what's the worst lifestyle/career decision...

[janzman]

... or choice youv'e ever made.Mine was not accepting the offer of an apprenticed camera operators job at fledgling London Weekend Television in 1968...I was 19 years old at the time.

[mrsmaveric]

not taking up a business opportunity with a university friend of mine,it was a huge success..she made £££££££££££s and now lives in madrid...

[Maydup]

Aww badluck janzman. Thankfully, I can honestly say I have no regrets.

[Nibble]

At the time, I had a career planned in Adeaide with telecom company, would have been Bonzer, but then again I wouldn't have met OH, and AB friends - no contest.... Just glad I'm still here!!!! :-)))

[HowardKennitby]

deciding to go to university and study engineering.

[RATTER15]

I havent made any bad decisions regarding my work (generally speaking)

[DaisyNonna]

Becoming a Special Needs Teacher.

[jno]

but where would you be now if you'd taken it, janzman? Scrabbling for work with some indie producer? Trudging round jungles after C-grade celebs?

[ladybirder]

Can I ask why you regret it daisy?

[DaisyNonna]

Loved the teaching. Hated being put in the worst locations. Portakabins across the field from the main school. Lack of heating. The last department to be provided with resources. Being looked down on by other departments. Obviously not adding to the League Tables for exam results. No scope for points of responsibility and therfore more pay. Last in line for extra training. Lack of funds for up- to -date books and equipment.
Did have some extremely supportive colleagues. Drama, Outdoor Pursuits. (Would you believe Extra Digging?)

[ladybirder]

Oh dear. I see what you mean:-(

[NOX]

That's terrible daisy, especially when exactly the opposite ought to have been true and special needs should have had more resources than other depts:(
My worst was not going to London 10 years earlier than I did, but some things were not that easy to drop at that point, still it worked out okay in the end.

[joko]

i regret not getting into my line of work a bit sooner...i began doing art etc...which is great for what i do so the timewasnt wasted, but i spent years with no real focus for my artistic skills... so i feel a bit behind for my age

althouhg having said that many feel you are not taken seriously until about 40 in this industry anyway, so rather than having 20 odd years slog, ive had more like 13 as a pro...

i wonder where id be now if id gone straight into it from school etc

[Sir Alec]

I left General Accident due to amazing amounts of bitching, men and women. I went to the Magistrate's Court to find the same.
I would never work in an office again!

[DaisyNonna]

Nox. Glad it turned out alright for you. Got made redundant when school funding changed. Ended up teaching in a Pupil Referral Unit after a few years of Supply Teaching. Realised how well off I had been in school! One room. 4 teachers. 16 pupils. Sounds good. All shared the same loo. Nowhere to hang a coat or put away valuables. No staff room. Every morning had to get out tables and chairs before pupils arrived. Unlock a couple of computers. No outside space for break time or lunch time. Books locked away on lower floor, to be carried up by staff when needed. No first aid facilities. Masses of paper work. Expected to get pupils through GCSE exams. Oh, and one lot of pupils in the morning and a different lot in the afternoon. Some overlap. Ever tried
eating a stale school sandwich? Could not leave the premises at lunch time.

[NOX]

Jeez that's dreadful, and people wonder how kids with a less than perfect start go off the rails and no-one wants to teach them. I'm fairly passionate about trying to bring out the best in people who haven't had the best of luck either with genes, family background, abuse or just pure dumb bad luck, but it's never easy when odds are stacked so far against people who do try to help. Were these kids with behavioural issues and kids that had been excluded from mainstream education do you mind me asking?

[rowanwitch]

Not going to art college but getting a sensible job to help the family

[mrs_overall]

I was living and working in Bermuda (I know, it sounds boastful...sorry) and had a fantastic lifestyle when I stupidly caved in to parental pressure to return to the UK.