Nine years ago, Melani and I took classes after work at the community college. We used our "flex" time to leave early on Tuesdays and Thursdays so we could get into the 4:30PM classes. Last year, when I was in the National Guard and out in Yakima, Melani graduated from the University of Washington after taking only night and Saturday classes. I admire her so much for sticking to it.

I don't get flex time where I work now. The classes I need, for the most part, are the early afternoon sort. To finish up a two year degree, I need 50-some credits in math, science and a sprinkling of "electives." That would be ten classes at 5 credits apiece. I can manage, without flex time, to take one class per quarter if I don't want to attend class four nights a week. Four quarters a year at one class per quarter equals twenty credits per year or two and a half more years of class to reach a two year degree already twenty years in the making.

This supposes that a) they offer classes every quarter that I need and b) that I want to finish this up.

What purpose does a degree really serve? A two year degree seems like nothing. Will it "prove" to my children how worthwhile it is to get a college education? Will it make me feel better about myself? Will I receive a better or higher paying job by getting it?

This Fall quarter, I circled a class or two that interested me, but decided against going since I'm still in that "newlywed" stage. Next quarter, I really should go back if I'm going to get things done. Besides which, the honeymoon will probably be over and Rob will be anxious for me to be out of the house so he can have some peace and quiet. ;-)

Plus, if I pay for tuition this year even if it's for the following year, I will be able to use my last year of Hope education credit on my tax return.

I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, though. Lack of purpose gives me a certain wishy-washiness to this whole affair. Without a clear path to follow, is there any point in going down this road?