Would it be possible to return to college for a degree in video programming? Perhaps that would help you along in your project. There are many online colleges you can attend now.

If you don't want to do that maybe you can get into the field of doing the background effects in filming or music performances. There are many different angles you can take with the studies you have, and that's good - it gives you many opportunities and choices.

I can understand why you feel overwhelmed though. Taking on computer programming is tough, especially video programming - then when faced with the big possibility you may not be successful enough to support yourself, it seems insurmountable. Here's the question though: Do you enjoy game programming? If you do, I think that is half the battle. Many people do not enjoy their jobs ever (like you with your data entry job), they just do them to pay the bills. That sometimes happens even with people who have earned degrees - because they chose to specialize in something that left very few options for job types and were unable to find openings. You have many opportunities and if you can return to college to study some minor type classes once you figure out which direction you want to head in - many things will open up for you I am sure (that's if you don't like the programming). If you do like programming - just keep at it til it takes off - once it does, you can drop your "dead end job". No matter what you do, its always good to have a "fall back option" just in case the first doesn't work out or takes longer than you thought it would to work out. That's especially true when it comes to the more artistic fields of employment. Doesn't mean it can't be done - just means you need to be prepared for let downs too. You don't have to stay at the same "fall back option" of a job either (currently data entry) - if you are really dissatisfied with it, start looking around for new employment but don't give up the data entry til you have a new job.

I never imagined myself going through "dead end job" after dead end job either - but life happened. I became pregnant at 17, got in a huge fight with my dad over it (he made sure I had to give up my child), so I left the house at 18 and had to support myself. Since my stepmom kept taking me out of school on unexcused passes, they messed up the diploma I was getting, and I was unable to get scholarships, so there was no college after high school for me. I struggled supporting myself as a merchandiser - til I got in a car accident that totaled my car. I then tried to move in with my Dad but he said I had to pay rent (with no $ and no job - yea right!) to sleep on the couch. So I moved across country to live with my aunt and became a CNA. When I moved out on my own again, CNA was not enough to support me and so I became a part-time waitress. Once I stopped working as. CNA, I went to data entry. That was enough to support me without the waitressing. Then I moved again - and became a bill collector. After that was when I ended up on disability. I never ever thought I would be on disability. I was ashamed of that for a long time - but now I'm aprreciative of it.

I am confident you too will find your way to peace within yourself, but it does take a lot of time and soul searching.

❤