Mama's With Absolutely No College Education

[springmama]

I was wondering if anyone wanted to share their feelings about not having any college whatsoever. I have been feeling really down on myself about this lately. It seems like almost everyone I meet lately (and no offense, but even women who planned on or plan on never working but being a full time SAHM, and I honestly think that is fine) have a college degree.

I am feeling so bad about myself. I don't have time to post right now because dd is needing me. Anybody else have the same feelings? I didn't go to college because I was working full time in high school and really needed to move out of my bad home situation. I had to work full time to support myself and didn't feel like I could juggle work and school. I guess now that I can see how unambitious I was. Now I've got a family with 2 small kids, a job and no money at all.

[Freedom~Mama]

I just wanted to give you a . I am only now going back to school and my kids are 3 and 5 and I have a long way to go to get my degree. I admire you a lot for all the hard work you have done to get yourself in a better position and away from a bad family life. If going to school is something you desire you could always do that. Not having a degree does not make anyone less of a person though or below someone that does have a degree. I don't think having a degree has anything to do with it...it is who you are as a person. Anyway don't be hard on yourself. Life sometimes throws us curveballs and we just survive the best that we can.

[laurendecorrea]

Just wanted to second what the pp said. Our society places WAY TOO MUCH emphasis on conforming to the one "right" way to be. Life is about so many beautiful things that don't have to do with conforming to ideals that supposedly define you as a person. All of the answers are right there inside you.

If you want to go to school, is it a possibility, even a remote one? If you're feeling like you "should" just because other people do, that's one thing, but if you really and truly want to go, is there any way to make it happen? I know how many obstacles can get in the way!

Think about how much you know about life because of your experience in high school. You must have so much more strength than individuals whose path was laid out before them.

[Drummer's Wife]

Do you want to go to college? