Since I quit working 5 years ago to stay home with my kids (after 16 yrs. in the computer software business), I am often asked, "Do you think you'll ever go back to work?" and "What would you do if you went back to work?" My answer to the first question is usually, "Not if I can help it!" and to the second, "I don't know, but not software."
My husband often suggests that I return to school to get a teaching credential or nursing degree or some other degree that would satisfy a need or desire of mine (and allow me to make lots of money)...haven't figured out what that last one would be yet. I've toyed with the idea, but quite frankly, the idea of returning to college holds no appeal for me. I made it through the first time around in 4.5 years and with a serious crisis of confidence (and change of major) the first 2 years of that. When I got my degree in 1985, I swore I would never set foot in a classroom again. Well, things change and people change, and the thought has occurred to me.
Until now. I have been studying for several weeks for the Nevada Dept. of Education teacher licensure exams on Nevada State Law, Nevada Constitution and U.S. Constitution. I am required to take these tests to keep my substitute teaching license. For starters, Social Studies was always my LEAST favorite subject in school. God, I hated Social Studies! It was a necessary evil. Secondly, this material is dry as dust...dust that has been left to dry out in the Sahara Desert for a million years. Dust that has had all of the moisture sucked out of it. It puts me to sleep the minute I crack open the study guide...literally. I've fallen asleep in doctor's waiting rooms, listening to my son's piano lesson, and sitting in the car waiting for the kids to emerge from school at the end of the day. NO -- the car was NOT moving at the time!!! In short, I find the subject matter to be extremely boring and hard to stay focused on.
The exams are tomorrow morning -- bright and early -- and despite all of the weeks I have had to prepare, here I am cramming the night before. IT'S LIKE COLLEGE ALL OVER AGAIN EXCEPT 25 YEARS LATER!!! I was always a terrible procrastinator...doing term papers the night before they were due, cramming and pulling all-nighters for exams instead of studying all semester...crap like that. It worked for me when my brain was 20 years old, but at 47, these ripe old brain cells are struggling. On top of that, I have no quiet, peaceful environment in which to study...I have two rambunctious boys and a cranky husband making noise and interrupting my thoughts 10,000X a day. It's enough to drive a woman to drink, but that would just make my vision too blurry to read the study guide!
Oh, I have immense respect and admiration for people like
moosealot and
toplessblogger who returned to school after being in the working world...although I must point out that their brain cells are significantly younger than mine.
Snuggs too has done significant mid-life classwork in some pretty tough subjects...much harder than this piddly stuff I am studying. I just don't see me ever going down that path. I am grateful to my parents and teachers for encouraging and supporting me through the process of getting my college degree, but for me, it is ENOUGH. There will be no MBA, no medical school, no second degree, no certification or licensing program....nope, I'm done. Fini. Basta. That's it! Keep your fingers crossed that I score at least a 70 on these exams tomorrow, because I don't think I could go through this again....but at least I'd already have the flash cards. :)
