[fm2606]

I left STEM (non-CS/software) and became a firefighter-paramedic in 2006. I spent 14 years and left in 2020 when Covid was the rage. From 2010-2015 I got a masters in CS as a back up plan in case I got hurt or sick and couldn't do FF/PM. After I graduated in 2015 I worked a couple of remote part time jobs and then went full time developer in 2020 when I left the fire department.

[ndjshe3838]

What do you like/dislike about both careers?

[fm2606]

The STEM (non-CS) was boring AF! I use to joke that I did more math balancing my checkbook than my job which required an engineering degree.

There are a lot of things that I miss and don't miss at the fire dept. I miss dinners at the FD. We would sit down to a nice, home-cooked meal, laugh, argue and rag on one another. I don't miss getting a call at 2 a.m. for constipation (true story). I worked 24 hours on / 48 hours off, thus if I took one shift off it was a total of 5 days I had off...miss that. Definitely don't miss the politics between management and the field - typical politics of every other job I've had regardless if blue collar or white collar.