Buying In vs. Selling Out

 I did something this week that I hadn’t planned on doing for a while.  I applied for an engineering job (insert dramatic music).  I’m at the point in my journey where I need to be making some money.  My brother may be moving in with me and one of us needs to bring home some bacon!  I had a conversation with my uncle’s friend (and fellow engineer) and he suggested doing engineering part time or temporarily to fund what I really want to do.  That actually made a lot of sense.  Why didn’t I think of that?  I was just so set on not going back to engineering full time that I hadn’t even considered part time or temporary jobs.  The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.  I was looking for work at restaurants because that’s the field I wanted to get into but I would be starting at the bottom of the totem pole and so would my pay check.  I applied at a few restaurants in the area but didn’t get any response from any of them.  I know I would have a better shot if I went to culinary school but that cost money.  Money that I currently don’t have nor am I willing to borrow.  Before I left my job I considered taking night classes at the local culinary school but with the long unpredictable hours and 45 minute commute it was just too much.  With a part time job it actually is possible.  In addition to restaurants I was looking into jobs other places just to have some income.  I am currently volunteering at my church’s cafe but that’s just until I find something more fitting.  As my pastor says, “one dollar is better than no dollar.”

Engineering may not be the career I want to retire from but I have this degree and a skill set, so why not use it?  People older and wiser than me have been telling me this for months but I wasn’t trying to hear it.  I felt like going back to engineering would be going back to Egypt and admitting defeat.  I realize now that that’s not necessarily true.  I could use my engineering skills to fund what I really want to do.  It’ll be like a bridge to get to the Promised Land.  Even Jesus worked as a carpenter until it was time for Him to fully step into His ministry.

So I started applying for jobs as a technical writer.  It seems like the perfect position for me.  I have a technical background and I write.  I actually enjoy writing.  I do it even when I’m not being paid (exhibit A).  Truth be told, I got better grades in English than in math anyway.  (There goes that engineering stereotype.)  I did a lot of writing, reviewing, and editing for my previous position so I do have technical writing experience.  The more I think about it the better it sounds.  Working part time as a technical writer will give me the money I need to live yet the freedom to take classes and/or go on auditions. Using my skills at a part time or temporary engineering job isn’t selling out to my dreams, its buying into and capitalizing on my skills.