The Lainey Blog

I recently made a very big decision to return to education. It was not an easy decision to make. There were many factors at play; costs, time constraints, job demands, childcare etc… But with all of these factors at play, I still decided to do it. You see, for years and years I had utterly convinced myself that I wasn’t the college type. I probably wouldn’t do that well anyway and that I’d be bored stiff sitting through hours of lectures. Also, I hadn’t a clue what I might study.

But something had changed over the last few years. The last decade was a tremendous period of growth. There were ups, there were most certainly downs – there were ups and downs in work.. (cabin crew pun, sorry couldn’t resist!). And leaving my career as cabin crew to pursue the great unknown served as a catalyst for this major decision.

I skipped away (with a minor feeling of dread) from a career I had grown up with for a more stable, grounded role. I had been very fortunate to secure a role in a new HR department in a very well established Irish FMCG company. This would be an exciting new chapter in my career. My final step into security on a very grown up level.

But alas, it all came crashing down. Having literally stepped off the plane into a completely new environment, new culture and a different list of demands gave me a shock to the system like no other. I went from being completely physically active in my job to being more or less stationary. Emails came flooding in, in a cold-hearted business language that just felt so alien – and kinda rude. I tried and tried to overcome this new, strange way of working. And I was doing quite well on the surface. But ultimately, lack of confidence, frustrations with my team and staring at the same four walls everyday really took its toll. I also found it very difficult to work around my family. Ironically – I had more time with my children when I had been travelling back and forth to the States weekly.

A stint in a local restaurant and a disaster of a month with a sales company would follow but to no avail. Nothing could fill the gaping void that flying left in my soul.

Disillusioned, shattered and heartbroken something really had to change.

And I know what you’re thinking – “Christ Elaine, it’s just a job – would you ever calm down?!”. And yes, you’d be right.

So I started to look at college courses. At subjects that interested me (and believe me – there are many!). But I finally narrowed it down and settled on Psychology.

A natural choice really. I have always been fascinated with the human mind and what motivates us. (Plus, years of screening passengers has left me with a near-psychic skill of reading peoples’ minds!)

It’s hard work, as I imagined it would be – but it’s so worth it. Psychology is a subject that seems to have so many layers. And just when you think you’ve got to the middle on the onion – there’s another patch right over there.

But I’m finding out that yes actually, I am the college type. Exploring an area that is genuinely interesting to me has its’ own set of thrills. Researching for assignments (while often tedious and painful), and meeting deadlines is giving me a whole new quiet confidence on a completely different level that I truly lacked before. I am learning how to use my voice and to stand by my own argument. Only 4 years to go, but I am so excited to be a part of it.

And when the children are a little older, hopefully carving out that stable career path will be a little less daunting and a little more enjoyable.

‘Til next time!

Lainey 😉