LAst day on the job

[LittleBoyBlue]

Tomorrow will be my last day in LE. I found a much better paying job in IT and it fits in with my degree. I have come to the point that no matter how good I am in my job, I could care less about doing it. The accolades I get don't mean jack. I would rather be other places doing other things. After 6 years doing the job, maintaining a marriage, going to school full time, I Finally get my wish...the dream job of a lifetime comes through. Why do I feel so bad about leaving then if it's so great? It's not regret I feel. it's just deep sadness. I know that I'll probably never go back to LE but it feels so surreal and wrong that I worked sooo hard to become a Police Officer and a detective only to leave it behind. WTF? Is this normal?

I had a much longer thread to post but it was lost so this is the brief version.

[ddog171]

After getting my degree in computers and working in this field for 3 years, my last day is September 3rd. I will be attending the police academy to fulfill my dream of becoming a police officer.

All the power to you for deciding to make a life change. Some people will sit in the same job all their life and be unhappy. At least you are making a change. It is normal to feel some sadness, your whole life is changing. You are stepping into unknown territory.

But stick to your guns and remeber this:

You miss 100% of the shots you do not take.

So if this is something you want to do, do it and give everything you have.

Good Luck!

[scooter7]

I agree with ddog171. All the power to you. You miss 100% of the shots you do not take and if you don't take this shot you will ALWAY'S wonder "What if".

I'm in a similar situation. I'm leaving one agency to go to another. I've enjoyed my 8 years with this agency, however, there is so much change going on in this agency I feel compelled to prusue this other agency.

I feel that I've made a great difference with my current agency and that I can make a difference with this new agency. I'll never know that if I don't try.

LittleBoyBlue "go for it". Take that dream job, tell the family it's going to be a change but a change for a better future for our family. Prepare them that this change will only be temporary.

You have already made the decision to leave. Don't look back on that decision. Look forward to a new and promising career and future.

It's only natural to experience some sadness. You are leaving something you've enjoyed and worked so hard to become. That same determination will follow you to this new career. The excitement of the challenge.

Take care, God bless and good luck.

[Lupey]

If you feel strongly enough about leaving, is there a chance you could stay on as a part-timer? Anyway good luck and congrats at getting the dream job!

[scooter7]

Lupey, what do you mean about your comment regarding the ACLU?

[Welpe]

Hey if it's something you don't want to do, don't keep doing it! No point in making yourself miserable. I've finally figured that out in college (after 3 majors). I picked an engineering major as a freshman because that's where the "money was" and it was something my mother was pushing me towards. After two miserable years and much soul searching later, I found a major I like (Business) and a career goal (LE). Now I'm sure this isn't much actual advice, but I hope you find it reassuring none the less.

I think one reason you might be feeling a bit down is because it is a change, something that is new and a bit uncertain. That coupled with how hard you've worked to get into and in LE, it might seem a bit weird to not want to do it any more. Especially considering that for many people, LE IS their dream job (including myself....one day :D). If nothing else, if you find that you want to keep doing LE, I'm sure you could always get recertified.

Good luck with your new career and hopefully it is sucessful! :)

Monty

[ladyblue]

You know, when you have been with a department for as long as you have, you form many very close relationships. Law enforcement tends to create bonds like no other job. We go through things that regular citizens can't ever fathom. Even if someone in your department gets on your very last nerve, if they need you, you are right there ready to fight for all your life.

When you leave, you won't just be leaving "the job". You will be leaving "your family". Hopefully the guys you work with will keep in touch. You need to follow your dreams. Give it everything you've got! If down the road you find you miss LE, get into it again. I noticed you said you would never go back but you know what they say about the word never......

Good luck! :D

[visone]

LBB,

I believe it's becoming more common for people to follow several career paths over the course of their lives. This may be due to a number of reasons including the fact that people live longer, they're generally healthier and want to stay active, jobs may not be as stable as they once were, the cost of living is higher so people need to work more years, etc.

I'm ready for my next career, and may have one or two more after that. I believe learning new things keeps us young. Have you seen the recent articles suggesting that those with mentally stimulating jobs may have a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease?

You served the public for six years and are ready for something new. If it doesn't work out you can always go back, right?

Good luck to you!

[JonnyBoy092]

Tomorrow will be my last day in LE. I found a much better paying job in IT and it fits in with my degree. I have come to the point that no matter how good I am in my job, I could care less about doing it. The accolades I get don't mean jack. I would rather be other places doing other things. After 6 years doing the job, maintaining a marriage, going to school full time, I Finally get my wish...the dream job of a lifetime comes through. Why do I feel so bad about leaving then if it's so great? It's not regret I feel. it's just deep sadness. I know that I'll probably never go back to LE but it feels so surreal and wrong that I worked sooo hard to become a Police Officer and a detective only to leave it behind. WTF? Is this normal?

I had a much longer thread to post but it was lost so this is the brief version.

Best of luck to you, my friend, with your new career field of choice. Do what you like to do, don't force yourself to continue a field that you no long enjoy. Hope you still stick around the boards, take care.

Sincerely,
JonnyBoy092

[IM911]

There are no failures in life, just lessons to be learned.

"The only thing you regret in life are the risks you don't take"

Good luck with your next career, just remember the friends you've made along the way.

[Sandles2Sidearm]

Are there two littleboyblues?

If so, God Speed with your choice!

If not, RH shoot me an email.

[TXStateCop]

I feel what you are saying about leaving. I will be leaving LE to go to work as an investigator in the private sector. Still will be making referrals on criminal cases so the transition will be easier. I see so much that can be done in LE, but politics get in the way and blurr the vision of otherwise good people. There are too many folks trying to make their little fifedoms and therefore progress gets impeded. Toss in the benefits that the private sector has as well as the salary, and private sector keeps looking better and better. Luckily I able to maintain my officer status as parttime or reserve. Good luck...most persons I know who go to the private sector from LE really enjoy it so I am sure you will too.

[mmagoo]

I can relate to what you are saying, in the opposite direction. I work in IT right now. I've been in the field for about six years, but the last 3 years I hated it with a passion. I thought that I hated the whole career and wanted nothing more to do with it. I decided to try to get into LE.

Well, now I have changed jobs and realized that it wasn't the IT field I hated, it was the place I worked at. It was so bad it made me hate everything associated with it.

So now the thought of leaving this new job for LE gives me a bit of sadness, doubt, whatever. But the bottom line is I have to give it a shot. The IT field isn't going anywhere. If I get into LE and find its not for me, I can always go back. The great thing is going back I would have a whole new skillset. I would have so many more opportunities available to me.

I think the same would apply to you. You may decide that you miss LE, and you want to find a job that allows you to combine IT and LE, or something LE related.

Bottom line, what everyone said is true. Change is hard, and it is very natural for it to make you feel sad. The thing to remember is that it doesn't have to be so black and white. You are not choosing IT to the permanent exclusion of LE. You can do the reserve thing, you can go back full time, or like I said some combination of the 2 careers.

Best of luck in the new job, it sounds like you will really like it. I think you'll find that if you do like it, you will realize how unhappy you really were in what you were doing, and never have a moments regret. That has been my experience anyhow.

[LoneStarDFW]

Do what makes you happy! Nothing else matters!! You feel strange about this because you’re writing a new chapter in your life. You can always go back to LE, who knows one day might come along and the feds will want you because of your 6 years of LE and second career in IT. Either way if you do what is good for you, it will always be the right decision.

For me after 6 years in business and earning a masters degree in IT management, I decided that I wanted to give it all up, and start over again at the bottom in LE.

Good luck and Congrads!!