Women (or even just, “people”!) who started a fulfilling career after 40: please tell me your story!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got laid off due to COVID and decided to get trained as an Orton Gillingham tutor (dyslexia). I had always planned to be an adult literacy volunteer when I retired so I figured this would be a helpful skill set. I had never thought about language in such a systematic way.

It is the most amazing work! Supporting kids as they master literacy is so satisfying. I was recently invited to go back to my old role, and I really don’t want to go back to the corporate world.

Do you just volunteer or get paid as a tutor? Doesn’t matter if you don’t have education degree?

I don’t have an education degree. I do a combination of paid tutoring and free for kids whose families can’t afford it.

You are awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got laid off due to COVID and decided to get trained as an Orton Gillingham tutor (dyslexia). I had always planned to be an adult literacy volunteer when I retired so I figured this would be a helpful skill set. I had never thought about language in such a systematic way.

It is the most amazing work! Supporting kids as they master literacy is so satisfying. I was recently invited to go back to my old role, and I really don’t want to go back to the corporate world.

Bless you!! To anyone considering I will say we are one family paying $1000+\month and it is worth it. The world needs more OG tutors and it helps my child so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got laid off due to COVID and decided to get trained as an Orton Gillingham tutor (dyslexia). I had always planned to be an adult literacy volunteer when I retired so I figured this would be a helpful skill set. I had never thought about language in such a systematic way.

It is the most amazing work! Supporting kids as they master literacy is so satisfying. I was recently invited to go back to my old role, and I really don’t want to go back to the corporate world.

Bless you!! To anyone considering I will say we are one family paying $1000+\month and it is worth it. The world needs more OG tutors and it helps my child so much.

Where does one find OG training?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got laid off due to COVID and decided to get trained as an Orton Gillingham tutor (dyslexia). I had always planned to be an adult literacy volunteer when I retired so I figured this would be a helpful skill set. I had never thought about language in such a systematic way.

It is the most amazing work! Supporting kids as they master literacy is so satisfying. I was recently invited to go back to my old role, and I really don’t want to go back to the corporate world.

This is what I want to do too! I am 48 and stopped working 13 years ago when I had kids. My daughter is dyslexic so this has such a personal meaning to me as well. Thank you for doing this! Btw everyone, we pay $65 per hour for my daughters tutor. I want to do it for families that cannot afford it. The ability to read really shouldn’t be based on your income.

[Anonymous]

I left DC BigLaw at 40 and am now an international development professional. I LOVE it and thank my lucky stars that I found work that I feel so bonded with. It pays less than half of what i was making at the firm, and that is so so worth it fpr me.

[Anonymous]

please share more about becoming an international development professional. i have a global mba and would like to hear your experience, thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a lawyer turned SAHM and over several years and two degrees I transitioned into working in oncology clinical trials. The money is not great by DCUM standards but I LOVE it. I barely worked before I had kids and I was extremely daunted about restarting my career, but I did and and you can too!

Curious- What’s was your role with these trials?

I’m a Clinical Research Coordinator- so I screen patients, enroll them and manage their treatment, as well as reporting all the data to the study sponsor.

Can I ask which degrees you have to get in order to apply for jobs like this? I have a degree in biology but it's been 5 years since I quit to stay home and I'd love to build a second career like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got laid off due to COVID and decided to get trained as an Orton Gillingham tutor (dyslexia). I had always planned to be an adult literacy volunteer when I retired so I figured this would be a helpful skill set. I had never thought about language in such a systematic way.

It is the most amazing work! Supporting kids as they master literacy is so satisfying. I was recently invited to go back to my old role, and I really don’t want to go back to the corporate world.

Bless you!! To anyone considering I will say we are one family paying $1000+\month and it is worth it. The world needs more OG tutors and it helps my child so much.

Where does one find OG training?

