Reply #31: My boyfriend is going through something similar [View All]

I dropped out of high school. I tried going back to college when I was in my mid-20's but I was in a precarious marriage with small children and had to drop out of that. It does feel like a failure and it does weigh on your mind. You know you have the capability - life has just gotten in the way of doing it.

So now, at 46, I'm going to a community college to get a Paralegal degree. It satisfies two things for me - it will enable me to get a better, more secure job that fits my skills and it allows me to complete something I've wanted to complete since I was 17 and had to leave high school to go to work.

Now my boyfriend is a little moody because he has sort of a similar situation - he's a carpenter and taking the classes for his journeyman card made him realize how much he enjoys learning. It's not really practical or necessary for him to go to school but I encourage him to take some classes just to keep the brain active and feel like he's accomplishing something.

He's totally supportive of me and it's not that he resents my accomplishment - on the contrary, he's so proud of me and he brags to all his friends which is so sweet. He makes dinner on my late nights after he's worked all day and he sets up the table so I can do my homework and tries to be quiet when I'm studying. It's very sweet.

I think you should try to pursue that degree. If you could possibly take just a couple of classes at a time until Mr. LIW is done with his Master's, try to do that. If you have to wait, start making plans. Do it for you, to fulfill your needs.

And Happy Birthday and congrats to Mr. LIW - and to you, too. I know how much it means to have a supportive partner when you're trying to get through school. :hug: