Dmac Blog

Lately, I have realized that I am at a crossroad in my life. Many of my friends are moving off and getting jobs and I wonder if I should do the same. I was born in Murray KY. I went to school at Murray State University. I got a good job at Murray State University. And now I am teaching Information Security classes at Murray State University in my spare time. Murray, Murray, and more Murray. For those of you that that know me well you would probably agree that I am motivated individual. When I was young I said I would get a college degree and land a good job in Murray so that I could live out the rest of my life here. And it seems that the childhood goal has been achieved. The problem is that I think my goals as an adult are quite different. I have had the opportunity to do a fair bit of traveling and I have realized that there is a world out there that is not yet explored. Would I be cutting myself short if I stayed here in Murray for the rest of my life living out the first good job that I got?

To see things from my perspective we should do a quick breakdown. I am currently working as a Sys Admin for MSU making good money for the area. I am teaching classes for the TSM department which brings in more money. My wife is a Kindergarten teacher here and she makes decent money. We are living pretty well for the town of Murray and we could definitely live here comfortably for the rest of our lives. We would both be fully vested in our mid-forties. She loves her job and my job is great as long as I figure out new ways to challenge myself. I currently have a BS in TSM and MSU would gladly pay for my Masters and my wife’s.

Here is where the crossroad begins. I feel like I have the opportunity to be a professor. If I choose the education route for a career goal then I need to get a Masters in TSM. If I choose the corporate ladder then it would be in my best interest to do an MBA. However, if I get my MBA and decide I want to be a TSM professor I am basically out of luck. I was told that my highest level of education had to be technical in order to be a professor in a technical college. The SPLIT begins.

So here are my paths…..

• Go back to school, while working full-time and teaching school to get my Masters

• Get my masters in Business
• Get Certifications since they are needed for the Corporate world
• Start Looking for Jobs outside of Murray
• Know that my wife would have to quit here job so that I could pursue a new one
• Sell our house and move shop
• See a New town and new people
• Risk being married to my job and less time with family

• Get my masters in TSM
• Continue to teach TSM classes and possibly land a professor position here at MSU
• Work 9 months a year with summers off
• May have to pursue doctorate
• My wife keeps her job and has summers off with me
• We stay in Murray to the bitter end

• Or….. Don’t worry about my masters and apply for a job right now outside of Murray (The Crazy Route)

I know, I know! It all depends on what my wife and I want for our lives. The problem is that we see the benefits of both moves. I am sitting about 50/50.