18 More Credit Hours to Go!

With Astronomy finally over I'm looking forward to the fall semester. Once the fall semester is completed, I have only 18 more credit hours to go to finally finish my associates degree. That's five or six classes, depending on what I take. Part of me feels like a loser because it has taken me this long to get a two-year degree. The other part of me says: "Who cares if I have a degree or not? That proves nothing as far as my ability and knowledge base." I know plenty of people with their bachelor's degree who can't find their way out of a paper bag and some with no degree at all that are very successful and accomplished. It's this side of me that has kept me from finishing my degree before now. I just don't think it means very much. Unfortunately, all the recruiters and hiring managers I've met, save two, think that it does matter.

In addition to all this, I have to stay at my job for 15 months after I've completed a class or I have to pay back the tuition. Now I know that I said in a prior post that I've all but given up on being a stay-at-home-mom in the future, but come on, when have you ever known me to give up that easy? And if I were able to quit in time to homeschool Hannah beginning with Kindergarten, that only gives me 3 more years. Subtract 15 months and I'm left with a little under 2 years. Next figure that I most definitely will not be taking any classes during this coming spring semester as I will be having a baby a month after classes start, and the following summer semester is out because the baby will only be 3Â? months old. That leaves me with only 9 months, or 2 semesters - not enough time to squeeze in all 18 credits. Then again, I could get all but the last two classes paid for by following this schedule.

This is my question: should I be this concerned about school at this point in my life? In the plus column I could list: sense of accomplishment, a long-term goal realized, helpful should I return to the job market, helpful if I remain in the job market, a good example for mychildrenn of what can be accomplished with determination. In the minus column I might find: precious little time for family, neglect of household chores, no time for hobbies, many parenting duties pushed off on husband. I just don't know what to think. I'm also aware that all this focus on completing my degree requires much time for a largely world-oriented goal and leaves less time for biblically-oriented goals. From a purely biblical perspective why should one waste time on things that will not matter in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 6:18-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Would anyone like to offer their advice?