I'm not sure about my life right now.

I'm having problems deciding, and I'm honestly leaning one way or the other right now, but because of my complicated family situation, my personal financial problems, and my own incompetence in some areas, I will be asking for advice from someone who might have gone through a similar endeavor.

So I currently am working part time 10 hours per week on a dominos pizza deals-flier delivery route, and I am also about to start working 16 hours per week as a waver for a tax company, to advertise for tax season. both are minimum wage jobs, but here is my dilemma: I also want to return to college as soon as possible to get my associates degree, but I cannot receive financial aid for at least my first term due to my prior mistakes with the federal aid system in college.

I also know that if I start the second job for tax season, it will delay my completion of my first college term and regaining the ability to receive financial aid by at least 6 months minimal, perhaps longer because I don't take summer classes normally.

But if I save up what little money I have left over from each paycheck at my current job until spring term, I will only have enough for 1 term and nothing else. In fact, I might not even have enough to pay for 1 term of college, and I might be in debt until the end of the term.

So that is why I wanted to start the second job, in order to be careful and plan ahead.

But then there is a third dilemma - I entered college at age 18, and now, at age 20, I have earned 0 credits and do not have a GPA at any institution, Community Colleges included, even though I have gone to college every term, with the exception of summer terms, since fall of 2010.

I keep dropping my classes before I will be forced to pay for tuition because I'm not doing too well with working and schooling at the same time, and so when I begin schooling again I will have to quit work for until I get out of college, in order to ensure I can fully focus on my studies and not go insane from having lost every moment of peaceful time to myself.

Which is basically what happened, seven times in a row now. I have failed to complete a single college term with only 6 credit hours per week seven times in a row, and yes I'm sure a lot of you think that's pathetic, but if you were in my shoes with my daily life and having a job also you would see that it's very difficult if not impossible to remain sane with everything stacked together.

So back to my base question, what does someone who has experienced a similar situation in their life have as far as advice goes for me?

If you're been in college two years and haven't passed a single class, then it's either time to re-examine your study methods (MAJORLY) or look into vocational/trade school.
Or heck, a job that doesn't require a degree.

Well I know most of that is typical and reasonable, but I can't accept that kind of life. I suppose examining study methods would be the only feasible option suggested, but you also did not seem to consider the other major factors which interfered with my ability to study and perform to my fullest.

You see, I aced all my mandatory entrance exams when I started community college and ended up with the top-100 ranking students (#67 out of over 300,000) at Clackamas.

However, with my family situation as precarious as it was, and my relationships with my friends on shaky ground, I felt pretty isolated. My talents were being wasted, because I felt that even if I managed to succeed I would have no connections to draw from afterward.

Also, I was kicked out of my parents' home on thanksgiving day after I had a large-scale argument with my father about his temper toward my brother and stepmother which led to him chasing me out of the house, gun-in-hand. Of course, I don't regret it at all because my father is an ill-tempered bastard who uses his illnesses as an excuse to make the rest of his family miserable.

My brother was the other problem - he and I mainly began getting along better because we practiced martial arts together. We were practitioners in the same ninjutsu class, and he was getting ready to take the tests to become and instructor himself.

Of course, things went downhill fast after a situation in which I had no part in at first drew my attention - and like the nosy bastard I was, I jumped in and tried to play the peacekeeper. Of course, I only ended up hurting both sides even more, while being a false ally. I felt really guilty so I eventually revealed the truth to both sides of the giant mess of a conflict.

My brother of course, lost his respect for me, and my girlfriend, who had been my friend for over 9 years, and who I had been dating for 7 years, suddenly dumped me. Probably also my fault. So I became really depressed and I failed my first term of college without a hitch. I dropped all my classes even though so far I had perfect scores and everything was far ahead of what it needed to be, because I hated my life then.

After that, I felt the vengeance of federal financial aid rejecting my request for aid for winter term, and so I made the determination to clean up my life with my own two hands and pay for at least one successful term of college myself since I could no longer receive aid.

Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall Term 2011, all the same - I failed to raise the money necessary to pay my tuition before my payments would have been locked in, so I was forced to drop the classes to avoid debt, even though I had been doing extremely well in the classes, despite also working part-time.

