After I finished my Masters Degree in Biology five years ago, I got the opportunity to work in the real estate business. Since getting and maintaining a career as a reasearcher in biology is difficult (especially in my field), I embraced the opportunity, changed the field and started working in an office of my former landlord.
The company was growing fast and quickly I was able to take more and more ownership, without any qualification in this field. Soon I gained experience and knowledge, mostly by learning it the hard way. It was fun at the beginning and I earned more than I ever had earned as a researcher.
After being a student for years I enjoyed the sudden constant influx of money. But suddenly things changed. The company still grew and with it grew its problems. Work became more and more chaotic and my experience was not enough to fix the problems. Also, I didn't like certain aspects of the real estate/construction business. For example, as a biologist, I was used to have mostly constructive conversations, when a problem arised. In the real estate business however, it was all about the hierarchy game (you see, the anthropologist in me is always awake). Basically the louder, more talkative guy was always right. As a natural introvert, this was difficult for me and I had to force myself to enforce my will onto other people. I didn't just want to give up, so I tried to correct the path of my work. I fought hard, it took its toll on my well-being. I didn't feel good anymore. And suddenly I was trapped. I just lived for the work and didn't feel well at all. After two years of tough fighting, I quit.
I jumped off the cliff. I quit without having a new job and barely enough ressources for the next months.
And there I was. My mind was dark and rattled from this experience, my body was more than 15 kilograms heavier than usual, I neglected friends and family. But inside I knew, this was the right decicion. Why should I sacrifice myself for a company, life is too short. My passion and love lays in biology, why not return to my field? Yes. But how? I was thinking about becoming a biology teacher for a long time. If I start now, I can do the diploma within 3 years, while working part time. And thats what I will do.
I enrolled at the teacher's diploma course at university and found a new job within one month. Tomorrow, the semester starts and with it my new life.
Thank you for reading, stay tuned.
(Today I took this photo of a Garrulus glandarius in front of my window. He made funny noises, as he was saying: " Get your shit together and do this! Look at me, I'm sitting on a tree in the rain but still looking good!) 