Unlicensed for Another Year

Unlicensed for Another Year

January 27th, 2010 @ 2:23 pm by Mrs. Sewing
Share

Last year, the Sewings’ resolution was to not waste a single weekend. We went to museums, volunteer events, zoos, concerts and street fairs to satisfy the requirement. It was wonderful, and we had a lot of fun on our mandatory dates.

And then we got engaged. Suddenly, there’s no money for concerts, no time to use our zoo or museum memberships. Planning has come and it has come to stay. That business class at the community college we signed up for before? We struggled to keep up with all the material. Add to that nine hours of work, exercise time, Bible study, and dinner cooking? The carefree life we enjoyed before is temporarily on hold for this year. And the horrible thing is - I’m positively sure that I have a lighter load compared to most brides-to-be out there!

There is one thing I’ve shelved, however, that feels worse than all others.

The P.E.

Unlicensed for Another Year : wedding relationships Pe Electrical Computer Power pe_electrical_computer_power

(source)

After two years of career work and a pass on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, California engineers can apply to take the Professional Engineer licensing exam. This would be similar exams lawyers or doctors take to get their professional certification. It’s an 8 hour test with a 30% pass rate, held only twice a year.

Now, I’m lucky in the sense that my employer does not require me to be a certified P.E. to work. But it’s one of those career goals that I have, and would definitely open up more opportunities for advancement if I was licensed. I’m eligible to take the test now, either this spring or fall, but… I’m not going to take it.

This is a hard decision for me, since I’m effectively saying that one day of getting married is more important than being a licensed professional in my field of study. And the further the test is delayed after college, the harder it becomes to remember everything! But honestly, I just don’t think I can handle the studying on top of everything else that’s going on.

So I’m going to wait until Spring 2011. By then I’ll be married and bored again, so I’ll have both the time to study and the peace of mind to not be distracted by glittery wedding details (I hope!).

Are you shelving any dreams or goals because of your wedding? Or for those that have already “been there, done that”, was it the right thing to do?

Tags: relationships |

Share |

Latest Gallery Pics

Hot Pink and White with Zebra 36" Lighted Spandex Ostrich Feather Centerpiece

33 Responses to “Unlicensed for Another Year”

1 2 Last

Hostess

LatteLove (message) 5,587 posts, Bee Keeper

I gave up some career goals for marriage. Since I got engaged, nothing was quite as important as being married to my life partner. The career goals will follow slowly behind!
Thanks for sharing the sacrifices you are making for the wedding!

1/27/10 @ 2:32 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Spaniel (message) 6,792 posts, Bee Keeper

That must have been a hard decision. Good luck to you when you take it!

1/27/10 @ 2:32 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Ribbons (message) 2,018 posts, Buzzing bee

I shelved applying to grad school. Luckily it’s a terminal program so it doesn’t matter when I go, but it was something I really wanted to do. I couldn’t really handle doing the applications and coming up with the writing samples in the middle of planning.

1/27/10 @ 2:34 pm (reply)

Member

orecookie (message) 43 posts, Newbee

I kinda delayed my requirement for my CPA exam because of the wedding planning, also we dont have money to pay for the materials and the exams it self. It’s too much time involve and i wont be able to concentrate which will leave me on failing the exam and have to take it the next 6 months.
But i figure marriage= once in a lifetime,
CPA = multiple courses, multiple tests, triple stress than wedding planning

1/27/10 @ 2:36 pm (reply)

Hostess

Miss Burgundy (message) 1,426 posts, Bumble bee

Grad school is getting shelved a bit for me, so I know what you mean!!

1/27/10 @ 2:38 pm (reply)

Member

BrianneG (message) 938 posts, Busy bee

don’t worry about delaying the PE. Most states make you wait longer anyway, so you know it’s possible to still pass. I didn’t take the test until I was 28. The studying was hideous for months and months before I took the test, but it was worth it in the long run.

I haven’t put anything off career-wise for the wedding but all my time spent at work and spent at grad school does limit my alone time with the fiance.

1/27/10 @ 2:40 pm (reply)

Member

lisanaili (message) 2 posts, Wannabee

I too have delayed the PE. My employer does not require me to have a PE license but it’s a personal I wish to complete. I’m on the same boat as you, only that I wished that my excuse was a wedding. But unfortunately, my BF hasn’t popped the question…even though we have been living together for almost 3 years now

1/27/10 @ 2:48 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Pug (message) 3,753 posts, Honey bee

that sounds like a tough decision, but i think you were right in that it would have been hellish to do the studying on top of the wedding stuff. you will get licensed eventually, so don’t worry too much. it’ll happen when you’re ready.

