I have a very big decision to make and I'm coming here to try to get my head straight.

I wasn't ready for this decision, but it was handed to me and now I need to deal with it.  Raley's is trying to reduce some of the higher-paid workers.  This includes senior clerks and management.  Instead of giving us the boot, they're making it an option and providing an extra incentive to quit.  They're offering me 75% of what I made last year to quit this year.

Now, this puts me in a very interesting position because I've been TRYING to get a new job anyway.  I hate this job and I know that I'm capable of doing so much more than this.  More importantly, this is NOT the career that I want to pursue.  I view this as an opportunity, a very good one.  Quit my job, make some money, and then use my 9 months worth of pay to find a new job.

However, after speaking to my dad about this, he had some different feelings about this.  He sees this as a big risk, and it is.  The economy is in shambles right now.  And just the fact that they're paying us to quit should speak volumes about what the rest of the job market is like right now.  It's very tempting to quit my job right now, but what next?  Find my dream job?  I don't know if that job is even hiring right now.  Why not keep pursuing my actuary work and quit my job on my terms, not theirs?

It's a very tough decision and it is going to drive me nuts here.  So I thought I'd take the time to write here and I'm going to write down a few given statements to help me decide on which side of the fence I'm going to go for.  So let's see how this goes.

I don't like my job.

I don't want to be at this job for the rest of my life.

I know I can pass the actuary test if I put enough time into it.  It's hard, probably the hardest test I'll ever take, but God damnit, it's not beyond me.

I don't know if there's any kind of demand in the actuary market right now.

The interview process is going to take a while.

I could try to get into another field. 

One of the reasons I want to quit my job is to have time to pursue actuary work.  But if I try to get a different job right away, I won't have much time to study for it anyway.

If I just switch jobs and remain as busy as I am now, the only real benefit I get is that 75%.

My dad completely opposes to this idea, and he's usually right.

I want to make this work.

Is it better to take a chance and pursue my dream job, or to conform to the safe option?

I have a mortgage payment.

I want a safety net career before I jump off this cliff.

People I talk to in the teaching industry seem to be overly optimistic for me and somewhat wishy-washy at the same time.  "Oh yea, you can definitely find a teaching job with a math degree...but I don't know who's hiring right now".  I don't trust their guidance as they might just be pushing me to go into their field.

Aunt Maria did mention substituting if I have to.  Not a bad idea.  Talk to Mike about how many days he gets.

Need to talk to Dr. Sundar.

Try to get job with TID.

Teaching very well might be the x-factor in all this.  But do I want to jump right in or pursue my long-term dream career?

CSET is difficult and it's going to take time to study for, just like the actuary exam but not as much.

I don't identify with these people that I work with.

At some point, I'm going to do things the way that I want to do them, with or without the consent of my parents.  I may be wrong, but I need to do things MY way.

Talk to Ozvaldo about CSET preparation.

Credentials while teaching.

Ms. Keyes might hire me on the spot to be a teacher for Ceres.  Talk to her if I have to.  Wording would be crucial.

Ed Join to see what's available.