A Bump in the road...

On any road or path of a journey, you have to expect and be prepared for a bump or something that may delay or throw you off course. You certainly don't expect them so early on in your journey, but yes friends, I have come to that bump! My fiance Dane and I have been together for almost 3 years and are hoping to be married next year in September. We do everything together and he is my biggest source of support and encouragement!

So imagine my surprise when he sat me down a week ago and expressed his hesitation at my plans for this fall. He outlined his concerns and asked that I would give them serious consideration, but that ultimately he would support whatever I chose to do.

I agreed to consider and research all his points, because several of them are quite valid.

• Quality of my chosen program (school of choice!)
• Cost and future debt of program (student loans!)
• Successful completion of program (will it be something I wholeheatedly want to see to the end)
• Success upon completion of program (career! career! career!) 

We both are aware of how tough the job market is and incurring more debt right now, that won't pay off in the end is something we are both definitely concerned about. I disagree with him that it won't pay off. We both know that every job I look at that I am interested in, requires usually at the very least an associate degree, but more often than not, a bachelors. He just recently completed his bachelors degree himself, so he knows!

I am not taking on this task lightly. I am so very motivated, but I need him to be on board. We are planning to share our lives together for the rest of them, and I know that finances are often the breaking point of even the strongest of marriage. So I have to be sure!

So right now, I am reaching out and researching to help solidify my choice. I am quite apprehensive now that he has laid some things out on the table for me. I was full steam ahead with a bit of reckless abandon because I was just so excited (I've had a tough couple of years family and health wise and so finally feeling ready to GO was so invigorating to me, and now I'm a bit saddened by this roadblock)

I've outlined some of my biggest questions and if you could take a moment to answer them, if you are reading my blog, I would so appreciate it! I am reaching out to whoever, like a madwoman! I just want to do this right!!!

• Did you complete a program of study and receive a degree?
• Was it at a traditional college or unviersity or did you attend a trade school or online school?
• Have you been able to find work in your field upon graduation? If so, how long did it take? If not, how long have you been looking? what has your experience been?
• Was your program of study worth the incurred debt? Would you do it again?

Specifially for social work and criminal justice students/graduates:

• Would you recommened this program? If so where did you go to school?
• Have you been able to find work easily? Are you doing what you set out to do?
• What tips do you have at finding your career in this field? is it more WHO you know than what you know? 
• Do you have any networking tips? 

The LAST thing anyone wants is to set forth in school with a goal, reach that goal and then come to the end and not find the pot of gold.

I think some of Dane's apprehension and hesitance comes from the fact that the two biggest and most promising leads he had for his desired field fell through and he has been a graduate for several months now and has yet to land his dream career.

I'm definitely NOT stopping my journey. I am ready for all these bumps and detours and forks in the road. I have my GPS and my roadmap, but there is nothing like going the path with someone else who has been down it before! They tend to be better guides! We all know  how the GPS can run you in circles or take you the long way for no reason sometimes! LOL.

Please share your experience and/or answers to my questions in my comments box! I encourage and look forward to networking with you!!