Hello. After reading the previous post, I decided that the somewhat random introspection needed to be balanced out by something a little more grounded.
After I submitted my resignation with my current employer, I qualified it with volunteering for back up on call on nights and my days off with my new job. The wisdom in this is up for debate, we’ll see how I can deal when the time comes.
Thinking about the work my new employer does got me thinking once again about furthering my education, seeing as that seems to be the modus operandi for what I would eventually want to do for a company like that. I checked out the nearest University ( yet again), perusing the various majors and investigating the most interesting ones. After selecting my top two, I reviewed my pending application, coming no closer to being able to answer the multiple choice question about residency that does not take into consideration aged freshmen ( a.k.a. those more that five years distant from high school) that is required to actually submit the form online.
Stumped there, it being after midnight and not being able to call the admissions office for advice on the matter, I proceeded to the all important FAFSA. This document is apparently the foundation of almost any financial aid decision to be made regarding college education.
I received the results of this auspicious screening by email just yesterday. Unfortunately the federal government, through whatever number crunching alchemy they use, has determined I do not qualify for a grant, and that my expected family contribution is well over six thousand dollars, but were happy to provide links to various lending programs. Ah fuck ‘em. Didn’t want their help anyway.
I do not feel like mortgaging my future assets in some twisted indentured servitude in exchange for something of dubious value that may or may not provide what I want to get out of it.
Let me clarify. I have the utmost respect for and appreciation of the pursuit and attainment of knowledge. What I can’t understand is agreeing to pay financial interest I would be taking a gamble in being able to pay off. I’ve met too many college graduates who are unable or uninterested in using their degree to obtain employment. Being held accountable for a debt of over 20,000 dollars does not sound appealing to me. It doesn’t even seem sensible, given my circumstances and temperament.
Factor into the equation the commuting distance and time investment required, being a full time student will not allow me to further my other goals, and also pay bills like rent and groceries.
So, what I am considering, is merely taking one or perhaps two courses, supplementing this with independent study and trying my darnedest to learn everything applicable I can from my lowly current position, including how best to interact with the people who actually do the interesting stuff and worm my butt into getting promoted to an entry level professional position based on ability and experience.
Besides, if they are the kind of people who value a piece of paper over ability to get the job done, that doesn’t sound like a good business model in my desired field, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable working in that environment anyway.
Now, I just have to get my app submitted, funds raised for at least one course, and find out how the hell I am supposed to get immunization records from 25 years ago, seeing as I was born after 1957.
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