re: Mid-life crisis reality check

quote:

---

if a guy like my brother can't get in to Vet school, who can?

---

Laquisha Jefferson

At age 35 I completely changed my career path. I was a building contractor, discovered that I wanted to work in defense electronics systems and took a huge cut in pay to start at the bottom and work my way up. Today, 30 years later, I'm the senior director of government and defense systems sales for a $60 billion annually company mentoring a replacement to take my place when I retire. I've initiated development of multiple systems that protect assets and service members and are integral to defense systems. My systems are on land vehicles, aircraft carriers, nuclear subs, aircraft and satellites. I've learned so much in physics and electrical engineering that a college degree just skims over. Colonels and Lieutenants that I used to call on are now friends and retiring as Admirals and Generals. Making that change when I was 35, trusting in myself and my own intuition, led me to many adventures and gathering friends and relationships across the globe in over 20 countries.

Changing can be done and if you pour your energies and enthusiasm into it you will find success. You don't know what that success will be or what it will cost you to get there, but don't be deterred by age or fear of the unknown. Trust in your own drive and the internal motivation you feel to do something unique with your life. I wish you the best.

I would say dont do it. Too much student loans and you might not even like it once you graduate.

May I ask why you didnt become a vet in your 20s?

quote:

---

My vets groomer made 90k last year

---

Don’t know what the one around here makes but she’s in a brand new corvette. And for as long as her shop has been there, there was a newish corvette in the parking lot. No doubt she’s doing well for herself and gets to work with animals

I’m an engineer and feel kind of the same. It’s a slog. Sometimes I think I should find some volunteer type work in poor countries where my skills could be used to help others. Seems like it could be really rewarding. Maybe you can find something like that to do in your spare time?

That ship has sailed, baw! Maybe bang a 20 something to get through the crisis.

I believe it is Tom Scholtz, the mastermind behind the band Boston, that said he went out to try to help animal causes, but then realized he was better served as being a performer and using these funds to let others help animals.
Whether or not this is an accurate statement about him or not, it does show that there are many ways one can help a cause or bring about a purpose, even if you're not directly involved in the purpose itself.

For example in your case, you say you're some type of economic statistician.
There are rescue animal groups out there that deal with a lot of financial situations ( paying for vet bills, transportation costs, food costs, etc.) that could probably use someone like you to help with the books. Perhaps you can get involved there and fulfill , in a small way, your veterinarian dreams.

My wife is a veterinarian and it is a very taxing job physically and emotionally. If you haven't wanted to it all your life and worked towards that, don't try now.

It costs so much and you don't get near the pay of human doctors. You also get people telling you that you are just in it for the money.

There are also corporations moving into the space squeezing the private Vets because they have power over margins which are already thin.

Vets also have a high suicide rate and judging by how you hate your job now, may not be the best choice for you mentally.

God isn’t telling you to try and identify as a woman, baw

quote:

---

If nothing else, go become a farmer... It's never too late to change your path in life, no matter what anyone says.

---

Yeah, well in an overly credentialed society it can be.

Get into agriculture if you want fulfillment, great advice. Just be prepared to be cash poor and work your arse off, even if only part time.