Basically, I am not asking for simple advice, and while I appreciate that you tried to give me some, I would request that if you yourself have nothing that can help me in particular, to find someone who does, or please keep it to yourself. I thank you sincerely for giving advice, though, but it's not the specific advice I needed.

Thank you.

Sincerely,


James

Ah. Well that is complex then, when money issues roll in.

It's one thing to attend college and fail, it seems here that you actually weren't even able to afford to stay IN the classes. That sucks...

My bad. I don't have much advice in that case... but perhaps enroll in only one class at a time to save money? If that is possible to the school you are attending.

I wish it were the case, but unfortunately the absolute minimal credit hours necessary to regain financial aid is 6, and the largest number of credits 1 class there gives is 4. That aside, even at a single course per term, I could not afford to do it on my own budget for more than a couple of terms no matter how long I save up, because of the other expenses required, tuition aside.

I need financial aid.

That being said, I do thank you for your valuable time and effort to attempt to help me. I was surprised anyone was even paying attention to this section tonight.

Any way for you to take out loans? From banks or private lenders? Or is the amount of money that you would need to ask for more than what they're willing to give you?

There is no advice for you. Nothing I say will make you magically do better and take life seriously. Only you can do that and so far you have no willpower.

Basically what you just said: My life is shit and it's all my fault. Is there an easier way to do this?

Lazy. The only way to change your life around is for you to man up and do it yourself. No one is going to hold your hand and walk you through life anymore.

I agree. I was a single mother for 6 years and had to work long hours to keep my kid warm and fed and I still managed do classes and exams.

If money is a problem, well, then go work for a few years and safe up a bigger pile of money and THEN go study. According to your supposedly acing at entrance exams you shouldn't lack the intelligence. It just seems like you lack a great amount of determination and willpower.

But hey, I get it, the great big victim role is so cozy and comfortable to stay in.

Edit: BTW maybe you should spend LESS time on typing elaborate posts on forums and more time studying and working.

I thank you kindly for your time and suggestions, but I do not acknowledge elaborate posts on forums as such a waste of time. I type this way no matter whom I might speak to, so I hope you do not misunderstand my intentions by the way that I prefer to type.

It is simply my preferable manner of speaking, and I do not plan to make any alterations to it within the near future.

I appreciate your valuable time and your suggestions of what I might do, and I wish you all a wonderful year of 2012.

Sincerely,


James

Talking about your worries with strangers is a good way to relieve stress.

My advice to you, is to get your financial matters in line and put college on the shelf for the next year or so. Stop messing with part time jobs, and look to jobs that will offer you more hours and opportunity for more money. The job at the tax company will end on, or before, April 15th and the pizza job doesn't sound much better. Many good companies offer things like scholarships for promising employees that could help future educational development. Right now, you are just throwing the money you have spent on two years of college down the drain by not finishing the courses. Once you get yourself in a more stable situation monetarily, then go for that degree (whatever it may be). The sad truth is that a degree will not guarantee a better job, especially in this economy. Besides, an associate degree will not open the doors that a higher degree will.

I don't want to discourage you, but the truth is that you need to take a hard look at exactly what you want, and decide exactly what you need to do to get it. I would suggest avoiding the student loan avenue, as they are practically impossible to pay off and you can't even escape them by filing bankruptcy. Another possible solution could be a stint in the military, if you are so inclined, as they would help you put your life in order and also give you enough money to achieve almost any reasonable educational goal.

There are no easy solutions in life, and I think you're in for some tough soul-searching, but this is not the right time to be taking chances with your money in the hope that college will make it all better. My mother waited until she was 45 years old before going back to school and graduated valedictorian. She never got a high paying job afterward, but she did become a writer and a respected actor in community theater. I got my bachelors degree, while working 32-40 hours/week at a dept. store and I still work in a store to this day. College will always be there, when you are ready to tackle it, but you have to have the discipline to do the work and earn it. I'm sorry if this seems like I'm putting you down, but the world is a hard place and rather unforgiving at times. Good luck.