haven_paradise
Junior Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2008
- Messages
- 37
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi everyone, been a while since i last posted on HWZ forum.
Anyways, needed some advice here which is why the reason for my post, would be glad to receive any feedbacks!
So to start off with a bit of background...
Im currently working as a programmer for abt 3 yrs now, and i can say i do love my job, though it can be quite taxing at times. On top of that, im also taking part time degree in SUSS, and i started since 2015, so its quite a long "journey" already.
Ok so the thing is, i am still left with 1.5 years more till the end of my candidature period, but i still have about 10 modules left to clear. Which means, in order for me to grad, i would need to take at least 3-4 modules each sem in the next coming semesters.
Anyway to cut the story short, i had a discussion with my boss about the situation with my studies and asked him whether any arrangement can be done to allow me to balance both my work n studies. (Given that a programming job can be very taxing).
So he offered me 2 options...
1.) If i still want to continue in my job, he can make some slight adjustments such that i can work 4 days/week, so i have an additional day off, plus the weekends to manage my studies. And on top of that, he will assign me to work on supporting/enhancement of current systems with no new development projects given, so there wont be any deadline for me and i can cope with my studies.
2.) If i am not able to cope with work and studies, then the best is to resign and focus fully on my studies. Ok there is a bit of "catch" here.. All these while i have been working and studying, just that i only take 1-2 modules each sem, so it is still manageable. But now with my current situation, i need to take at least 3-4 modules each sem while working, so it is definitely going to add more stress, plus i may need to "adjust" my current lifestyle such as sacrificing personal time/ time for friends etc.. so yup.
So right now, i am in a dilemma.. which option to go for..
If i choose (1), yes the gd thing is i still have a job (and income), while for the bad, i will have to cope with 3-4 modules each sem while working at the same time (which i have never done before as previously i only take 1-2 modules each sem so its still quite manageable). Perhaps would be gd if anyone who has done this before (ie. take 3-4 mods and working) can share their exp with me? Besides this, there is also another small "concern" of mine. Noting that i will mainly be doing supporting tasks and not much on development projects, hence i would have nth much to "show" and will remain "stagnant" for maybe about 2 years. Which means i may not have much progress in terms of pay increment or promotion.. and that my colleague (who is currently same position as me) may surpass me to get promoted. (I mean, imagine seeing your peers becoming your "seniors".. how would u feel?)
If i choose (2), definitely i would have more time to focus on my studies and also time for friends and family, and perhaps able to score better grades. But bad thing is, i would have no income for that entire period of maybe 2 years. I did have some savings so i guess i am still able to sustain for quite a while. Just that... im not that "young" anymore (already in my 30s).. so am not sure will it still be easy or harder for me to find a job after i grad with the degree.. also not sure if im able to find a programming job (which is something that i like).
So yup, both (1) and (2) have their pros and cons.. but i would like to hear some feedbacks or advice which option should i choose.. such that i will not regret in future??
On a side note, i did think of giving up my degree too.. but some friends have been telling me not to give up and just continue on since im already more than halfway thru the entire course, with maybe about 30% more modules to complete? Yeah so it will be quite a waste if i just give up like that..
Any feedbacks is greatly appreciated!
Anyways, needed some advice here which is why the reason for my post, would be glad to receive any feedbacks!
So to start off with a bit of background...
Im currently working as a programmer for abt 3 yrs now, and i can say i do love my job, though it can be quite taxing at times. On top of that, im also taking part time degree in SUSS, and i started since 2015, so its quite a long "journey" already.
Ok so the thing is, i am still left with 1.5 years more till the end of my candidature period, but i still have about 10 modules left to clear. Which means, in order for me to grad, i would need to take at least 3-4 modules each sem in the next coming semesters.
Anyway to cut the story short, i had a discussion with my boss about the situation with my studies and asked him whether any arrangement can be done to allow me to balance both my work n studies. (Given that a programming job can be very taxing).
So he offered me 2 options...
1.) If i still want to continue in my job, he can make some slight adjustments such that i can work 4 days/week, so i have an additional day off, plus the weekends to manage my studies. And on top of that, he will assign me to work on supporting/enhancement of current systems with no new development projects given, so there wont be any deadline for me and i can cope with my studies.
2.) If i am not able to cope with work and studies, then the best is to resign and focus fully on my studies. Ok there is a bit of "catch" here.. All these while i have been working and studying, just that i only take 1-2 modules each sem, so it is still manageable. But now with my current situation, i need to take at least 3-4 modules each sem while working, so it is definitely going to add more stress, plus i may need to "adjust" my current lifestyle such as sacrificing personal time/ time for friends etc.. so yup.
So right now, i am in a dilemma.. which option to go for..
If i choose (1), yes the gd thing is i still have a job (and income), while for the bad, i will have to cope with 3-4 modules each sem while working at the same time (which i have never done before as previously i only take 1-2 modules each sem so its still quite manageable). Perhaps would be gd if anyone who has done this before (ie. take 3-4 mods and working) can share their exp with me? Besides this, there is also another small "concern" of mine. Noting that i will mainly be doing supporting tasks and not much on development projects, hence i would have nth much to "show" and will remain "stagnant" for maybe about 2 years. Which means i may not have much progress in terms of pay increment or promotion.. and that my colleague (who is currently same position as me) may surpass me to get promoted. (I mean, imagine seeing your peers becoming your "seniors".. how would u feel?)
If i choose (2), definitely i would have more time to focus on my studies and also time for friends and family, and perhaps able to score better grades. But bad thing is, i would have no income for that entire period of maybe 2 years. I did have some savings so i guess i am still able to sustain for quite a while. Just that... im not that "young" anymore (already in my 30s).. so am not sure will it still be easy or harder for me to find a job after i grad with the degree.. also not sure if im able to find a programming job (which is something that i like).
So yup, both (1) and (2) have their pros and cons.. but i would like to hear some feedbacks or advice which option should i choose.. such that i will not regret in future??
On a side note, i did think of giving up my degree too.. but some friends have been telling me not to give up and just continue on since im already more than halfway thru the entire course, with maybe about 30% more modules to complete? Yeah so it will be quite a waste if i just give up like that..
Any feedbacks is greatly appreciated!
Last edited: