Due to much frustration in landing a career (read: a job where I will enjoy my work for a long term basis and where I feel my skills and education are being utilized. NOT a temporary assignment or contract position) in the Chemistry field, I have been considering further education. I was rather disappointed recently to learn that a company I had interviewed with had "chosen another candidate". I was really hoping to get one of the two positions they had open. I also really felt that I was a great fit, and that the interview had gone exceptionally well. I wonder where I fell short? It would be nice if they told me, however I a skeptical of getting any clear feedback from them since they didn't bother notifying me even after I had called and e-mailed inquiring about the status a couple of times before that. I waited almost two months to hear. I was crushed. I just don't understand.

Shortly after, I did receive an offer of a direct hire position from the company that I am currently working a contract assignment for. When one door closes, I guess God opens another one. Unfortunately, this job requires me to drive 40 miles each way (which I've been doing for 10 months now anyway.) Also, by some strange mathematical formula which makes no sense whatsoever, I actually end up making $0.60 less an hour than I did working for the temp agency. Figure that one out for me. The position is also for a Laboratory Technician I. Ideally, I would like and should meet the requirements for a Chemist position, but this company doesn't have Chemists. In July I will be up for review and eligible to move up to Technologist I, which would also come with a raise. I will be hired in on Valentine's day, which is nice because going in in the morning for orientation and a benefits overview means I will have the evening off to spend with the husband (who also happens to have that day off!)

The main trouble that I'm facing is the vast variety of jobs I could* do with a degree in Chemistry. There are of course the Big Three automotive companies in Detroit, there are all kinds of smaller automotive suppliers, there are adhesives and sealants, there is water treatment, there is air quality analysis and gas suppliers, there are pharmaceutical companies, there is metal pretreatment and coating, there is plastics, etc. etc. etc., you get the idea.

I don't know what I WANT to do. I always thought I was leaning towards pharmaceuticals. Problem is, Pfi2er closed in Ann Arbor putting thousands of employees out of work. They are flooding all the other companies in the area, and beating me out of even the entry level jobs based on having more experience. I did a little adhesive work...it was alright, but I have no passion for it. It is messy and not precise enough for me. More like baking...dump a bunch of chemical ingredients in an industrial mixer, stir them up, and glue something together with it to see if it does what it is supposed to. I want to do instrumental analysis like GCMS and FTIR. I want to characterize products. I want to make discoveries.

Then I started thinking that maybe I needed to go back to school to focus my education a little more. The idea of a pharmacy degree greatly appeals to me...but the idea of 6 years of school and a highly competitive program which I probably won't get into does not. Teaching high school Chemistry and Physics was something I thought I wanted to do at one time...but now I think I would not be good at it. Public high school teenagers would walk all over me. Eventually, I want to be a primarily stay at home mom. So the idea of a big expensive education right now that I might not finish before I become a mother isn't such a great one.

Arts is another direction. I have always loved art. I loved drawing painting and all types of creating as a child and young adult. I don't have nearly as much time for it as I wish I did. I love photography, and that is something I want to transition from a hobby to a livelihood eventually. I also love the challenge of creating something from nothing...and solving the unexpected problems that arise along the way. I used to aspire to be a Graphic Designer working on automotive styling, but I let too many people tell me that it was too competitive of a field. I was torn between my love of Art and my love of Science. The cliche "Starving Artist" steered me towards a science education.

I consider myself to be very technical minded. I love figuring things out, solving problems, and knowing how and WHY something works. I am great with computers. I have never taken any computer classes (except for a basic Web Authoring elective in high school which taught me basic HTML), yet...I have designed this page with CSS elements, I have built two computers, and I tested out of the required computer class in college knowing that it would bore me even though I didn't know how to use Microsoft Access (and that made up 1/4 of the test) I managed to figure out how to do all the tasks required on the test by using the built in "help," having never opened the program before in my life. I am considered "tech support" for all my family members (sometimes that's aggravating...how many times can you explain to a 67 year old how to send an email?) I can pick up any software you throw at me. I am one of those people who throws away the instruction book for anything because I can learn to use the item quicker and understand it better on my own. I need to constantly learn MORE.

If I sum up everything I've said (and good for you if you're still reading and I haven't bored you to tears by now...sorry I am sounding like such a downer), I come to the conclusion that I need to get some REAL teaching on this Technology thing. I am interested in it, it can only benefit me to have more knowledge. I am thinking I would like to try my hand at some for profit web design. (It mixes ART with GEEKERY!!!) I could make use of those skills when I become the previously mentioned "stay at home mom" for a little extra income. I am 95% decided on taking this class online through my local community college to test the waters:

ITWP-1000 - Introduction to Web Programming
3.00 credits
Course Fee: $32.00
Prerequisite: ITCS-1010 or ITBS-1240

Introduction to Internet Programming using HTML, CGI, JavaScript and other Internet development tools. Primary emphasis will be placed on fundamental understanding of HTML for formatting of pages, establishing links and inclusion of CGI and JavaScript with images, graphics and sound. (3 contact hrs)

I'm sure it will go over much of what I do already know, but I'm sure there will be new information, and it will help to have taken the class should I choose to continue on that course. I need to find out if they will allow me in without taking the prereq. since I really feel "computer basics" would be a huge waste of my time and money. I also need to decide if I would want to go for a certification or an associates degree in this, or just take the classes that I want to take and do it for the knowledge. That mainly depends on whether they will let me transfer all my gen. ed. classes that I took for my Chem. degree towards this degree/certificate.

*If the economy wasn't so bad and there were actually entry level positions open.