First steps

Things here seem to be going very well lately and id like to take advantage of that and start taking steps toward goals i have. Like hmmm id like to have a job someday as that would make me feel good about me. Now since ive been lazy to long to do a job where i stand for 8+ hours a day i figure i need some education. Theres a problem there tho. Lets say i go and accomplish that. Well no, thats not the problem, the problem is what if then i just go back to hiding and being depressed. Then im exactly where i am now but i have student loans to boot. But if i dont do that then i kinda have to accept this is as good as i can be. I dont want that either. Can ya go to jail for failing to pay back student loans? It feels so much safer just trying to choose which path i want then actually putting one foot out firmly on one of the paths. You cant fail if you dont do anything, on the other hand you cant succeed if you dont do anything either. Ive existed long enough, i wanna live yet im still scared of life.

Is there any advice possible other than just to put yourself out there and to worry about the next step when you get to it? Im sure there is some analagy somewhere about if you concentrate on the 5th step soley you are much more likely to fall than if you just take one step at a time. However if the 5th step has a big crack in it, its very hard not to be wary of it even if your still at the bottom.

First off, congratulations on deciding to take some more steps forward.


I'm no expert on student loans, so I'll leave that up to someone else to answer, but I think there is a grace period between finishing school and starting to pay them off.

Maybe you could start out with some of the short, inexpensive courses that community colleges offer, the ones that are usually a night or two a week, hour or two each, for 6 or 8 weeks or so. You could get your feet wet by taking a course in something you enjoy and get a sense of success and accomplishment. Maybe that would help get you over all of the "what if" humps.

Starting with the first step is the only way to get anywhere ! Congrats on setting that goal ! I went back to college at the ripe ole age of 37, taking 1 class a semester the first semester - then got into the swing of things and added classes each semester. I LOVED being back in college ! I was a "Mom" to most in my classes (got to be in their weddings, some I sang at, got to be Godmother to several new babies too ! ). Just attending the first class was a real test - since I was just coming outta treatment for 6 weeks - but I knew I wanted to do it and I did ! As far as student loans, I have no answers, but I know there are MANY grants, etc that you can apply for that might prevent u from having much if anything to pay back. I agree with starting at a Community College - or a Tech school, til you figure out what u might wanna be "when u grow up".............GOOD LUCK !!!!!!!!!

Keep on keepin on !!!!

dealing with your student loans is pretty important. my daughter has some and they have affected her credit in a very negative way. BUT, she was able to get UNM to create a payment schedule. the government is stepping up the penalties for not paying them. so, if you do go back to school, you'll be in a much better place for paying those loans back.....and if you contact the school, they might let you off while you're in school.