Is it worth it?
I feel embarrassed sharing this,
but I’d really appreciate any advice. Please no judgment.
I had a very different upbringing in the foster care system + group homes. I’m 33 and never finished high school but I’ve worked hard, changed careers, and built my way up to a $100K salary as an executive assistant. I know I don’t want to do this forever though so I’m currently getting my GED.
My biggest question is: How do you know when going back to school is worth it? Obviously I know getting my ged it self is worth it but college a degree?
I’m not sure what I want to study. I have a background in marketing but it was years ago and the field feels very competitive and saturated now. The salaries also seem much lower than what I make. As a head of household I can’t afford a major pay cut.
My fear is working full time while going to school for years, only to graduate with a bachelor’s in business or marketing and find that I have to start over at a much lower salary. What do entry level salaries realistically look like? Are there degrees or career fields where you can realistically start around $100K?
I know that may be wishful thinking but going back to school would be a huge sacrifice so I want to make sure it’s actually worth it.
For context I’m interested in entrepreneurship, marketing, sponsorships, and health and fitness. I love training clients but I realize that may not offer the career path or income I need. I was also a preschool teacher’s assistant and loved working with young children but seeing how much teachers struggled financially made me rule out education.
I’d appreciate advice esp from anyone who went back to school later in life while needing to maintain their income as a parent.