Am I insane?

[customersruinmylife]

So, anyone who has read my posts knows how much I get wound up by customers, but here is a tale to tell.

Basically, I only work at my bar to pay my way through university, but recently, my course has fallen apart and I now know that the degree I am going to get is next to worthless...

...so, I was originally planning on moving back with my parents, working for a couple of years, and then earning myself a decent degree, but the company the bar I work for owns has told me I have potential and wants me to do some manager training.

I was wondering, am I insane for considering this idea? After the year I have had on my degree, this is a welcome change, but the question is, do I really want to be the manager of SC's for the rest of my career?

I should also note, that desbite the SC's, I LOVE my job. I love everyone I work with, the environment is great, the only problem I have is that my parents want me to be something along the lines of a millionare, eg a doctor, ect ect, not a bar manager.

Opinions please.

[Broomjockey]

If the only problem you have with the place is the SCs, I vote go for it. Almost every job is going to have it's SCs or varients thereof.

If you like your co-workers, the managers, the location, and the duties involved, it sounds awesome. And you don't have to stay there forever or anything, either. Give it a year, see if you like it.

[CurlyLocks]

I should also note, that desbite the SC's, I LOVE my job. I love everyone I work with, the environment is great, the only problem I have is that my parents want me to be something along the lines of a millionare, eg a doctor, ect ect, not a bar manager.

I agree with Broomjockey. Since you do love it so much why not give it a try. You're still young and if it doesn't work out you can move on. Also, while I would never encourage anyone to not give due consideration to advice from parents, please don't forget that you have to choose what will make YOU happy for the rest of YOUR life. It's unfortunate if it doesn't turn out to be what they wanted for you, but so be it. I'm sure they love you and when they see you happy at whatever career you've chosen that will make them happy for you.

[Linda]

It doesn't have to be forever. You can be a manager now and still get your degree later. Plus it may help you in the long run - already having management experience on your CV would place you ahead of other candidates for future employment.

[rvdammit]

The coin toss might work here.

Toss a coin, heads you take the management training, tails you don't. Don't look at the result. Do you want a heads or tails, if so go with that otherwise go with the coin.

[purplecat41877]

How about writing down the pros and cons of each choice? Then go from there.

[Barefootgirl]

*coughs and points at Paul Walsh as an example of a millionaire in the drinks business*

The thing is, you can't push someone into being a successful doctor or other professional. The individual has to want to be a doctor/lawyer/indian chief, and if you don't want to be one, it doens't matter how much they push you. Believe me, I know. My parents pushed me at medicine so hard i nearly ruptured myself from resisting, then when they realised I had no scientific inclination whatsoever, they pushed me at law.

You have to follow your own path in life, and if having a bash at bar management appeals to you at this stage in your life, and your academic career isn't working out, go for it. You can always go back to college later on, and as Linda says, a bit of management experience is always a useful thing to have on your CV. You may even find that the things you learn in the "real world" help you enormously if and when you choose to return to college.

Whatever you decide to do, best of luck!

[ShortTemperHatesStupidity]

Your parents may want you to be a millionaire, but I think the bigger desire here is that they want you to be happy, and they see the "millionaire" portion as being necessary to facilitate that happiness. If the bar makes you happy then go for it.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Consider this:

-Management experience looks good on a resume, no matter what you end up doing.
-You could eventually move up further in the company and end up in an even better position.
-You enjoy the job and coworkers, and that's definitely worth consideration.
-If you become a manager you make more money, which can help you pay for more school to do whatever it is your little heart really desires.
-And if your little heart really desires working in the restaurant/bar business, well, then, there ya go!
-(Depending on how you feel about moving back with your parents) being a manager can make it possible to remain on your own. I moved back in with my parents 5 years ago and I'm still here. I'm not particularly happy about that. (Just something to keep in mind...I don't know how old you are or what living with your parents is like so my life may not apply.)

Whatever you decide, good luck

[Der Cute]

My 2 cents:

If you are undecided about college:
finish the year and work on work.

Why is the degree worthless, may I ask?

Some people with degrees in Medieval History Language..the odd ball ones that are just so...specific....still get kick ass jobs. How?

It's because they had the chutzpah to do something they loved to do, whether it was Ancient Greek & Latin & Sanskrit (who the hell reads that stuff..) or History of Plankton.

The people decided : I want something dammit, and did it.

this shows dedication, self confidence and the ability to apply yourself to things you want to do.

So what if your degree is the Science of Pine Needle Fragrance? Or Tree Bark?
You wanted something and did it. That takes a pair, I dont care who you are.

Take a year to learn management. Maybe 18 mos. But during this time, keep ears open to jobs in the field you love. Make up resumes. Send them out. Also take mgmt classes and training, anything you can get hands on.

Try taking Brainbench.com tests (free ones) and getting certifications in some mgmt stuff too.

Decide between here and 18 mos if you want to stay in the industry you're in, or somehow apply your degree to soemthing you like to do. If you're working in a bar, you'd have to know food service too, I'm thinking. So what if you decide you like being a manager better than being a bartender or Pine Needle Scientist?? You could use that degree to impress HR people at a Fragrance/ Essential Oils laboratory: combine knowledge of Pine Needles, Management and the desire to learn things.

See where I'm going here?

Cutenoob

[customersruinmylife]

Hi, just a quick update to answer some questions.

Well, at the minute I am living away from home for university. My parents offered to let me move back in, rent free, if I used the money I earned to pay my way through another course, seeing as I utterly despise my degree at the minute. But, the problem is, I dont know if I want to go back into education. I have been in education for 18 years non-stop now, ENOUGH.

My degree is terrible. The first couple of years were great, but in the last, and most important year, it has been given a complete overhaul, and EVERYTHING has changed. I don't have a clue what I'm doing anymore, and people have been going to the principle and having meetings about getting their tutition fees back. I am going to be seriously lucky if I even pass this degree, as my marks have gone from in the 70's to way down into the 40's.

I have been offered this kind of manager training in two bars, one of which is near my university, one is near home. Parents want me to take the home position so I dont have to worry about rent costs, but the prospects there are no where near as good as the one at university.

Its all very confusing! And I only have a month and a bit to decide, otherwise I'm doing to have no where to live!

[zzapp the witch]

This is simple enough:

Your parents love you and want you to be happy. They also don't want to worry about you. That's where the "millionaire" part comes in. If you're well off, they won't have to worry about you winding up living in a dumpster after they're gone.

If you're well off, you will also be able to care for them later in life if they need it, without it being a financial burden to you. (In this day and age, this is a valid concern for any parent).

Your parents love you and obviously care a great deal about your welfare and future (as evidenced by the pushing for more school and the living at home to allay rent and other costs), BUT as you've said yourself, you are sick of school, and the bar away from home would ultimately be more profitable than the one near home.

You say your marks went from the 70s to the 40s. YOU ARE BORED! And tired. Not a good way to be when trying to get through school.

What you are telling all of us is that you are bored with school, and want to train for a better position at the bar away from home, you just aren't to the point of saying it. So just say it already, and tell your parents you love them, and value their input, but you just have to try this to see how much you can do on your own.

Hell, you can always save up money and take courses in your spare time over the frikkin internet (University of Phoenix?) when your brain has recuperated some.

[tollbaby]

yup. I work full time at a job I'm not particularly fond of, for crap money as well... but I'm taking uni courses through University of Athabasca to get my BA too