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Why the Heck Did I Go to Grad School?
I blame my parents. If they hadn’t taken me to the library every week, encouraged me to read and write, and set an example by earning multiple degrees, I never would’ve been in this mess.
Most people, if they go to college, earn a four-year degree. They’re happy with their earning potential and corresponding student loan debt, and they set to work developing a career and starting a family. This is where I thought I’d end up in my 20s and 30s. It didn’t quite turn out that way.
My high school classmates have adorable toddlers. I have cats. My friends plan vacations. I plan internships.
And on evenings and weekends, I do homework.
In one of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books, a character ends up with a bar tab with as many digits as a credit card number. I’m not quite there with my student loan debt, but give me time. I could probably have financed a Tesla instead of a degree.
Granted, if I pull this off, two years from now I will be earning more money. The loan debt will fade.
But it’s really not about the money. I know everyone says, “Oh, sure,” but all I want is a little security. I don’t need nice cars or vacations. I want a job where I can feel like I made a difference in people’s lives. I want a job where I can make important contributions…
