Shall I go back to school?

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  • I'm trying to do the opposite. I'm trying to get out of school for the time being. I'm 20 and broke. My mom seems to think that ill be fine financially which isn't the case. As of right now I don't have a job and she doesn't have a job. I live on my own and feel I just need to save up some money before I go to school full time. Last semester I failed out of a community college because I was stressing about money. I never knew if I was going to have enough money to make rent or not. It sucked. Don't get me wrong here. I want and know that I need to get an education but I want to do it on my terms. Not my moms. But my advice to you is get back in school if you want to be there. Having an education is a very important thing to have in our world.

    EvilMerlin wrote:
    So I'm on the fence right now of resigning from my position in a couple of months, going back to being a bum server

    Serving is one of the more stressful job and hard working jobs i've ever had. You bust your ass for $2.65 an hour in hopes that someone will leave you a nice tip. Yes you can make amazing money when it comes to serving or you can make nothing. I've worked 10 hour shifts and made 300 dollars i've also worked ten hour shifts and made 20 dollars. So this whol "bum server" thing I don't much appreciate.
    Shows:
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    "With my own two hands I can change the world."
  • EvilMerlinEvilMerlin Posts: 1,865
    BinGnarly wrote:
    . So this whol "bum server" thing I don't much appreciate.

    Don't look into it too much and let it offend you. I've served for a few years myself, my sister has 10+, my mother has been in the restaurant business her whole life. I know the in's and out's of it and I'm sorry you live in a state where they calculate your tips to account for your hourly wage. Where I'm at all restaurants give at least minimum wage hourly. Also living in a high convention/tourist area there's a more constant tip flow on top of that. With that comes a higher stress level but shifts usually only cosist of 4-6 hours. Not to mention you don't take your work home with you while serving. It's a short burst of a stress period, nothing major if you know how to deal with it. Many people can actually make a profession out of serving in SoCal.
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    dunkman wrote:
    and thats fucked up is what that is.
    It is what it is.

    Of course years ago someone can get further in their career with experience...but it is not the norm.
    GO to school .
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • ofthegirl75ofthegirl75 New Jersey Posts: 315
    Go now before kids and spouses and all the stuff that goes with it. It took me 5 years to get a 2 year degree.
  • EvilMerlinEvilMerlin Posts: 1,865
    Thanks to everyone that replied, and that continues to reply if I don't get to you. I had no idea this many people would reply to that long of a post. :p

    I suppose I was just looking at other perspectives of what people thought. I only see it from one side with my family and close friends. They're all of the 'experience is more important than school' breed and think I'm out of my mind.

    I was finishing up my junior year when I had to leave school. So with retaking a few classes I should be able to finish up in 2 years. My degree was for Biological Psych, on a neuroscience path. I was also preparing to take courses to lead into my credential program so I could teach while I continued on to get my masters after I graduated. Possibly taking a year off from school to get settled into teaching and knowing my location, then going back the next year. My goal is to teach, I'd be happy with high school because I can then go on and coach basketball finally since I've had many offers I could take and do that, which has always been my dream. However...no degree, no credentials, no job at the school and my current job right now doesn't leave me enough time to go on and coach.

    Also, as I continue on through graduate school, I'd consider moving up into teaching at the college level depending on how far I extended my education.

    It was all planned out until I was about 21, and was close to being there until I went to work full time.
  • EvilMerlinEvilMerlin Posts: 1,865
    Go now before kids and spouses and all the stuff that goes with it. It took me 5 years to get a 2 year degree.

    That's my whole thing as well. I know many people at my age that are now looking at getting married, or started having kids, and I don't have that on me right now. So I would need to get this out of the way also before that comes, because once it does, then all hell breaks loose as far as trying to finish. My sister went for two years, had a kid, then it took her five years to finish her junior and senior year.
  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    TrixieCat wrote:
    It is what it is.
    .

    yep.. fucked up.
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • jamie ukjamie uk Posts: 3,812
    dunkman wrote:
    yep.. fucked up.

    let it go buddy :o let it go. You can always get a job on the bin lorry and boss those fuckers about :)
    I came, I saw, I concurred.....
  • dawngdawng Posts: 644
    go for it :) I went back to school at 27 and it was a great experience. good luck!
    Check out my Sudsy Chick Etsy Store for all natural homemade bath products!
  • EvilMerlinEvilMerlin Posts: 1,865
    TrixieCat wrote:
    It is what it is.

