u/Helmethead397

Leaving underground construction job to pursue electrical engineering degree

Lifestyle change

Long story short,

25M, with a fiance and babygirl on the way in the Northern California area. I'm a veteran with great vet benefits and currently work an electrical construction job installing conduit pipe, making pole holes, or trenches for lineman essentially. I did go to a lineman trade school but quickly figured it's not a career path where I'm able to see my family very often. I make good money and if it really pushed it with hours I would cap out at around 200k. But this year I made around 150kish. It's good money at the cost of being dirty, working 12+ hours or even more and over the weekends 6-7 days a week. I'm no stranger to hard work, but do see myself doing something different.

I tend to get very envious of those engineers that came out to job sites very clean and spiffy and always wonder what it takes to get to that. I look for a job that will have me home and be around with my daughter more often and make solid money. I have dabbled in some college classes while working here and there, and I KNOW I have what it takes for this degree. As a lot of the research I've done in schooling for electrical engineering is no joke. Math is a strong suit of mine and rather enjoy the puzzles it brings. I plan on starting full time schooling around summer time next year and give it a real shot and fully investing myself in these general ed classes at the community college and transferring out to get this BA in EE. I'd be around 30 years once I'm done give or take, but truly believe it'll put my future family in a better position and a happier lifestyle. VA benefits would help with that.

Would appreciate some feedback and insight of the schooling and what it takes. Also, would enjoy some feedback of someone in a similar position or been in this position.

Thank you for reading and anything helps. Much appreciated...

reddit.com
u/Helmethead397 — 16 hours ago

Quitting 6 figure construction job to go back to school

Lifestyle change

Long story short,

25M, with a fiance and babygirl on the way in the Northern California area. I'm a veteran with great vet benefits and currently work an electrical construction job installing conduit pipe, making pole holes, or trenches for lineman essentially. I did go to a lineman trade school but quickly figured it's not a career path where I'm able to see my family very often. I make good money and if it really pushed it with hours I would cap out at around 200k. But this year I made around 150kish. It's good money at the cost of being dirty, working 12+ hours or even more and over the weekends 6-7 days a week. I'm no stranger to hard work, but do see myself doing something different.

I tend to get very envious of those engineers that came out to job sites very clean and spiffy and always wonder what it takes to get to that. I look for a job that will have me home and be around with my daughter more often and make solid money. I have dabbled in some college classes while working here and there, and I KNOW I have what it takes for this degree. As a lot of the research I've done in schooling for electrical engineering is no joke. Math is a strong suit of mine and rather enjoy the puzzles it brings. I plan on starting full time schooling around summer time next year and give it a real shot and fully investing myself in these general ed classes at the community college and transferring out to get this BA in EE. I'd be around 30 years once I'm done give or take, but truly believe it'll put my future family in a better position and a happier lifestyle. VA benefits would help with that.

Would appreciate some feedback and insight of the schooling and what it takes. Also, would enjoy some feedback of someone in a similar position or been in this position.

Thank you for reading and anything helps. Much appreciated...

reddit.com
u/Helmethead397 — 16 hours ago

Head first into EE…

Any advice for someone completely going head first into a full time college student role coming from an IBEW Groundman position. I thought becoming a lineman would be the route but as my little one came along, it wouldn’t be ideal. I’m a veteran and have all my VRE benefits ready to go and just anxious as I start into a Calculus summer course in about a month. Looking for any advice and what to expect. Thank you.

reddit.com
u/Helmethead397 — 2 days ago