So after working as a political door knocker for three seasons I finally got a job as a Bio Lab assistant at my local community college last December. Part time too, meaning I can do it concurrently with my masters degree.
Almost immediately my parents starting talking about looking for advancements within the school. Looking for a position in the department or school that might pay better.
I didn’t want to do that. I know it probably plays into work culture (which I hate) to say it would feel ungrateful to look for a better position before I even got my pay for this one, but I kinda do feel grateful to have this job.
My last job in a STEM field was in 2019, when I was fired from my old position. I’ve worked as a canvasser for three years, and as much as I loved door knocking, I love working in a lab so much more.
But my parents are adamant that I should be looking for a better position, and not be afraid to look for one that might not be in my field. Even consider leaving this position for a better one.
And I just wanna scream at them no.
They’ve also been telling me to start applying for new jobs now and while I get that I don’t like the idea of even hearing back from another place until I’ve held this job for a year because I’ve never done that. My first job was 8-9 months before they fired me and my canvassing gigs always ended with the election.
This is the first job I’m on track to hold for a year and that means a lot to me just to get over being fired three years ago.
After two and a half years of online classes I feel more connected to the sciences here than I have at my graduate program.
My job isn’t even the most important thing in my life rn, my fucking thesis paper is.
But even if it wasn’t, I don’t think it’s entitled to say that I want to work in my field.
I’ve worked really really hard to get back into the lab and just cause something non-stem might pay more doesn’t mean Ill just drop everything to go do it.
Idk. Am I in the wrong here?