I am a single mom. I work full time and go to school part time. I am persuing a teaching degree, but by going part time it will take me 10 years to fully reach my goal. I love kids and would love to live my dream, but in this day and age things do not come cheap. In addition to high education costs, a teacher's salary is nothing to be desired. do I continue to work towards my teaching degree, or should i change my major and graduate earlier with something that pays more so I can better take care of my son? In the end teaching will make me happier, but my son needs the "now"...
2007-01-17 06:35:32 · 11 answers · asked by yeah 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
I am also a single mom, and a teacher (at 23 years old)... if teaching is what you love I'd stick with it... Especially when you can spend three months in the summer with your kid, pay all your bills and not find a second job! What you can do to get where you want quicker is get a degree in an area you'd want to teach or would look good on resume, take all of the state's exams for the area of licensure you want and then check into your state's options for alternative licensure. For example, where I am from, you can get a degree in anything, and join a two year program to get alternate licensure (the bonus being that you can work as a teacher (if you passed the tests) with the salary of one until you complete the program). Or it can be called non-traditional licensure.
2007-01-17 08:38:42 · answer #1 · answered by lamaestra 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Getting an education is very important and it is one of the ultimate keys in "money and happeness". Without a good education you will not make a good paying salary. Look at it like this, if you were not going to school right now and you were working the same job that you are at now you know that you can provide for you and your son. However, if you go to school and graduate in a field that you know you will excell finanially you would have gained something. You are settleing now and just getting by. Teachers don't get paid alot true, but who says "You" can't. Why not get the Teachers degree, open a daycare/school (newborn-K) and have best of both worlds- teach and get well paid. In order to have a credited daycare/school, you have to hold a degree. You can teach, deal with kids, be happy, and make a difference while getting paid. Daycares now days charge anywhere from 100-175 dollars a week, Plus before and after school charges,etc. At the same time you are getting the older children ready for 1st grade and charging "tuition". So you can be a single mother, live you dream, be finanially set and happy at the same time. While you are in school you will have some business classes to help you with the business part of the daycare/school.
2007-01-17 06:59:09 · answer #2 · answered by Lovely Finch 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What about becoming a teaching assistant? I don't know the requirements, but I would imagine it would be less school than a full on education degree. It could at least give you part of your dream while still being able to take care of your son. Another option could be finding a job that will reimburse you for your schooling, like banks do if you go into accounting. I know my school district pays for so many credit hours for their employees at the local college.
2007-01-17 06:43:46 · answer #3 · answered by wondering about 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would recommend that as a single Mom you are at the top of the list of people who receive grants and Perkins loans. Start going to school full time and working part time. The grants are free and Perkins are paid off for teachers if they work in a specific area of town etc.
I went to teacher's college and even as a starting teacher I made enough money to support myself, my son, and my husband who was going to college at the time. If you really love teaching then get serious and graduate. The perks for teaching go beyond the salary! Teaching also provides your son with what he needs most--his mother! The fact is that even though those first few years are tough I usually had weekends off and had lots of time to spend with him on his vacations especially since I worked in the same school district where he went to school.
If after you get that teaching degree and start to teach you decide you don't like it it is a fantastic degree to have since it is a great jumping off point for a lot of other careers in management etc.
2007-01-17 06:47:08 · answer #4 · answered by psycho-cook 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on where you're from - WV has the next to lowest or third to lowest teacher salary in the nation. Until some IDIOT realizes that all teachers should make the same amount (based on years taught, degree, etc.), you'll have to shop around to find out which state will pay you the most. My advice, though, is to find someone to babysit (it's tax deductible, ya know) and get to school to earn the degree you want. If you feel that your life isn't really on the track you want and you aren't fulfilled from a career standpoint, then do something about it!
2007-01-17 06:42:50 · answer #5 · answered by teacherhelper 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you really want to spend the most time with your son, now, then you should purse an MRS degree. You know, Mrs., as in married. In a few months you could find the right, rich guy that wants nothing more than to take care of a woman that will take care of him, and you have all the money and time for your kid you need.
2007-01-17 06:40:57 · answer #6 · answered by non_apologetic_american 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was in a similar situation. The career that I wanted would take many many years to reach. In the meantime, I needed to move out of my parents home and start making money. What I did was temporarily change my career choice in order to make some money. I now have a good paying job, a nice car and home and are in the process of going back to school for my dream career. It's never to late to pick up where you left off or to explore new careers!
2007-01-17 06:43:01 · answer #7 · answered by carmenshannon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well coming from someone whose parents have been in debt for most of his life and has lived without money, i say that you go for the degree. Yeah as you say you want to make more money but what do you want to do? My parents provided for me and they were on a LOW income and i still survived. My dad pursued his career and is now making more money than ever so he can provide for us better now!! SO take my advice, go back to school, get your degree and be happy!!!
2007-01-17 06:42:19 · answer #8 · answered by sparrowbird06 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two options
a) Pursue your dream now, be happy now, may be able take better care of your tomorrow.
b)Forget ur dream or postpone fulfillment of your dream, son is happy now, may/may not be able to take better care of son tomorow.
Whichever one you take is okay as long you have thought out both positions and have arrived at the final decision by yourself. Assume you have ten points to share between the two options, weigh and crically analyse both options and give marks to the two, total should not exceed ten. Pick option you have awarded higher marks.
2007-01-17 06:47:53 · answer #9 · answered by ckd 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In existence i imagine that happiness and love are somewhat more effective major yet funds can purchase happiness and faculty can get you a more effective perfect "boy" than lack of know-how so the reality is existence is meant to be properly balanced thats why the wealthy are unhappy and the large satisfied are undesirable you should have stability
2016-10-15 09:06:27 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