    Of course years ago someone can get further in their career with experience...but it is not the norm.
    GO to school .

    I got this job based on experience and not a degree. They hired 12 people and I was the only one without a degree, BASED on my experience.

    And because of my experience in 18 months I've already been promoted ahead of the class I was hired in with, and moved on from there. However I'll continue moving up, and be their supervisor within a certain amount of years...however, that's where I'll stop. I'll be making a good living, but with a lot of responsibility and travel, and they'll have their degree and be able to move elsewhere in the company and get out of this area and continue on moving up. So basically I'm here to give those new kids the experience they need so they can just basically bunny hop over me within the organization and move on to other things. It's one of the few places left I suppose where experience does count(like you were saying, it's not the norm anymore), but experience+degree will get you there if this is the place you want to be.

    However when things slow down I'll be laid off right away which is bound to happen. Not in the next five years, but anything beyond that is uncertain. So rather than hit that uncertain point and then scramble to figure out life and get by until I'm needed again, I'd rather get working on what I want to do now, and get myself setup the way I originally planned. I'm so far off track from what I was doing it's not even funny, and all of a sudden like a big slap in the face it hit me, that's why I was frustrated with life. I wasn't doing what I wanted to do. The money didn't make me happy, the new job didn't make me happy, the nicer apartment didn't make me happy, the nicer car didn't work, none of it helped me become who I wanted to be. It just deterred me from being that person. Well, I'm not caught up in a situation where I have responsibilities that keep me from going to school, so I might as well get it done before I can't any longer.
  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    jamie uk wrote:
    let it go buddy :o let it go. You can always get a job on the bin lorry and boss those fuckers about :)

    thing is.. i once help to employ someone to work with me in the print company a few years back.. i had the choice of this guy who had 6 years experience but no formal qualifications or the guy with the graphic design degree. i recommended the experienced guy.

    my boss chose the guy with the degree and on his first day i said to him "draw an A4 page with a 3mm bleed guide around the edges"... he had no idea how to do that.

    its dependent on what you want to do i suppose... a history teacher needs a degree rather than just being an old fucker who knows a lot about King Henry VIII... whereas a gas heating installer doesnt need a degree in chemistry.
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • Jearlpam0925Jearlpam0925 Deep South Philly Posts: 17,118
    jamie uk wrote:
    let it go buddy :o let it go. You can always get a job on the bin lorry and boss those fuckers about :)

    This must be some kind of haggard Brit jargon that only Euro's would understand cause I don't what the fuck that means....Ehlo guv'na!
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    EvilMerlin wrote:
    I got this job based on experience and not a degree. They hired 12 people and I was the only one without a degree, BASED on my experience.

    And because of my experience in 18 months I've already been promoted ahead of the class I was hired in with, and moved on from there. However I'll continue moving up, and be their supervisor within a certain amount of years...however, that's where I'll stop. I'll be making a good living, but with a lot of responsibility and travel, and they'll have their degree and be able to move elsewhere in the company and get out of this area and continue on moving up. So basically I'm here to give those new kids the experience they need so they can just basically bunny hop over me within the organization and move on to other things. It's one of the few places left I suppose where experience does count(like you were saying, it's not the norm anymore), but experience+degree will get you there if this is the place you want to be.

