Quote:
Originally Posted by Hey_Robbie
Kudos on having the introspection and self-discipline to figure out what will really make you happy, and having the cojones to go after it with all your heart regardless of (because of?) how much it may shake up your life. I (and I'd guess many others) need to be reminded of this every now and then.
|
It's taken me half of my adult life to quit bitching about how much I hate the line of work I'm in. But with age comes introspection and I know for a fact the line of work I want to get into. It took time to screw up the courage to go for it. Just too easy to sit in your rut and bitch and moan about oh woe is me.
The only consideration holding me back about just jumping ship and moving on to another job is how to handle keeping up the house payment until I can sell this place. There's only one brew pub here in town, and a couple brew pubs and/or brewers within reasonable driving distance.
On the plus side I do want to eventually leave this town, so having to relocate isn't a problem long term, just the short term, unless the new job paid enough to allow dual house/rent payments. I'm willing to go just about anywhere in the world. Certainly anywhere in the US or Canada, most anywhere in Europe. Australia is another locale I would love.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hey_Robbie
Don't know anything about the brewing world specifically, but usually one learns a lot more about any subject by doing it and being around people who know it than by studying. Of course many personal considerations go into a decision like this, but there is a strong argument for preferring the latter option.
|
The more thought I give this the more I like the idea. It would potentially give me an in with an employer, and who knows, they may also help with some of the costs, and it would give practical knowledge that would help with course work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hey_Robbie
Here I have some experience and, as an adult learner, I would lean towards taking chemistry. A lot of micro is memorization, and the facts you will need to know for your future brewing work you will know from continual exposure or will be able to look up. Plus, the specific strains and biological pathways you will want to be familiar with are unlikely to be taught in the average micro course.
Chemistry, by comparison (at least if taught well) has many general concepts, rules and trends that you can learn to appreciate and use, and having a general "sense" of how the chemistry works can make understanding various specific and more complex processes easier.
|
I have been leaning towards chemistry. I do have a brochure from the American Brewers Guild Brewing School. In it they say they want general college chemistry to include organic, inorganic, and analytical. If I went with a course in biological science, in addition to microbiology, there is also cell physiology or biochemistry.
Here again I think working in a brewery, even if in the beginning it isn't as a full time member of the brewing team, I can learn better how each area of study will fit with the job and which one(s), would be best to pursue. I would imagine any company worth working for would allow you to use your free time after completing your other work to observe and participate for learning and future advancement in this part of the job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hey_Robbie
I think math, more than many other subjects, is suited to online study. I've taught and tutored hundreds of people in math, and as long as there were a robust mechanism to ask questions and get individual attention given to those questions (being able to see others' questions is very valuable too), I believe it would be possible to do just as well helping students achieve mastery online. If it saves money or stress in your life, it seems like a good option.
|
Here again I have a couple of options, either pre-calculus or advanced algebra. Given my struggles with math in school, advanced algebra would likely be the way to go.
And also most every brewers school I've looked at doesn't require a degree in these areas, just college course work, so that's a plus even though a degree would look better on a resume.
Thanks for your advice Robbie it's very much appreciated.
