I got a masters in education and never used it

amother

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 1:37 pm

I was not sure where to post this but this is something bothering me very much. Almost 2 decades ago I spent close to 30k to get a masters degree in education in a specific specialty that at the time was very popular. I did teach for around a decade but the field I worked in, while related to education, was not related to the specific degree that I got. I also have not worked in any field related to education since.

I have this very heavy burden of guilt that I wasted all that money. So much money!!!! For nothing!!! It hurts me so much. I could have used this money now when we are struggling.

I guess my question is, besides for how to allay the guilt, I really want to hustle for money at this point and am wondering how I could somehow make use of this annoying degree that I spent so much money on. I work full time and make money, I'd like to take on another side hustle that could use a master degree. I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas.

Thank you,

amother

Babyblue

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 2:15 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

It's a degree in reading specialist. I checked, not a single job in the area for this degree or anything like it. At the time it was touted as the career choice at the time.

Right, that's what I have too. Now teachers with a masters in this are a dime a dozen. Now, the hot specializations are ELL or technology. There are reading specialist jobs but not more than a couple per school. If you are willing to work in a public school you may be able to find. However, bear in mind, you'd probably need refresher courses to make sure you are eligible for current certification. Or you might want to get a job in a resource room. If you get a good reputation you can probably do well with private tutoring.
I did a year as a reading specialist and found I far prefer classroom teaching, so that's where I've been since. Things have changed a lot especially since Common Core and I don't envy the stress and overload the reading specialists have at my school.

amother

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 2:22 pm

Babyblue - thank you. I spent all this money, now I have to do MORE work and spend MORE money to update the degree and get another few letters and even then I don't know if I will get a job Sad

It hurts me so much. I'm wondering if there is something I can do with this degree, right now, without more classes and recertifications.

I also harbor so much anger at the person guiding me to get this degree. People - if you work in these post - seminary programs THINK long and hard before you start pushing your students to certain fields. Of course I had a choice and no one forced me, but I was so young and dumb at the time. It bothers me so much.

octopus

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 2:37 pm

If you really use your degree don't view it as spending more money. Its an investment. I had my education degree for 8 years before working. I had to update a few workshops. Within the first year of working I made back all the money I spent on my degree. No one can take that degree away from you. Even if you decide to go into the regular classroom , a reading specialist degree is highly attractive especially for teaching the younger grades. Your degree makes you more marketable.

amother

Babyblue

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 2:38 pm

Well at the time, it was the up and coming field. I have a feeling I got mine around the same time, I got my degree in '02, iirc.
But, to be honest....I didn't pay anything close to 30k for my graduate degree, I think maybe 10k? I took out student loans (added to my undergrad loans)and with both, it came out to about 24k. I finished paying my loans in total a couple of years ago. But I went to regular colleges, not frum/Maalot types which are crazy expensive.
If anything, I think girls should be steered away from overpriced frum grad programs unless they can truly afford them.

TwinsMommy

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 2:48 pm

I used my masters in ed for a little while but since then.... (I left a director position in September 2001 due to extreme illness and I knew that would ruin my name in that part of the country for education)......

I've been....

A licensed, bonded tax advisor (enjoyed the coursework!!)

sales director in a direct sales company leading a team of 75

Network marketing

Babysitter

Social media manager

It's all been part of a very eclectic resume. Anything ring your bell?

amother

Green

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 2:52 pm

I think more important than whether you do something with your degree, is that you don't end up spending more money on a career that you don't want, and don't take a job that you don't love just because you feel bad that you spent money on a degree in that field.

I feel your pain, but I think the best course right now is to work on the pain, not create more pain by allowing guilt to lead you. Unless, of course, the field truly interests you - in that case, spend the money and may you see much hatzlacha working in the field. But only if you really want that.

Reading specialists do holy work, but it's not an easy job, it's not for everyone, and they are often overloaded. (I am a reading specialist. I worked in it for a couple years. I love watching the amazing progress, but I can't see myself doing that full time, and as of right now I'm not in that field.)

amother

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 2:58 pm

Thank you everyone and yes babyblue it was around 02 that I got the degree.

If I am honest with myself I actually don't even want to work in the field. I don't even want to work in education but this degree looms over me like a grey dark cloud. I WANT MY MONEY BACK!

amother

Babyblue

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 3:03 pm

I don't have any career suggestions, but a degree, especially a grad degree looks good on a resume and often can be the difference that helps you get your foot in the door. So not a total waste. In any case, what's done is done, and dwelling on it will only cause frustration. And use your experience to help guide others....

amother

Teal

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 3:08 pm

OP, people invest money in stocks and lose it, their businesses go bust, there are all kinds of situations where money is lost. Maybe this will make you feel better. It's not just you!

amother

Green

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 3:14 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Will it help you feel better if you think about it as money that wasn't meant for you? Like on Rosh Hashanah we are allotted a set amount of money for the year, we're not going to earn more than that.

So this 30K was money that you were meant to spend, money that you're not supposed to have access to anymore. (Maybe you'll get a different 30K, but not this one.) So better to have spent it on a grad degree that looks good on your resume and was time spent learning, than ch"v to have spent it on something less positive.

It's not that you were young and dumb, it was meant to be. It's not a bad thing in itself, it's just extremely frustrating and agitating. But you don't have to blame yourself or "get your money's worth." It is, and you are free to take a career that's more suited to you, without feeling guilty.

amother

Tan

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 3:29 pm

I have a masters in education as well. I quit teaching and work in a different industry now. Your Masters degree is NOT worthless. In any field, people respect that you are educated and appreciate that I had a masters. When I left teaching, at every interview when I explained why I'm transitioning they were impressed that I had a masters. There are sooooo many jobs that pay well and don't necessarily need a masters in that field but will pay you more for having one regardless.

amother

Copper

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 3:34 pm

I'm in similar situation but I dont think of it that way. Money just goes. It goes to rent, it goes to clothing and food, it goes to self care, it goes to education....life moves on...

seeker

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 4:37 pm

I don't think it's true that there isn't demand, I hear about a lot of people looking for reading specialists and not finding them. Mostly people with P3s but also privately.

But I do deeply empathize with the issue of being pushed to choose a degree before fully exploring options.

amother

Babyblue

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 4:46 pm

True but that seems to be the whole trajectory for the average frum girl. In a hurry to finish school get a job marry.
Maybe if things on the shidduch side would be less pressured, the girls would have more time and head space. All by the age of 22 or 23, certainly 24 at the latest. There's a lot of fallout as a result. This is part of it.

amother

Tue, Apr 07 2020, 5:17 pm

Yup - exactly how I feel. I came back from seminary and I remember it was August and I was literally rushing to get my BA. Got my BA in a year (learned nothing but spent a TON of money) then RUSHED to get a Masters because I HAD TO - the pressure to do what everyone else was doing was enormous.