Balancing Ambition and Responsibility: Considering Full-Time Education and Full-Time Work
Navigating the crossroads between career advancement and personal responsibilities can be incredibly challenging, especially when supporting a family. Currently, I find myself at such a juncture. My fiancé is pursuing her legal studies, and I am the sole provider for our household, including our child. My income has enabled her to focus entirely on her first year of law school, as balancing both work and school was unfeasible during this period.
However, I now face a personal career plateau. Advancement requires further education, yet financial obligations—including car payments, rent, utilities, and daily essentials—limit my options. I am employed as a contractor, which offers a higher-than-average pay but lacks benefits like paid time off or sick leave. A pay cut is not feasible without sacrificing our current lifestyle.
I am considering whether it’s possible to pursue full-time studies while maintaining my full-time job. My current employer offers the flexibility to work a third shift, and the college I wish to attend offers no evening classes for my chosen major. My question is: how realistic is this approach? Would managing both full-time work and full-time education be sustainable? Or might part-time studies be a more practical choice? Alternatively, should I wait until my fiancée graduates before seeking personal career growth?
Any insights or advice from those who have juggled similar responsibilities would be greatly appreciated as I weigh my options.