So many changes, so little time to process.  Not that things are changing in ways that would be apparent to the outside world, but for me I feel as though my life has been turned completely around…but in a good way. 

Besides the major changes I’m working through (financial & weight), I have another decision of change to make that I’m not sure what to do about.  I’ve been thinking about it pretty seriously and think I know the answer, but I thought working it out in words here might help me come to a final decision.

For those of you who don’t know, I started going back to school last semester.  The goal was to start slow – 1 class.  I was supposed to step it up and take 2 classes each semester, intersession semester, and summer semesters going forward.  This plan would have me graduating in about 8 years going to school constantly without a break between now and then.  Did you hear that?  Constantly.  No Christmas break, no summer break, nothing but hey, I’d be finished at 42 and that’s still young, right?

Well, if that was what I was going to do, I should have done it when I didn’t have such a demanding job.  Last semester, it was all I could do to take one class.  This semester I took another one, but unlike last semester where I didn’t find the class particularly hard, just time intensive; this class is not only time intensive, but assumed-knowledge intensive.  What I mean by that is there appears to be an assumption that the individuals taking the class have taken other classes (read: Algebra) within the last decade or so.  I have not.  In fact, before last semester, I haven’t so much as darkened a classroom in about fifteen years.  Yes, fifteen.  Perhaps needless to say, this class is quickly sucking my will to live (and giving me another reason to hate Mondays – something I don’t think anyone needs).

And so I find myself re-evaluating my priorities.  Why am I doing this again?  What do I hope to gain from this?  A better job?  No chance – my job is awesome.  Better pay?  Nope – I’m good there as well.  A change in career?  Well, if I’m happy with my job and my salary, why would I want to change my career?  Instead, I feel like the thing I long for (and need) more than anything else in my suburban existence is a life.  I desperately need a life, friends, some sort of social existence.  If this is the greatest thing I’m missing and what I’m searching for, how is the class helping this?  The answer is that it’s not…in fact, it does the opposite.  It takes away from what little down-time I have which could otherwise be used for get-a-life-ing.  Add to this that, if I can only manage one class per semester (instead of the planned-for two), I will not be finishing in 8 years, but 16.

So not at 42, but at 50.

Now I ask you, what on earth would I possibly do with a degree at 50?  I know that 50 is still young.  I could still have a lot of years left to work, but frankly if I don’t get married, my goal is to retire early.  I would rather work my butt off now, and then kick back and do only things that interest me (read: travel) for the remainder of my days.

There are other options.  At my age and with the experience I have, I could explore alternative degree options.  I haven’t looked very hard at those for awhile, but there are some local schools that provide them.  Thomas Edison State College comes to mind – they have always been pioneers in adult education and from what I understand, they have a pretty comprehensive program that awards credit for life and work experience.  Might pay to look into that further so instead of my time being devoured by a class where I have to calculate the area of a triangle (really useful life information that), I could pace myself and work on my portfolio for submission to TESC.

As for the class – I’m relatively sure I’ll be withdrawing from it this week, and I know I’ll feel better when I do.