1/27/10 @ 2:48 pm (reply)

Guest

Golden8214

Yeah thats a hard decision. The exam needs a lot of focus and you just do not have the time right now. Dont worry. You will remember the material! It will be a review and you will pass. I actually did the reverse. I delayed getting engaged and married to finish law school and take the bar. I told my FI not to even think about it because I knew I wouldnt be able to juggle both. I tend to become very me-centric when it comes to school. So he waited till after bar results came.

1/27/10 @ 3:09 pm (reply)

10.

Bee

Mrs. Beagle (message) 1,380 posts, Bumble bee

I’m taking the PE (power/EE) either this fall or next sping (I’ll have enough work experience (we need 4 years in Texas) by the summer, but I’m not sure my app will be submitted in time).
Mr. Beagle put off going to grad school for our wedding, but I think he’s gearing up to study for that too.

1/27/10 @ 3:22 pm (reply)

11.

Member

teaadntoast (message) 2,595 posts, Sugar bee

I think you made a wise decision. Better to give each task your complete attention and do both well than attempt to divide your time and have things turn out poorly despite all the effort.

1/27/10 @ 3:33 pm (reply)

12.

Member

stephbolt (message) 204 posts, Helper bee

My eventually career goal is to teach college classes in my degree area full time. While I transition into that job, I want to teach classes at night or on weekends. I put off looking for this part time teaching job until after the wedding, because I couldn’t imagine having a full time job, a part time job, and wedding planning at the same time.

I feel disappointed sometimes that I am putting that off, but when I think about how stressed I would be otherwise I know it’s the right decision.

1/27/10 @ 3:51 pm (reply)

13.

Member

voomie24 (message) 101 posts, Blushing bee

I think you are making a good decision. I did something simliar by putting my Masters thesis on hold the summer before our October wedding. I decided I wanted to enjoy wedding planning rather than be stressed out by it as I only plan to do it once. It has been really hard getting back into the swing of things, but I am glad I took the time to enjoy the unique time in my life.

1/27/10 @ 3:55 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Miss Pudding (message) 1,180 posts, Bumble bee

We are putting so many things on hold for the wedding! It’s just a fact of life….you can’t handle everything at once, and that’s ok!

1/27/10 @ 4:06 pm (reply)

15.

Member

Stesse (message) 136 posts, Blushing bee

I totally understand - that MBA on my to-do list will have to wait another couple of years. But I want to fully enjoy this time in my life - I’m only going to be a bride once!

I must add, taking (and passing) the PE was the hardest but most fulfilling thing I have done to date. As a civil engineer, I had extra tests to take (thanks California!) for seismic & surveying, and that meant a whole lot of studying. You may want to relax after the wedding, but keep your momentum going & channel that energy on into the PE! Yay for female engineers!!!!

1/27/10 @ 4:20 pm (reply)

16.

Member

KMSull (message) 6,442 posts, Bee Keeper

Wow, what a hard, hard decision to have to make! I’m putting off grad school til we get married and move.

1/27/10 @ 4:58 pm (reply)

17.

Guest

Elisa

Good luck on the PE next year! I took mine last April [and passed first time!] just after getting engaged. It was hard to concentrate on studying when all I wanted to do was do fun wedding planning stuff, but it had to be done. Plus I have a long engagement [wedding is September 2010] so it helped.

1/27/10 @ 5:02 pm (reply)

18.

Bee

Mrs. Mouse (message) 5,844 posts, Bee Keeper

The Dude took his PE in 2008, 7 years after he graduated college, and he passed! I think it was a good decision to put it off until after the wedding.

1/27/10 @ 6:06 pm (reply)

19.

Member

asunw (message) 550 posts, Busy bee

I’m taking it this spring but my wedding isn’t until June 2011 so it works out well!

1/27/10 @ 6:10 pm (reply)

20.

Member

LoriLori (message) 727 posts, Busy bee

I’m considering go back to grad school for my second Master’s but don’t have the money or the time until after the wedding this summer. I think it’s good to focus on one big thing at a time. (If you can.)

1/27/10 @ 7:10 pm (reply)

1 2 Last