I apologize in advance if this is the wrong forum, but it seemed the most appropriate one to me since I'm looking at employment as the most major issue for me as far as transition (have relatively supportive friends and family already)
My situation is that I'd like to try and begin hormones in a year, two at most, but being young at 25 still, I seriously have to consider employment options in advance. I've been working for almost a year as a nuclear mechanic at a shipyard, but with no previous mechanical experience before that. I have a BA in History and previous work experience only in fast food and a movie theater. My employment in this job would have at least seemed secure except I'm pretty sure mothballing of vessels is going to lead to big layoffs where I am in a couple years at most. While I actually like working with my hands and find what I do interesting, I can't see myself doing it long term due to the social environment anyway.
I have a couple benefits right now to where I work, and I'm looking for honest opinions from other people on what they think I ought to do based on realistic outlook on employment for a young and mechanically inexperienced transgirl:
1. OVERTIME. As a nuke worker I can make a lot of money which I will need to pay off school debts and pay for things essential to transition as well.
2. Building experience. I can continue to build experience as a nuclear worker, or maybe another job might pop up eventually at the company, which might be something to consider because of the third benefit....
3. Full Education Tuition Reimbursement. I can only select one course of study which has to be relevant to the company. Given my time constraints and look at the credits, the possibilities include....
a. Associate of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology, focusing on courses relevant to power generation (turbines, renewable energy, fluid mechanics, etc.) in order to be able to look for jobs with utilities as a technician with nuclear or renewable energy sources. There are certain nuclear technician jobs I can possibly get into and get trained in now without the associates (Radiation Protection and Test Engineering)
b. 2nd Bachelor of Arts, probably in Communications, since already having a Bachelor of Arts in History means it would take about the same number of credit hours as the Associate of Applied Science in Mechanical Tech. This might be able to work out since I am trying to write well researched historical articles to write for the company relevant to our business.
c. MBA. Seems like it would be the most difficult to get, and I thus far have no job experience in marketing, finance, or management. Some of the articles I might write though might fall under marketing experience.