The future, what of it?
I know I haven’t updated in awhile, but life has been so damned busy. I’m engaged (the good), got laid off (the bad) and still look the same (the ugly). But what I need now is help from the few readers I have, I have a big decision to make that I never thought I’d have to deal with. Sorry this entry is so long, I tried to keep it as brief and concise as possible while not leaving anything important out.
What do I do? What should I do with the coming years of my life so that the stage is set for the rest of it?
When I got my GED at 16 I never expected to have a chance at college, figured I’d work hard and get wherever I was going and that was that. I think that even through that I’ve managed to end up doing pretty good for myself for the past five years or so. But now I have options, I’m enrolled in a local community college and was presented with a buffet of things I could do with my life. Shit hit me from nowhere.
What I’d like is to lay out my options briefly so you can see what I’m faced with, and I want opinions or thoughts from everyone who reads this. If you have other people who don’t normally read this but could contribute please feel free to pass the link along.
First Option – Who needs a degree?
Instead of taking a full two years to complete an Associate’s degree in a programming-specialized curriculum I could simply take the handful of classes that I’d benefit from and seek independent certification (SCJA, SCJP and so forth). This has the benefit of being much faster (two semesters versus four) and will still give me “a piece of paper”, it won’t be a degree but it’ll be tailored to the work I’d be seeking.
My worry with this is being insanely pigeon-holed versus getting a full associates degree, however surviving for two years while going to school full time is something that scares me a bit. I live on my own and paying bills while going to school would be a little less than fun.
So for people who work in the industry: how differently is independent certification viewed than a full degree?
Second Option – …maybe I need that degree
The same as above, but instead of picking and choosing the classes I want I simply follow the full IST: Programming Specialization curriculum and get my Associate’s. This has the benefit of making me an actual college graduate (not that I think that’d make me a better person, mind) which may help with me being hired at various places.
My concerns are the same as I mentioned in my first option, surviving for two years while going to school full time will be no easy feat. If I went this route or the next I’d probably seek a different living arrangement to make it more affordable and easier so I wouldn’t be running myself into the ground.
Having a degree will open doors, not just in the information technology field either. Not sure if that is worth an extra year, but I want others’ opinions of course. Trying to fully explore my options!
Option Three – I don’t fear the unknown, I punch it in the gorram eye!
So, I’m nervous about two years of full time community college, right? So why don’t we up the ante and flip it to a full four year degree. In engineering. The big daddy of ‘em all. I could get a guaranteed scholarship for the first two years and then I’m quite sure I’d get a lot of assistance for the second two years, but it will cost me more either way. And I’ll be nearly 30 when I’m done IF I do everything perfectly the first time.
However, I’d be an engineer (mechanical, electronic, etc. – doesn’t matter, I’d decide which), the cream of the crop. I’d be able to move anywhere in the modern world and have a well-paying job. I also wouldn’t have to constantly update my credentials and relearn half of what I know every six months, but that’s barely an issue to me. I’d have a more certain future, and possibly a more comfy one.
Then again it’s twice the time as option two, four times as long as option one, more expensive and harder to boot. But I don’t doubt I could do it and do it well. A challenge it would be, but not an impossible one.
You can see I’ve somewhat romanticized the idea of becoming an engineer, but don’t let that get you to thinking that I wouldn’t enjoy being a programmer and be very happy with that kind of life. I absolutely adore programming to any degree and conversely know much less about the engineering lifestyle.
In summation
People who know me will be able to give more personalized advice to be sure, but I will weigh the thoughts and opinions of informed strangers and acquaintances just as heavily. Please give me your most honest advice regardless of how you think I’ll take it, I’ve got tough skin!
And above all of that, thank you for taking the time to read this and reply. This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever faced. I’m not giving the decision to anyone else, but I’m more than willing to use your opinions as a tool when deciding for myself.
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