Comments on: Sunday Conversation #3

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:38:28 +0000

I really related to this interview– and not just because of the name thing :)

I originally went to college as a psych major with intentions of getting my PhD and eventually becoming a psychologist/therapist in a private practice. Long story short, things changed and I ended up going to grad school for Library Science and am currently at my first librarian job– which took me a year to get, after graduating.

Librarians are another group who are definitely not in it for the money– we do not make what we’re really worth, especially since we have to go to grad school to get here. And the librarian job market is tough in a lot of areas too, mine included. We’re here because we enjoy what we’re doing and want to do it badly enough that we’ll brave both the job market and our marked-down price tags.

By: finaidgirl

finaidgirl — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:11:42 +0000

Thank you for interviewing Rachel. I also participated in Americorps*VISTA which encouraged us to create our own community but it wasn’t as “built-in” to the program as in others. I wonder how far along financially I could be if I hadn’t given up a year’s worth of salary for Americorps, but I’ve never regretted it. So true that there is perhaps just as much freedom (if not more) in not needing money as opposed to having more than you need.

By: Phil A

Phil A — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:22:19 +0000

Nice interview.

By: J

Mon, 05 May 2008 18:03:51 +0000

I can totally relate to Rachel. I was also valedictorian on my high school, and my bachelor’s is in math/computer science, so everyone expected me to go onto some high-paying job after graduation. But, instead, I chose to follow my true calling of being a librarian! :) I took a lot of flack from my family who thought I was under-utilizing my talents and selling myself short, but after ~5 years in the profession, I think I’ve finally convinced them otherwise. I’m using plenty of my intelligence and skills daily in my job as a librarian, and I love every minute of it! I love hearing about others who followed their hearts above lure of the almighty dollar…

By: Sheila

Sheila — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:19:21 +0000

Congratulations Rachel. It sounds like you made the right choice. I’d like to send my appreciation and thanks for all you (and others like you) do for our country.

It took me 25 years of chasing the more lucrative deal and beating my head against a glass ceiling to realize that my family and the time I spend with them is much more valuable than a big paycheck.

By: Robin

Robin — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:38:15 +0000

I also have been a social worker for many years, and I find the work to be incredibly fulfulling. However, I would like to add that there are social work jobs that do pay more fairly. Often they are in the private sector, though not always (the VA being an example). As a social worker I have worked in geriatric case management and currently work with a private not for profit hospice, and I am paid enough to live comfortably. I didn’t go into social work for the fame, glory, or money, but I do expect to be compensated fairly to put my heart into what I do. There are still glaring inequities in the pay scale of my organization – LPNs with a 2 year degree make about the same as I do with a masters. I feel strongly that as social workers we need to continue to advocate for ourselves, and the need to be paid fairly for the hard work we do. And Rachel is right, we are definitely social workers beyond the confines of the workweek!

By: typome

typome — Mon, 05 May 2008 05:24:43 +0000

This is inspirational! I kept wanting to quote so many of the things she wrote in the article, especially the freedom about not needing money. I think it’s great that she followed her passion, and not just because it’s social work. After all, I know lawyers who love their jobs and they get paid well. But definitely it’s important to take a job not just for the money.

By: Maria - Never the Same River Twice

Maria - Never the Same River Twice — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:26:20 +0000

As someone working in the nonprofit sector, I really appreciate Rachel’s perspective – especially her idea of developing a support network that is so much more valuable than 6 months of salary in the bank.

I will say, however, that I personally don’t think there is anything wrong with pursuing higher paying work for at least some portion of a career. This is something that I’m working at and may be appropriate for Rachel at some point as well.

By: Gary Hardin

Gary Hardin — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:04:16 +0000

Please relay to your friend Rachel how much all of us appreciate her words, her attitude, her choices. What a blessing! And keep up the good work of interviewing people. Love reading this kind of stuff.

By: My Small Cents

My Small Cents — Sun, 04 May 2008 20:48:47 +0000

This was a great conversation. I’ve always worked in low paying jobs that were high on the emotional value scale, although never as a social worker. There’s really something very gratifying about making that choice. Good for you, Rachel, to have paid off that much debt and saved that much money- I know it’s not easy! And I totally agree with your comment about mushrooms…

By: Dorian Wales - The Personal Financier

Dorian Wales - The Personal Financier — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:58:14 +0000

Financial success is apparently over-rated. Self fulfillment and satisfaction are just as important.

Furthermore I believe that if you’re good at what you do financial success will follow.

By: guinness416

guinness416 — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:51:13 +0000

The last two lines of the interview are great, and a wonderful counterpoint to a lot of the “I’ve got mine” garbage that gets written about personal finance.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:23:58 +0000

It’s always nice to see a personal finance blog post about how money isn’t the most important thing in the world. So true! (I’m a personal finance blogger as well, so obviously I think money is important, but you’ve gotta maintain perspective.) I also admire people who learn to live on less for a good reason, which it sounds like Rachel is doing.

By: Vered - MomGrind

Vered - MomGrind — Sun, 04 May 2008 17:58:34 +0000

I chose a “lucrative career”. I went to law school and worked several years as an attorney. I was miserable, so I quit.

After a few years as a stay at home mom, I am now with a Silicon Valley startup, which isn’t exactly giving up on making money, but I am there because I love being involved with a new startup.

There’s more to life than making a lot of money doing something you hate. I do wish our society acknowledged teachers, social workers etc. by paying them more.

By: Christa

Christa — Sun, 04 May 2008 17:08:10 +0000

Great article! I have been a social worker for 20+ years and love my profession too! I believe the work we do is important and sometimes saves lives. It is depressing, however, that we are not paid well for our degrees and/or experience. Like I said, I have over two decades of experience in multiple settings and I make $50,000 a year less than my sister who is a nurse with much less experience. I would never change professions because, like Rachel, it IS much more than a paycheck!

By: Julia

Julia — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:26:02 +0000

This was very helpful. I’m about to graduate college in less than a month and many of the things she said resonated deeply with me. I would love a career in social work, so it is reassuring to see the financial aspects of it openly discussed instead of just how great it would be.

I just wanted to point out that Americorps does offer a program which is more communal. I’m applying to Americorps*NCCC, which IS a very community/team based program and that’s the main reason why I’m applying to it. Just wanted to offer that as an option to people who aren’t affiliated with a religion and would still like to do social service in a community setting. They let you defer your student loans for a year and give you a $4,700 educational grant afterward, which is even nicer.

http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/nccc.asp

By: Ben @ Trees FUll of Money

Ben @ Trees FUll of Money — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:22:58 +0000

More scholarships need to be made available for people like Rachel. I have know several people from high school that went on to get masters degrees and phd’s that paid over a $100k for their educations, only to make $30k a year.

It’s their choice I know, but if these individuals don’t fill these positions, who will?