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OTHER: Staying in school
I am 22 and in college. I am majoring in early childhood education. When I started college after high school I really wanted to be a teacher. But now I have been in school for four years, and because I transferred schools I still have about two and a half years left. And I am not even sure if I want to go to school for this anymore. I would still like to work with children but I want to work with infants or toddlers and I don't need a degree for that. And if I have a degree I won't get paid much more than without one. So I really don't know if I should stay in school or not. It makes me miserable and I'm not sure if it will even be worth all the time and debt after I graduate. I have had to take out loans and I'm just not sure if it's worth it anymore if I will not even be making that much more money with a degree.Elder Response
I applaud you for reaching out for help. I really understand your dilemma here. You aren't feeling good about school at this point in your life, and don't see the need in getting your degree.
My take on your situation is as follows. Over the course of your lifetime, having a college degree will be well worth the investment of time and money, because going forward, NOT HAVING A DEGREE, will put you at a competitive disadvantage.
At this juncture of your life, it's hard to predict what your career path will end up being. Because of that fact, and that fact alone, by your completing college and having a degree, it will make it very meaningful for any job you apply for, that YOU DO have a degree. That's the reality of the job market in the 21st century.
So I would strongly recommend that you consider staying in school, even though from your present vantage point at 22, it doesn't feel that compelling to complete your degree. I recognize that you will be incurring more debt. But having that degree will over time pay out for you, and enable you to apply for jobs and be considered for career opportunities that just wouldn't be available without that degree.
I wish you luck in your pursuits from here. I'm sure you will figure things out, as you sound like a smart girl. The key in life is to stay focused and not necessarily take the easiest path, but the smarter path, and remaining in college and completing your degree, would be the smarter path.
Sincerely,
Baer