Between my brother-in-law moving into his dorm and being away from work all of last week while in Florida, I realize I’m not exactly where I’d like to be in my life.
Let me back up for a minute.
I started working when I was sixteen, and I’ve been working since. It’s my number one priority in life, and I don’t want it to be. Not right now, at least. My future career is important to me, but a job? Well, it’s just a job. It pays my bills, which is nice, but does it really produce happiness? Not so much. I’ve been putting school on the backburner for far too long now. Yes, I’m going full time–I’m actually taking thirteen hours this semester–but all of my classes are online, and I really do miss actually GOING to school and learning in a classroom. With my schedule now, I really don’t have that option unless I want to take night classes that last for hours, therefore compromising my at-home time.
I feel like I’ve grown up too quickly. I know, I know. I got married young, but I honestly don’t even connect the fact that I’m married to any of the stress in my life. In fact, being with my husband has helped to reduce the stress in my life because I always know that I have someone going through all of this “growing up” with me.
I’m only twenty-one (well, I will be twenty-two in December), and Husband is only twenty-three (twenty-four in December). We’re so young, but I feel so rushy-rushy when it comes to my life. I want to have everything here and now. I want to finish school, buy/build a house, settle down, have a baby or two. BUT I’M ONLY TWENTY-ONE. I seriously have to give myself time-outs to remember that fact.
So, Husband and I have been talking. We’d really like to put a main focus on school right now and enjoy it because we never had the “college experience,” even though we’ve been in-and-out of college for years (three years for me and five years for him). We’re going to have to transfer to a university soon–there’s only so much a community college can offer–so we’ll have to move. This move may take place sooner than we had originally planned because we are so ready to move forward. Yes, this means we’ll be moving out of our rent-free house, so we’ll have to start paying rent again. Yes, I’m hoping to go down to just part-time work so that I can focus my energy on school and my LIFE. Yes, this means we won’t get to go out to eat as often and we’ll have to start budgeting. You know what, though? I’m learning to be okay with that. I’ve been getting a nice paycheck for so long that I’ve let money take over my life. I forgot about how we paid an enormous rent payment every month a couple years ago when we were barely making ANY money, and we seemed fine then.
I’m just ready to not let work take over my life for a little while. I want to focus on school and learning to sew and hiking with my husband on nice days like today (instead of feeling trapped in a cubicle).
I’m not sure when all of this will happen. We’re just in the beginning stages of planning/thinking about what to do next (which is why this post is mostly jumbled thoughts).
I’m a little bit excited, though, and I’m ready for a dash of adventure added to my life.
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I have been lucky enough to make my main focus school as I work part-time. I live with my mom so she pays most of the bills. Our biggest concern right now is getting me through school and even though it’s taking me longer than I would like, it’s the perfect scenario for me. I couldn’t imagine working full-time and trying to go to school full-time. It keeps me centered where I can still have free time and a life, but also gives me challenge.
I hope you guys figure it all out. I think it can be done, but it just means paring down your budget, finding what you can cut out, and hopefully finding a good job that gives you flexible hours to work with your school! (My job is AWESOME at being flexible with my school hours.)
That’s REALLY exciting! I think if you’re both in the right frame of mind and really prepared to budget & make it happen, it could be one of the best things that could happen to you both. I can’t wait to see how it goes for you!
I’m so glad that you guys are shuffling things so you can have some more fun!
That’s what we’ve been doing for me, I’ve been working full time in office job since I started university and I’m just done for now. My next job is going to be my version of summer camp, somewhere beautiful that really works with the rest of my life
Ditto to what Kyla said: so glad you guys are shuffling things to have more fun. Because university is FUN!
I am A LOT more “settled down” then most of my friends. Living with Eric, looking into buying a house etc. But I’m SO glad I had the university experience before doing all those things!
School is fun and you guys are young so I definitely think you should pursue it
Even though I’ve been going to school for a while and most semesters I’ve been full time I’ve also been working, as did my husband (me more than him tho) because we got married young and had bills to pay. I know what you’re going through. That’s why this semester is so different for me. I’m not working for the first time since I was 15. I’m concentrating on school and nothing but. It’s weird but it’s good. Where do you think you’ll move?
Move to Lexington and go to UK! This is the perfect town for you two!
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