Thinking of going back to teaching after trying a healthcare/corporate path for a year — would that be a mistake?
Hi everyone,
I’m a high school teacher from Spain and I’m currently at a bit of a crossroads.
I started working in a private school when I was 23 and taught Biology for several years. Over time, I burned out due to difficult student groups and a period of workplace bullying from colleagues (although things eventually improved and I managed to turn things around, I was already quite exhausted by then).
After leaving in July 2025, I decided to pivot and did a Master’s in clinical research with the goal of moving into pharma or hospital-based roles.
Since then, I’ve worked in two hospital settings over the course of a year. On paper it’s a completely different field, but emotionally I’m struggling more than I expected. I MISS the autonomy I had as a teacher, the sense of learning, the school holidays and the direct impact of my work.
What I’m finding hard now is the corporate environment: a lot of micromanagement, hierarchy and less freedom in how I work. It’s starting to wear me down and I didn’t anticipate missing teaching as much as I do.
Now I have the option to return to my previous school (near my home, decent salary and I left on good terms). Part of me feels like going back is “going backwards,” but another part feels like it might actually be a healthier and more sustainable path now that I’ve explored what’s life outside the classroom.
Has anyone here gone back to teaching after trying to transition into another field? Did it feel like a mistake or more like a relief?
I’d really appreciate honest perspectives :)