Hello all!
First off a big CONGRATULATIONS to all that have decided to go back to school! I think it is wonderful!!!
Here is my story...sorry it is going to be long.
I stepped out of high school in 1987 and went right to work and worked for the same company for 21 years until they closed in May. I was devistated (still am...they were like my 2nd family and honestly it felt like a marriage ending) and had no idea what I was going to do because I was at the point where I hated what I did, but loved who I worked for. I did real estate settlements and over the past few years it just got harder and harder and depressing.
The first day of my layoff, I attended a "free tuition for displaced workers" seminar at our community college and I decided that I was going to take advantage of this opportunity. I felt that it was a sign since I never went to college after graduating high school, something I always regretted but never changed because I had a good job and figured why would I want to give that up so I can go to college and lose 4 years of income!!!
Then came meeting with advisors and the question of "what do you want to do"....and me not having ONE clue, other than my tag
. In the back of my mind I was thinking that I saw there was a certificate program for travel and event planning...but was afraid to mention it because what kind of job could I get doing that. So I decided that I would take an Introduction to Computers class, online as it was a requirement of that certificate and at least it could help me when I look for a job. So I did it and realized after week 2 that I really should have taken it at the college and felt like I struggled so much with it, but ended up getting a 93 in the class (if I only got something to hang on the fridge!!)
I received something in mid July that I had to fill out forms for Financial Aid in order to see if I still qualify for the free tuition program and if I get accepted for FA I will not be eligable for free tution, but if I get denied then I can enroll again in the free tuition program. Well seeing as they look at returns from last year that I had an income, I would have been rejected and then there would not have been enough time to register for the classes, so I did nothing.
So here I am, still have not found a job, registered with a temp agency and feel like such a dope that I did not do anything with the college. We just were not in a position to put out all the money. The class that I did take, ended up costing us as much if not a little more because of books and having to purchase Microsoft Office updated version and college fees than the free credit cost.
I have no idea what I want to do, turned 40 on Wednesday and feel like I blew it yet again because the fall semester started two weeks ago. Not that I even had the first clue of what I would have taken.
I would love to work in a school district or college offices but even any of the administrative assistant positions they would like a 2 year degree. I applied for a clerk typist position in a school district near me and got the "while your resume was impressive...
we were looking for someone with more school experience". And so goes the "how do you get experience if you can not get hired" circle.
My resume is so short that it could fit on a cocktail napkin because of having one job (some people think its great and speaks volumes that you are so loyal, I think it looks like I can only do one thing...that I really do not want to get back into again).
So...thats my story. Thanks to anyone that stuck it out and actually read it. Sometimes you just have to vent your frustrations a bit.
.
.
). 