    However when things slow down I'll be laid off right away which is bound to happen. Not in the next five years, but anything beyond that is uncertain. So rather than hit that uncertain point and then scramble to figure out life and get by until I'm needed again, I'd rather get working on what I want to do now, and get myself setup the way I originally planned. I'm so far off track from what I was doing it's not even funny, and all of a sudden like a big slap in the face it hit me, that's why I was frustrated with life. I wasn't doing what I wanted to do. The money didn't make me happy, the new job didn't make me happy, the nicer apartment didn't make me happy, the nicer car didn't work, none of it helped me become who I wanted to be. It just deterred me from being that person. Well, I'm not caught up in a situation where I have responsibilities that keep me from going to school, so I might as well get it done before I can't any longer.
    You just validated my point. Not to mention the fact that you hate the job. You will reach a point where you cannot go any further in your company. Why do that? Go to school.
    Yes, you have a good job now, but those people with the degrees will get the higher paying jobs or the positions they want the most.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • EvilMerlinEvilMerlin Posts: 1,865
    TrixieCat wrote:
    You just validated my point. Not to mention the fact that you hate the job. You will reach a point where you cannot go any further in your company. Why do that? Go to school.
    Yes, you have a good job now, but those people with the degrees will get the higher paying jobs or the positions they want the most.

    Even though I'm much taller than you I do believe we see eye-to-eye. :)
  • jamie ukjamie uk Posts: 3,812
    dunkman wrote:
    ... a history teacher needs a degree rather than just being an old fucker who knows a lot about King Henry VIII... whereas a gas heating installer doesnt need a degree in chemistry.

    Can't disagree there old man :o
    I mean if we offered jobs on experience alone, you'd probably be Britains leading gynacologyst by now ;)
    I came, I saw, I concurred.....
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    jamie uk wrote:
    Can't disagree there old man :o
    I mean if we offered jobs on experience alone, you'd probably be Britains leading gynacologyst by now ;)
    :eek:


    Good luck EvilMerlin. :)
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    jamie uk wrote:
    Can't disagree there old man :o
    I mean if we offered jobs on experience alone, you'd probably be Britains leading gynacologyst by now ;)

    (me as a gynaecologist)

    "ok, i have no idea whats wrong with you but i know how to make you orgasm for 3 hours straight"



    I did a degree in Urinology... it was a piece of piss.
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • jamie ukjamie uk Posts: 3,812
    dunkman wrote:
    (me as a gynaecologist)

    "ok, i have no idea whats wrong with you but i know how to make you orgasm for 3 hours straight"



    I did a degree in Urinology... it was a piece of piss.


    or the old one. I'm not really an expert, but I'm willing to take a good look at it for you :D

    I did a degree in the study of a triangular piece of sweet tasting sponge...yeye, it was a piece of cake...I know, rubbish :D
    I came, I saw, I concurred.....
  • bee_boybee_boy Posts: 384
    It's NEVER to late to go to school.

    Fortunately, I got a head start with studies since I started uni when I was 18, and graduated last year (I'm 23) with 2 majors. Oh boy, was I poor during that time... My friends called me their "sponsor child". Altough it was tough to be broke, I don't regret one bit making the choice to go to uni cause I knew it was going to pay off on the long run... And it did!! I have an awesome job at Ernst & Young and I'm extremely happy with it. I owe it all to my deegree, cause pretty much all my previous work experience was door-to-door sales or canvassing. Fucking hated that.

    My mom is 55 and her first day of uni was 3 years ago. She regrets so much that she didn't get any higher education, but she's making up for it now :)

    GO MOM! I'M PROUD OF YOU!
  • eyedclaareyedclaar Posts: 6,980
    You couldn't get me back to school at gun point. Man, I fuckin' hated school. Which is weird because I love to learn and read, I just never wanted to learn and read what they wanted me to. I'm glad I found a few writing instructors who gave me free reign to do whatever I wanted.
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  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    eyedclaar wrote:
    You couldn't get me back to school at gun point. Man, I fuckin' hated school. Which is weird because I love to learn and read, I just never wanted to learn and read what they wanted me to. I'm glad I found a few writing instructors who gave me free reign to do whatever I wanted.


    hey man i was thinking earlier about how you should write more.... not because you're good at it... you need the practice.
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • EvilMerlin wrote:
    Thanks to everyone that replied, and that continues to reply if I don't get to you. I had no idea this many people would reply to that long of a post. :p

    I suppose I was just looking at other perspectives of what people thought. I only see it from one side with my family and close friends. They're all of the 'experience is more important than school' breed and think I'm out of my mind.

