Well I did it.

I took the first step and contacted an advisor at NEIU. Yup, that's right. Grad school. I had a bit of a meltdown here at work the other day, and subsequently posted on Buddyslim about how sick of Corporate America I am. Here, I'll play a little copy and paste for ya:

"Well, I’ve finally come to the realization that I HATE MY JOB! Ok, so it’s not necessarily the job, persay…but it’s the field that I’m in. It’s not me. Let me backtrack a bit.I graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2003 (Damn….5 years ago already) with my Bachelors in Communications, emphasis in media studies, (ie, radio and television.) My dream job was to become an on-air radio personality…something along the lines of a “soccer mom morning drive” show. Well, when you pick your major at 17, you don’t truly know what you want to do with the rest of your life. Sure, it sounded cool at the time…and it still does. If I was somehow presented with that opportunity, I’d take it in a heartbeat. Alas, that field is HARD to get into, and I don’t exactly have the connections to get my foot in the door.

Right out of college, I found a job working for a company that contracts mailrooms/photocopy centers out of other companies. I did that for about a year and a half, when I was offered a position to work in customer service for one of the companies I was contracted to be the mailgirl at. I already knew everybody in the building, and was happy at the idea of being able to use my brain, and not just sort and deliver mail. So, I started in customer service September 06.

OMG.

I am too the point where I’m going completely stir crazy sitting in a fucking cube EVERY DAY! Granted I love my customers, and my field support (ie…NOT the people I work with physically in the office. Talk about a bunch of back-stabbing two-faced assholes!) but sitting here in cubicle hell day in and day out is so completely un-filling.

I need a change and I need it now. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. Nothing excites me more in life than the office supply store. Cool pens. Stickers. Bulletin board border. The thought of making an impression on somebody’s life…giving them the gift of knowledge…it’s exciting. I’m confident that I could put my skills and talents to use so much more successfully in the classroom…much more so than the office!
This place is sucking the life out of me, and I’ve just realized that it’s the root my my underlying unhappiness in life. I NEED OUT!!"

So today I contacted an advisor at NEIU, and found the exact program that I'm looking for. It's a Master of Arts in Teaching: Language Arts Program. I'm meeting up with her tomorrow to discuss the program, my goals, and how it all goes down.

I'm nervous. Wish me luck!