I Want to Be Happy the stress from fierce competition in high school lasts even up to now at...

A lot hinges on exams, yes. And in big national exams, the stakes are much higher. I think I would still have chosen the course of my study the way I did. What I regret more is that although I like the humanities subjects more than the sciences, I never had very good grounding in it. And I never did pursue Science subjects later on. I hope you find your peace.

greenmountaingal · 70-79, F

As far as going back to school to get the degree you missed getting...just do it! Soon! You are worried that you will be forty when you finish....But, look at it this way, if you don't go back and get your new degree, YOU WILL BE FORTY ANYWAY! So...the question really I'd, do you want to be forty years old with or without a new college degree?

Sssslm · F

after looking for information and thinking over the weekend, i realized what i regretted when i was younger no longer matters much to me. 6 yrs re-studying repeating life of 20s is not what i want now. at this point of my life i should live or even know enough to teach rather than going back to the stage of preparing to live.

i didn't do everything well at work today, and so do every day. but i want to give credits to myself for some of the tasks i do well among all the tasks done. looking at life as addition of good things happen makes it eaiser and happier than subtraction from perfection.

greenmountaingal · 70-79, F

One more comment: People do best at things they love and work they're suited for. It's not all about money. So don't get any degree just for the money. Find a profession that's right for you, something you enjoy and are good at, then learn to live on whatever income that profession normally earns.

Sssslm · F

it s not easy to be sure which profession u are good at. even in the same profession it requires different skills and there are different roles. for example, i used to think i could be doing good design, but there are always people doing much better so i am not sure if this is what i am good at. besides, i ended up working in companies that dont require or appreciate quality of works, where people were arguing all day on phones and emails and looking for suitable wordings to avoid traps from other parties, unnecessary responsibility and blames to be caught later. i changed to another office, writing emails and making phone calls of this kind, learning to protect myself and my office. these skills seem to be more important and treasured. probably the same for other profession.

greenmountaingal · 70-79, F

Your situation sounds difficult. But don't give up. Just keep brainstorming until you can think of something. Even if you can't turn the situation around completely, do whatever you can think of to improve the situation. There's got to be some way to make things better, even if not perfect!

Cierzo · M

It is a hard situation. Getting that degree will take you a lot of time and money, and it looks like you don't have neither one or the other to spare now.
Have you thought of setting a longer lapse of time to get it, like ten years or so? That way probably the yearly cost will be less. You will be older when you get it, yes, but your personal goal will be achieved.

Sssslm · F

@greenmountaingal, i already borrowed money from my cousin to study a master degree and just finished paying back the loan last year. probably not borrowing from her again since now she has 3 kids to raise, and the rest of my family are poor.

Sssslm · F

if i study the new degree i will need to study 6 years full time, my income will be greatly reduced, even to null. my major concern is money. my mother and brother depends on my full financial support for life.

greenmountaingal · 70-79, F

That is tough. If they're dependent on you, you'll have to find some other way. Loans? Scholarships? Maybe a relative could help? What about taking some shorter course of study that might improve your situation?

Sssslm · F

@ greenmountaingirl, thankyou for your advice. 40 with or without a new degree is good for consideration.