My mom, grandma, and childhood friend have experienced life changing events this year. It has got me to think about my future seriously.
My mom has been out of work for 8 months gone on countless interviews and lied to her face about why they won't hire her. Stating they went with someone that lived closer to the job when they told her she had the best qualifications.
My childhood friend lost her husband. The soul source of income to their family. The provider. Her best friend. The father to her children. Her lover.
It got me to thinking..I want to go back to back to school and get a degree, so that I can go back to work and build up a nest egg for retirement and a savings that if anything happens to husband we (the kids and I) will be okay.
I checked online degrees for Accounting. Looking at two year and four year degrees. I researched Penn & Foster but came up with a message board that says when employers see this on the resume they throw it away. I don't want that. So now I'm looking at community colleges and transfering to WWU (Western Washington University) or WSU (Washington State University) or CWU (Central Washington University) or UW (University of Washington) after the two year degree.
Am I crazy for wanting to do this with 20+ left for retirement? Am I crazy for wanting to take on this task now when two kids will be graduating in 2012 and 2013? and my last one graduating in 2020.
My smallest one is terrified of me going to school because I won't be there for her.
I've discussed this with hubby and the older kids who want me to go back, because it's something I've always talked about. They are for it. But am I taking on too much with all that I do and am responsible around the home and neighborhood for? This would better our family in the long run. This would help out for hubby and me in the long run. Should I wait until after grandma passes? Should I wait until the older two graduate? Should I wait until I am declared cancer free? Should I look into signing up Winter or Spring quarter? Should I just forget the whole thing and say I'm acting on emotion and not logic?
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Student?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 Weighed In:
I don't think it's ever too late to pursue your dreams. And who knows what other opportunites might present themselves if you take this one step toward a better future for you all. We can't predict the future but we can make choices that move us down a path toward knowledge, personal growth and self-awareness. And just think of the great example you will give your children, that working hard, getting an education and pursuing your dreams do pay off and are worth it!
Good luck on your journey!
Go back to school. I got my Masters degree at 40. I had 4 kids at home, no husband, and a Lupus diagnosis. I never regretted it. I don't think anyone would.
Know that a college degree is not an absolute assurance of a job. But bettering yourself this way is good for yourself, as well as beneficial in dealing with potential employers.
Ang, I think these trying times are causing you to panic. Right now, a degree isn't an automatic pathway to a job. If you really want to go back to school, then by all means do so, but believe me, with your kids where they are now, you'll have a lot of extra time on your hands soon enough.
I agree about the online degrees, too. Not much prestiege there.
When I was 16, my father died. I had to teach my mom how to drive a car, pay bills, take care of household breakdowns and I had no idea what I was doing. We were taken advantage of by car repairs, roofers, you name it. Ten years later, I had my son. I started having panic attacks. (Stay with me this will make sense). The source of the panic? I had a toddler completely dependent upon me and I was as helpless as my mother had been. I realized that should I divorce(there is a high rate of it) or should my husband die, I had no real skills to take care of raising my son. My sister did medical transcription and I have photographic memory and type 100 wpm, so I figured, maybe I could do it. My son cried every time I dropped him off at campus daycare, but I was determined to feel like a real parent and not a kid raising a kid. I got done when he was 4. I gave myself 2 years experience in a hospital and promised him that when he started first grade, I'd be at home. I got a job with a transcription service and was home with him his entire schooling. He was a top student in the gifted program and I was there to take him to sports and everything. It was a short-term suffering for him for a long-term payoff. I never had a panic attack again. I say go for it.
My husband has suggested I go back to school and I would like to however, we currently have a freshman in college and a jr. in high school. How would I pay for my own?
I'll keep praying for both of us.
it is not too late, and if the desire is there, you can pay for it (through grants or whatever) then do it!
It will be hard on youngest, but only because all she's ever known is you at home when you need her. There's no reason why you can't take a couple classes at a time, and do it a bit more slowly for the first semesters to get the family used to it.
And your family will get used to it, and they will start to pitch in more, which will help out. You don't have to put yourself last in this...in fact, I think it is a wise decision to do what you can to assist your family's future.
Praying for wisdom in this decision
As some who has done this, I think I can really speak to it! In January 2004, I went back to college at the age of 49 and in May 2007, I finished my BA. I went on for my master's and graduated in May 2009. I am now in a doctoral program and expect to graduate in 2012. I. Am. A. Fan. It was the best gift I could've possibly given myself.
I say: GO FOR IT!!!
PS: No online degrees!
I'm chiming in a little late, but I thought it was fine that my mother went for her master's degree when I was in first grade. My only beef was that I ended up being part of her research, seeing as her area of study was early childhood musical education (Kodaly).
From my six year old's perspective, it seemed perfectly natural for a mother to go to school. After all, I had to. Why shouldn't she?
If possible have fun with it. No guilt!
Post a Comment