My future in Austin. Advice needed and much appreciated! (Howe: appointed, to live in)

[andybaxley86]

To make a short story shorter, it has been my dream for some time now to make a life for myself in Austin. I'm from Colorado, and I love it here, but I feel very strongly that Austin is exactly what I'm looking for at this point in my life (I'm 24).
My question for those of you already in Austin is this- am I making the right choice in moving to your city?

To help you answer, a bit of information about myself-

My work history will be a bit non-traditional by the time I make it there next August. After graduating from a 4 year Univ in 2009 with a degree in psychology, I moved to South Korea to teach English for 12 months. I excelled there and have great references to show for it. I've been traveling since then, and my next move is to learn Spanish and work with under served populations in Guatemala and Mexico for the next year or so, possibly in a teaching role again, possibly something else entirely. Whatever is needed I am willing to do.

I will arrive in Austin with an eager willingness to work hard, but I may not yet have a specific path laid out for myself. The options I'm considering now, though they are subject to change, are to...
...work somewhere in business for a year or two, find a niche that I like, then pursue my MBA, OR seek an entrepreneurial venture
...get licensed as an elementary education teacher, possibly pursue a masters as well, then seek jobs in that field

I think either of these would fulfill my ambitions and satisfy my skill set, but here's the thing, I'm VERY open to alternatives.

How will Austin receive someone in my situation? Are there plenty of opportunities for go-getters to create success, or will I be disappointed?

My backup option is to continue to travel and work abroad, which doesn't sound bad at all, but I really am eager to settle down a bit in a place and career that I love. If Austin is fertile ground for success right now, I'll be there. If not, the nomadism continues...

Any and all advice you may be able to offer, I assure you, is VERY MUCH appreciated. THANK YOU!

[CptnRn]

I moved to Austin from Colorado in 1971 and love it here. However, I do think your expections of moving here are overblown.

For one thing, in regard to your comment below:

I've been traveling since then, and my next move is to learn Spanish and work with under served populations in Guatemala and Mexico for the next year or so, possibly in a teaching role again, possibly something else entirely. Whatever is needed I am willing to do.

You are not going to learn enough spanish in one year to be able to communicate effectively and be able to teach Guatemalans or Mexicans that quickly.

Currently experienced teachers at every level are being laid off all over the state due to Texas budget cuts and shortfalls. What jobs are available will probably go to experienced teachers who already live here. Texas is not a great place for anyone in education to be these days, and that is not likely to change anytime soon.

[h886]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

Currently experienced teachers at every level are being laid off all over the state due to Texas budget cuts and shortfalls. What jobs are available will probably go to experienced teachers who already live here. Texas is not a great place for anyone in education to be these days, and that is not likely to change anytime soon.

This. Come if you like, but do so with the understanding that your chances of finding a job in education even with experience, a Master's and desire, are very low. If you're okay waiting tables or a similar job with the thousands of overqualified UT grads who can't find anything either, please come. It is a nice city to live in. But please don't be naive enough to think being a "go-getter" is going to make a huge difference. We have a city full of go-getters, and many are still working jobs far below their qualifications. The economy is crummy.

[DQCarder]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

You are not going to learn enough spanish in one year to be able to communicate effectively and be able to teach Guatemalans or Mexicans that quickly.

Andy probably knows a lot more Korean than I know Chinese, and I just got done teaching English in China. Spanish is relatively easy to learn for native anglophones and depending on what one is teaching, the amount one can learn in a year would be more than adequate. Furthermore, he said he may not be teaching… he can definitely learn enough Spanish in one year to be able to communicate well enough to help underserved populations in some way or another. Your advice seems sincere and helpful but I just wanted to dispute this one line.

I am twenty-four and moving to Austin as well, but I plan to wait tables for a while.

[BevoLJ]

A couple days ago I read in the Statesman that AISD was going to start hiring again. They laid off to many teachers. Even though the state cut their budgets they did not raise the class sizes and now don't have enough teachers to keep the classes under 22 so they are going to have to hire some more. Although I would hope they would rehire those they laid off rather than go out and hire new teachers.

[mukraker]

I would note that you seem to have a strong interest in experiencing world cultures based on your ambitions and travel experience, which might be a point of incompatibility with Austin. I've found that Austin is not very cosmopolitan and, if you're seeking more experiences like the ones you've had, you may be disappointed. There is simply no comparison with the diverse cultural experiences that you can find in coastal cities. See this thread for more: Is Austin cosmopolitan?

But this may not bother you. If not, more power to you!

[samwill89]

Assuming your entrepreneurial venture could assist the tech industry, you would do well here. As others said, do not come here expecting a job in education, though you could pursue your MBA in Austin, which would give you a HUGE leg up here.