[crazyanxietylady]

Hey everyone Im new here and I need some advice. I have a very good job, some would call it a career. Without disclosing where I work, I have a job I am constantly hearing others say they would love to have. It has great benefits and it pays great. But heres the catch. Ive been here 10 years and hate it. Part of me feels ungrateful part of me feels not. Im 30 years old and Im attending a university too. If I attend a vocation school ill be less in debt with school loans and ill have a degree quicker. My issue is, I want to quit pull my retirement and go back to school. Im 30 and this would be a huge thing to do. Im scared in what my husband and mom would think and i feel like im going to be shamed for doing this. Im not sure if this is even a great idea. But im super depressed right now and part of it has to do with me not feeling like ive accomplished what I wanted to. I really want to go back to get school done faster and I feel like the school im at now isnt going to get me where I want. help

[Skeezyks]

Well... I don't know if there's really a lot I can say about this. But there are perhaps a couple of thoughts I can offer. First, check to see how pulling your retirement would affect your income level for tax purposes. You may also find that in pulling your retirement early, you'll get a lot less than your plan is actually worth. If you're not careful, you could end up taking quite a hit financially I would guess.

Beyond that, it's really difficult to offer you much in the way of guidance since I don't know where you work, what your job is, what opportunities exist within your company for advancement, what you're studying at university or what you'd study if you went to vocational school. These are all important considerations.

What I can mention is that, many years ago when I was young, (I'm an old man now) we were told: "just go to college. It doesn't even matter what you study. You'll be set for life." Less true words have yet to be spoken. Many of us (myself included) left college with degrees in English, philosophy, etc. that weren't worth the paper the degree was printed on.

Personally, I've always thought that, if I had it to do over again, I'd go to vocational school & get a degree in something "saleable", so to speak. And then, if I wanted to get a 4 year degree or beyond, I'd do that part-time while I was working. So I personally think the idea of going to vocational school is sound at least in theory. (You may well be able to transfer some of your current credits from your university to the vocational school.) You can always build that into a 4 year degree later on. But whether or not it makes sense for you to quit the job you have, & pull the money out of your retirement, is something I can't say. My best wishes to you though...

P.S. The one other caution I would offer, with regard to this is... if you do decide to quit your job & go to vocational school... avoid for-profit vocational schools. There's been a lot about them in the news media recently where I live. A few of them have gone out of business leaving their students in the lurch. And they tend to be inordinately expensive. Plus I have the impression that often times the credits you earn there will not be recognized by a state or private college or university.

[Deejay14]

Why not continue to work and go to school at the same time. It certainly is doable with classes on line. It might be easier to work there if you knew you were working towards something else.