There are several certifying organizations. The Academy of Orton Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (AOGPE) is in the midst of changing the name to the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA) for obvious reasons. They are considered the gold standard in many areas. Many of their programs are online right now due to the pandemic. They have different levels of certification. I am completing my practicum. https://www.ortonacademy.org/

There is also the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) https://shop.imse.com/. I don’t know as much about them, I see more classroom teachers doing their program.

If you want to learn a single curriculum you can get certified in the Barton program which can be used for kids or adults. https://bartonreading.com/tutors/ They have an interesting tutor prescreen you can do. Being a tutor requires a certain degree of phonemic awareness/ discrimination so this is a good check. Many parents of dyslexic kids discover that they are also dyslexic, so that can complicate them tutoring their own child.

Wilson is another curriculum that you can become certified in. They publish the Fundations program which is a classroom-based program that aligns with the Wilson Learning System used for special education. https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/professional-learning/individual-teacher-support/

Another more local option for parents of dyslexic kids is through the Sliding Doors program. Parents can complete a training to tutor there too. (I am not affiliated, but I have heard great things.) https://www.sdsquared.org/

Hoping others might consider becoming an OG tutor- we need more!!

[Anonymous]

I am a former lawyer (in house for most of my career). Never had kids. Got divorced very unexpectedly at 42, and after grieving for some time decided to look for the opportunity within the profound change to my life. I ended up taking the foreign service exam and am now a career FSO. I've lived in three countries and appreciate the work, the people, and the adventure. My friends thought I was crazy at the time, but they've also visited me in places like Athens since then...

[Anonymous]

Becoming an OG tutor is very expensive. After you take the classes you have to pay a mentor. It ends up being about $8K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a lawyer turned SAHM and over several years and two degrees I transitioned into working in oncology clinical trials. The money is not great by DCUM standards but I LOVE it. I barely worked before I had kids and I was extremely daunted about restarting my career, but I did and and you can too!

Curious- What’s was your role with these trials?

I’m a Clinical Research Coordinator- so I screen patients, enroll them and manage their treatment, as well as reporting all the data to the study sponsor.

Can I ask which degrees you have to get in order to apply for jobs like this? I have a degree in biology but it's been 5 years since I quit to stay home and I'd love to build a second career like this.

A friend (BA in marketing) got a PT job at a lab through a connection. Assisted their coordinator for a while, took classes, then got hired as a FT Clinical Coordinator at a different lab.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Becoming an OG tutor is very expensive. After you take the classes you have to pay a mentor. It ends up being about $8K.

The costs do vary by program and location. My AOGPE associate certification was about 4K total. I was able to do paid tutoring for my practicum, so I more than broke even the first year with 2 paying students. Now that the courses are virtual, you have more geographic flexibility and can study with a Fellow in a lower-cost area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a former lawyer (in house for most of my career). Never had kids. Got divorced very unexpectedly at 42, and after grieving for some time decided to look for the opportunity within the profound change to my life. I ended up taking the foreign service exam and am now a career FSO. I've lived in three countries and appreciate the work, the people, and the adventure. My friends thought I was crazy at the time, but they've also visited me in places like Athens since then...

This is my dream job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a former lawyer (in house for most of my career). Never had kids. Got divorced very unexpectedly at 42, and after grieving for some time decided to look for the opportunity within the profound change to my life. I ended up taking the foreign service exam and am now a career FSO. I've lived in three countries and appreciate the work, the people, and the adventure. My friends thought I was crazy at the time, but they've also visited me in places like Athens since then...

This is my dream job.

I know someone with the exact same track-- lawyer turned FSO around the same age after a divorce.

[Anonymous]

Don’t forget ASDEC in Rockville. They are amazing (even though they are located in Montgomery County MCPS doesn’t use them). But more progressive counties like Frederick, DC and Loudoun do! Yes, Montgomery County is NOT progressive for dyslexics. Quite the opposite. They are downright criminal. PP - Thank you for taking on free clients. Your work is definitely needed!