I'm probably going to start the Stanford Advance Project Management course in the near future. I intend to do it mostly online since the in-person modules are 3x as expensive. I should be able to get some tuition reimbursement through work, which will help. After that, I probably should start thinking about a Masters program.

I won't be done for two more years. Never too late for more education!

I need to hear this right now, because I'm kind of struggling with finishing my bachelor's.

Not that I'm struggling with the school work.

I'm struggling with trying to figure out how to make the finances work, both through the next two years finishing school, and then figuring out how to pay for a move, where I'm going to move to (with back-to-LA being the preference), and then what I'm going to do afterward.

But even looking shorter term, just trying to survive over the summer (and through the rest of school), I'm barely scraping by, and shit that happened over the last eight months has emptied my already emptied coffers, and kinda jacked me over financially at a point in time where I really didn't need that additional challenge.

Y'all are impressing me with your drive to return to school. I am all for continuing education although in my case the financial returns have pretty much topped out, so it's all on me now. I do have friends who returned to get an MSW or an MFT after finishing their doctorate, but it hasn't paid them back in earnings.

And, of course, the flip side of my dilemma is that if I don't finish this, there's NO possibility of it improving my earning potential, and this was all for worse-than-nothing.

Adding the MBA didn't increase my income, sadly. Actually, the BS didn't add to my income in the sense that my current job doesn't require one. But I still think getting those were good decisions.

Do ask about tuition assistance at work, Suzi. What mine will cover varies with what kind of program one enters, but if I take individual classes that are work-related I get 100% reimbursement, so that is working out pretty well for me at the moment.

Sorry to hear you are having a hard time financially, Sean.

I have every faith that you will finish, Sean. I'm sorry that it is so hard financially.

You guys! I might actually be signing a lease on an actual building for my business. Maybe as soon as later today. I've been looking since last November and it's been crazy but it looks like finally things have come together and it's really going to happen.

This is really wild! I'll definitely have to come down to check out the new digs, once you're in.

Sean, you can do it. As I learned working through my bachelors as an adult, it is one step at a time, one class, one assignment, etc. Hang in there.

Suzi, I'd look at options that are not going to put you in more debt unless you are looking at a career change that might increase earnings.

Yeah, my Masters immediately got me a $20K raise, so I'm on track to finish paying it off in 10 years, but the loan payments have been kind of a bitch.

This has been in my thoughts as I don't have the savings to cover, so I will need financial aid. My work will cover $3k/year, which helps. That still would leave a good chunk in loans once I graduate. I have compared tuition and CSU is reasonable compared to many other programs.

I talked with one of my PM's today. I have worked with her for over 20 years and she has been a great mentor when I have needed one. She recommended I push for a mid-year raise this year for a variety of my job/company specific reasons. And then we talked about potential career paths within the company, if I choose to stay. She gave me some great ideas and is happy to make introductions to a few people who might have more ideas.

I'm still leaning toward a Master's in Project Management and the program I'm looking at includes a variety of Specializations, from Applied Business Management to Strategic Innovation and Change Management, with lots of different one in between.

I ated and am now sleepy.

The reaction time of the ppl in my office is so much slower than mine, or at least their demonstrated reaction time. They answer the phone on the 3rd or 4th ring, there is a pause between questions and answers where I ask or am about to ask "did you hear that " almost every time. Our outside door is locked and there is no intercom so ppl knock, I am in an interior office and am often half way to the door before the ppl near the door get up.

I think that's a Texas thing, msbelle. Or a Southern thing. I might feel like a lazy lump but I'm The Flash compared to most Southerners.