    I was finishing up my junior year when I had to leave school. So with retaking a few classes I should be able to finish up in 2 years. My degree was for Biological Psych, on a neuroscience path. I was also preparing to take courses to lead into my credential program so I could teach while I continued on to get my masters after I graduated. Possibly taking a year off from school to get settled into teaching and knowing my location, then going back the next year. My goal is to teach, I'd be happy with high school because I can then go on and coach basketball finally since I've had many offers I could take and do that, which has always been my dream. However...no degree, no credentials, no job at the school and my current job right now doesn't leave me enough time to go on and coach.

    Also, as I continue on through graduate school, I'd consider moving up into teaching at the college level depending on how far I extended my education.

    It was all planned out until I was about 21, and was close to being there until I went to work full time.



    well if you want to teach, returning to school is a no-brainer....you MUST! absolutely need your degree, then teacher certification and eventually your masters degree. and yes, if you want to teach at the college/uni level, you eventually are required to have what is considered a 'terminal degree' in your field. that will vary depending on the field, but if you are talking bio or psch, that most definitely would mean a doctorate. however, take it one step at a time! finish up your degree and get out teaching! see if you truly enjoy it, then go after your masters if you know it's what you want.


    good luck!
    :)



    btw - i took a 2 year hiatus betweem my BFA and MA, to decide what exactly i wanted to major in the grad school level, for my 'focus' in teaching, to be what i truly wanted. i did not go for the most 'marketable' major...art/photography......and i am no longer teching, but i'd not want to teach anything outide of art in any case....so it was the right choice for me.
    Stay with me...
    Let's just breathe...


    I am myself like you somehow


  • eyedclaareyedclaar Posts: 6,980
    dunkman wrote:
    hey man i was thinking earlier about how you should write more.... not because you're good at it... you need the practice.

    Oh, you were not... thinking earlier, I mean.
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  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    eyedclaar wrote:
    You couldn't get me back to school at gun point. Man, I fuckin' hated school. Which is weird because I love to learn and read, I just never wanted to learn and read what they wanted me to.

    you and i are cut from similar cloth....alright rags but it's still cloth
  • eyedclaareyedclaar Posts: 6,980
    cutback wrote:
    you and i are cut from similar cloth....alright rags but it's still cloth

    Hmmm, my mom said she found me in a swamp and made the mistake of giving me food. Were you found in a swamp by any chance?
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  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    eyedclaar wrote:
    Hmmm, my mom said she found me in a swamp and made the mistake of giving me food. Were you found in a swamp by any chance?

    if you mean this swamp?....yes
  • eyedclaareyedclaar Posts: 6,980
    cutback wrote:
    if you mean this swamp?....yes

    Looks cozy. A veritable mansion by my standards.
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  • geniegenie Posts: 2,222
    ah, i won't say a lot, all i'm going to say is: just do it! (yes, like the slogan)

    you've got to think about it like this: do you want to have the same job you got now in 20 years time? after all we do have to die eventually, so we've got to grab a bull by it's horns so to speak.

    good luck dude!
  • muiren77 wrote:
    go for it...education is the only treasure that no one can take away from you...good luck...

    Soo very true!
    Hey I am going to be ahhhhh~aahh freekin 48 ! OMG!OMG! I said it live on line! ~ And I am going to go back part time. I had kids very young and worked my ass off for 29 years with no time for myself and education. I have an ok job as a Manager for a newspaper and make over 50+ but I could have been...should have been sooooo much more...or excuse me...will become...so much more!
    Shit i was in the PTA maybe I can be a Vice Prez someday....or maybe I can learn to spell? Or converse with OUTLAW and the other political pit lawyers in here....
    Just do it~!! Suck it up and do it! If I can you can.
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