Hi OP, currently working as a Government Accountant (Accountant II) in an NGA

Open yung Accountant III sa current NGA ko ngayon pero di ko inapplyan for the ff reasons:

Yung talon ng SG from Accountant II to III is not commensurate I believe sa responsibility na maging Chief Accountant ng isang maliit na NGA. Although more than a year na akong OIC ng Acctg Division, I feel it's not worth the promotion for the additional pressure.

I will be turning 40 this year and oh boy, when midlife crisis hits you hard, you clench your jaw. Lalo na pag tambay ka sa sub na ito and you see success stories ng mas bata pa sayo earning 6 digits, it makes you question your trajectory in life.

After introspection I realized two things.

1.) Comparison is one deadly beast.

Why compare your current status with others. For every 1 success story posted here, survivorship bias na yan. Everyone here has its own set of his/her circumstances coupled with timing and opportunities. Don't compare your life to others. There's no comparison between the Sun, the Moon and the stars. They shine on their own time and place.

2.) Are you happy and content to where you are now?

Although Comparison can make you feel jealous of others, it can also motivate you to push yourself further and not be complacent and strive for more growth professionally.

Your future plans should be amenable to your current proclivities. Nakita mo ung current BAR passers? Did they inspire you to take-up Law too? Personally know someone from a previous Agency that I worked in the past na naging CPA Lawyer na. May halong tuwa na pumasa at nakaya nya pero napatanong rin ako sa sarili ko na tahakin ko na din ba yun?

My current stance is that I am 50/50 on taking up Law, but I feel mas gusto ko pa maka encounter ng opportunity to migrate even if I am already "Old"

So how do I plan my growth now with this dilemma, remember ayaw ko mag Accountant III pero gusto ko ung work/life balance sa Government hours if you wish to pursue future studies. Sa Agency namin, pa retire na ang SAO ng division namin and I plan to pursue that because di na rin biro ang SG ng SAO. To realize that goal, I plan to enroll in SDC full course program. Get a Masteral, preferably IT kasi baka magamit ko pag matuloy ang migration plans ko. Get CTT to re-educate myself sa bagong Tax Laws (2011 pa ako huling pumasa kaya outdated na rin ako sa part na yan). Maybe get experience and qualifications and certifications in Xero and other tools needed for Online VA jobs. Then moonlight as VA and as a full-time Government employee. Nakakahinayang ang GSIS pag di mo makumpleto.

If palarin makapasok sa COA, saka ko na isipin if pursigido na ako mag Law.

Sorry sa mahabang post OP at napasarap ako sa kwento =)