Should I become a researcher again?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (207349)
Walnut Creek, California
October 7, 2019 12:46pm CST
I spent several years doing educational research before I started teaching at the local college and working with disadvantaged kids.
Right now, I'm loving the littlies, but am a bit tired of teaching college classes. It's a lot of work, even after one leaves the classroom (writing exams, grading papers, etc.)
One thing I'm thinking of is getting back into educational research while I'm still young enough to do it for a few years.
I found a couple of interesting jobs on Linkedin. The pay is actually quite good, more than I've ever made in any single job.
Do you think I should "go for it" and see if I can score an interview or two? Time to update my resume/VITA.
21 people like this
21 responses
@BarBaraPrz (45644)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
7 Oct 19
Ever hear the phrase, "Follow your bliss"?
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45644)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
8 Oct 19
@TheHorse Then you know what to do... turn the page and get into the next story.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (207349)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Oct 19
@BarBaraPrz Of course I meant that in a good way. I've been lucky to enjoy most of my jobs.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
14 Oct 19
I believe you leaving research behind was a loss to education and yourself, pony. (I did get to read some of your work, finally. A friend of mine "loaned" me her credentials.)
While I couldn't see "you" in the work (I do know I shouldn't see you in that type of paper.), I could tell you took the time to do it well and you cared about what you were doing.
I hope you do score one of those jobs. Good luck! 
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
14 Oct 19
@TheHorse Well, you do, obviously... and therefore, I care about it.
@TheHorse (207349)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Oct 19
You're probably the only MyLotter who has actually read some of my "scholarly" research papers. They represent me at my most "objective," but of course my "personality" is lost. It has to be. If you look at the data on how many people have actually "cited" those papers, it's literally in the "tens," or "hundreds" at most. I think I take more pride in the "clinical" work I've done with disadvantaged kids. But who really cares about that?
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40645)
• United States
8 Oct 19
I have three words for you. Life is short.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
8 Oct 19
Go for it. Do what you love, life is to short to not be happy.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (207349)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Oct 19
@andriaperry I am glad you are in a position where you can do it slowly and "at your discretion." I am too.
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
8 Oct 19
@TheHorse I understand that is why I am slowly changing my line of work, what is to come is TBA.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (158162)
• United States
7 Oct 19
Do it while you're young enough. If you don't, you'll always regret it. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
7 Oct 19
Why not go for it if it is something you are interested in doing!! Good luck with this.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (45606)
• India
7 Oct 19
Definitely yes! Mid career changes do help one immensely. They can at times get someone out from boredom, and also help at times to increase our earnings as well. So is this Educational Research also going to be part of some formal Doctorate, or is it some informal one?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (207349)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Oct 19
I already have my Doctorate. I am Doctor Horse, and you can read a revised version of my dissertation in JPSP (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology). But I climbed down the Ivory Tower decades and go because I wanted to "work in the trenches."
@wolfgirl569 (96232)
• Marion, Ohio
7 Oct 19
If it is something you would enjoy.
1 person likes this
