Going Back To School?

[Guest AlexandraHarper]

Hey everyone,

As I have posted before I got a new job, in low level management, which is what BA is in. And from being back in the management field, I don't see this being the type of job I want to do. To an extent I think it has to do with the current business I'm at, and from the experience I had at one of my other management positions before that position just has put a bad taste in my mouth. This has then lead me to think about going back to school for another degree or certificate.

From thinking about the topic, I have been talking to friends and my parents about it for a few weeks. The two main suggestions have been a Massage Therapy Certificate or a Cosmetology "degree". Both suggestions are options I am considering but the concern I have with the options is that the business is client based, and how people perceive you. Makes it some what a scary idea for me to do before I transition. Especially since the cost for both is pretty high. Which would hinder my transition for awhile.

So this has lead to my current crossroads!! I am trying to see which way I would be more happy to do, and the way I am going about doing that is research into both fields about training, cost, and trying to see what its like before going into both careers. And I am also having to consider my transition into all of this. So I was wandering if anyone had any personal experience in either field or just plain old advice to help a girl out.

Sincerely,

Alexandra Harper

[Guest Bunny]

This is probably not helpful at all but I'll tell you what I know!

I know how I like to work, what I like to do and what I hate.

I like to work, to feel like I'm doing something. I'd hate to sit behind a desk all day. I also hate annoying people but one can never escape that so I must cope lol.

I'm enrolled to do cosmetology starting in July. I'm enrolled as female, being FTM this is, obvilously not my favorite choice. I have a few reasons why I can handle this though. Going full time at most I will be there for 8 months. I've lived this long in this body being called a girl, 8 months wont kill me.

Working with people and transitioning and how it effects things? Well with any job you face issues. You risk getting fired or, in this case, loss of clients.

At the same time, while starting out I wont be working where I'll be working... Two years later say. Personally I want to fully move to another area but aside from that you mostly start out in malls, or chain shops. Not a place most people intend to stay at forever so there is that advantage of moving on and when you go to another place present more as the gender you identify as then the last place. Or so is my ideal lol.

With clients who don't see you ever day little changes will seem larger over time once they get to know you but once you're out of school you could be further along in presenting as your chosen gender and maybe okay with presenting at that level at work. A comfortable "middle" ground say. And if not. Well back to that changing how much you present if you change jobs!

Working is kinda a crapshoot no matter what the job may be or so it seems and so I've read around here. But it seems the chances with this line of work are. Well a little less horrid of being able to transition without getting kicked on your butt out the door.

-Jaden

[Guest AlexandraHarper]

Thanks for the quick reply,

I agree that after my transition is complete that I do plan on moving to another city or even state, so that I can start over to an extent. This then makes me wonder if I should wait until after I have transitioned to get my certificate. But if I were to go to school before then, I would be leaning towards going to school probably the beginning of their fall programs, which start in September. This does give me more time to weight my options, and find out the opinions of a few of my other friends, as well as try and find out information about the different schools, around were I live.

Sincerely,

Alexandra Harper

[Guest Bunny]

I went to my last college very fast, I applied and get accepted ect a month before move in. In this I learned something you might have thought everyone would know before even trying this.

Take Your Time!

I didn't have a bad expierence at all, infact if it hadn't been for some issues with my hands I'd still be there (couldn't hold a pen for a while, couldn't get a medical note, teachers didn't care, bad grades. Blech). But with the rush of trying to get in ASAP I didn't find the best place for myself, the best choice of major (as if people don't change those an average of five times anyways! lol) and all in all, I would have been better off waiting just a bit longer.

Granted, if you fall in love with your first choice going there might be the best choice if your second seems to fall a little short.

Another option to waiting after transition really would be to wait till after your name change. Seeing as most of the time your gender isn't listed and you'd have to get one reissued after a name change anyways you could just go to school and change your name along the lines. Which I get the feeling would be uncomfortable, legally change your name before starting, or get one reissued after you change your name after graduating from whatever school. This is, obviously enough, assuming you haven't legally done so already.

I do suggest, if you can, talking to some students. More so if you can find some outside the actual building of the school wherever you choose. If you know what you're looking for in teaching styles or class size or ect and how you work best you might learn a bit more by talking to them then by just talking to an admissions person. You also may not, but it wont hurt!

-Jaden