I don’t want to give too much away, but I moved to a new metropolitan city (300k people) from an even larger one (2.7 mil people) right after undergrad last year to do clinical research at a top10 school to increase my chances of getting into medical school.
I’ve been here almost a full year now and feel like I have plenty to show for my time here (couple of presentations and published some things). My application for school is already submitted and I already have my letters of recommendation from my physicians/mentors here.
The issues that make me want to leave are mainly financial and happiness related. I’m currently making only 35k with one 3% raise after 10 months, and could be making 50-55k if I went back home( I get the cost of living is vastly different but I’d have more financial security there with roommates and family). On the other note, I’ve been here about a year and I feel like I still haven’t found my place here, other than my gf of 3 years but we broke up a couple months ago. I just feel like life could be so much better mentally and financially if I just went back home. Another issue I’m seeing is I think a lack of interest from my boss over the past 6 months. I understand they’re constantly busy with surgery being their priority, but it just feels like I’m on my own most of the time. They even told me 4 months ago how they wish they didn’t have to do research, so it just feels like I’m getting the bare minimum from them.
The issue I have is actually being able to pull the trigger and leave. I have some great mentors here who’ve helped me so much, and who I’d still want to have in my corner in the future. I just don’t know how to do it, when to do it, and how much notice to give, considering I’m my boss’s only employee. I just don’t know how to get rid of the guilt.