't everything and you will be more happy doing something you love/like for the rest of your life... that is the secret! You will find ways to make more money if needed...

the question is will you be more happy mining or being an EMT? Take the money out of the decision.

 

Don't quit school! BUT, if think you enjoy the mining industry, you might consider changing career paths and go to school for that.
I started in dental school and after six months realized that I don't want to be looking at people's teeth decay all day long. I changed to civil engineering and have enjoyed every day of it - almost 20 years now.
I would have made more money as a dentist, but it's more important to enjoy what you are doing. And whatever the choice, get some education along those lines so that you have opportunities in the future.

 

If you only have a few classes left, finish out the EMT program. Then, secure your position in your current job by getting a Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Mining, Geology, etc.....Only one thing is certain, NOTHING is a sure thing. You better save up 6 months of salary and stash it away while your young, while we are giving out advice! Good Luck!

 

finish school, then you can go play underground, and when you back and lungs give out, back to EMT...

 

How much school do you have left would be the question? If you just started then just quit, if you have a lot invested, finish it then start something new. At lest then you have something to fall back on in this economy. Your mining job sounds great and all, but they don't have you retire at 55 because it is the easiest best job in the world. It takes a toll on your body and you aren't fit for that type of job (or any) for much longer than that. Plus, as far as your retirement, it grows with time, although you would put slightly more in because of a higher wage, that 10-15 years of earnings after 55 would make a huge difference.

 

X2

Finish up. Stay where you want, but you'll always have that to fall back on. If you quit now, you won't.

 

The burnout rate on EMT work is about 5 years. One of my friends lasted 9 years but when she started bringing in her kids' friends from car accidents she couldn't do it anymore. Also technology changes and in most states EMS work comes with continuing education, so if you don't use it you will probably lose your certification.

So if you aren't interested in doing it, don't finish. Work hard where you are, get money in the bank, maybe do a 4-year degree in something to help you at your current job, and if you decide you want to go back to it later you'll be able to get your certification at that time.

 

Stay in school! Learn whatever you can about being a Paramedic.

If not for the career, but to help save someone's life someday. Knowing those kinda of skills and EMT can only be a benefit to you and your family (or someone else).

 

IN the most serious way this sounds freakin horrible..

 

I volunteer right now. I love helping people. I can say I have saved peoples lives before, I have also seen my share of tragedies.


Yes I do work for a "Mining" company, but as I said before we're just not into coal. We own several other companies, and are also into oil and energy.

I work as a coal yard supervisor right now, which is the lowest supervisor job you can have. Do I work hard no lol. I am a competitive powerlifter and right now getting into bodybuilding so I keep my body in shape. I'm 100% serious when I say I would do more physical work as a medic.

This company will pay for me to go to school as long as it helps the them...such as engineering.

Like someone said above medics get burned out quick. There is a local guy here who use to volunteer with us. He was a Paramedic, now he is a trash man.


Something that hapend since I posted this morning is that I had a talk with my boss.
I was completely honest with him, and he told me there is room for advancement here if I am not happy here. I could move to Japan and work if I wanted or anywhere just about in the U.S.

It also came up that I am Already a AEMT which is Advanced EMT. Not a full Paramedic. I can get a raise at work because of my training.

I would have about 3 semesters here before I had my full Paramedic.

I am only 24 but have been on my own since 17, I have my own place, pay my own bills, cook my own food all that junk. While right now working from 4am till 3pm and going to school from 6pm till 10pm. With gym time in between.


I usually start these threads on forums when I keep second guessing myself about things lol

 

It's always good to get opinions, but be careful - it is still your life and future on the line and others don't know all the circumstances.
I started in the wrong direction because I listened to others, then I changed direction and still listened to others and started studying the wrong degree again. Now I am finally working my way up in the direction that I want to be, but it could have been a lot easier.
That being said, if the company is willing to pay for your studies, and it will help your career, I would really consider that. It sucks to start all over again, but in the end it is worth it.

 

Stay in school. Worst case you have a EMT career to fall back on if the mining doesn't work out. Also look into if you can get some extra cash from the mining job for being certified in emergency response medicine or whatever it's called. I know many companies pay extra for trained EMT's.

One thing thats going to be hard to do at your age is looking far ahead. When I was your age I totally screwed up and instead of becoming a police officer where I could or retired in another 13 years with a full pension I took the job that paid more upfront, but not on the back end so I'm stuck working for many more decades.

 

I always think about my future and where I am at in life.

Haven't checked in a 4 or 5 months but right now I have abut 35k in my 401k already.

I have also been to a point when I was on my own around 17year old where I ate ramen noodles for breakfest lunch and dinner....never again lol

 

^^^^^.

If you want to make money, change your field to finance and come work in NYC.
That's getting off topic. Stay in school.

 

I started a company with my brother at 19 years old. The money is great, but after 15 years or so in the industry I'm in burnt out and don't enjoy my job much. The only positive is that I'm financially stable and will be for a long time. However, if I had to do it all over again I would go away for school and study something that I could enjoy doing for the rest of my life.
Ultimately, the decision is yours....but money doesn't necessarily buy you happiness.

 

EXACTLY!!!

They do it because they like helping people. Most of my FF friends have 2nd jobs when they aren't working at the fire station. Plus with being a medic, you MUST do continuing education. You have to put in a certain amount of hours determined by your state's Dept of Health or whoever is in charge of those kinds of rules.

I also saw people mentioning using it as a back up job in case you throw your back out or have medical conditions keeping you from doing the mining job..... I jacked up my back after I had just gotten through fire/ EMT school and all of that stuff. busted my ass on all my classes and tests, even worked as a volunteer for a while, then found out because I have a messed up back (tweaked L3/L4 that flares up every now and then), the departments I went to said I couldnt go with them because I am too much of a liability. You do A LOT of lifting in the EMS field. So basically, I had to throw ALL of my training and certs out the door and am finally getting my life back on track and going BACK to school to do other things.

You need to really consider what is going to be best for you. less money, with a job you like that you probably will work the standard schedule (24 on 48 off), or your mining job.

Good luck with whatever you choose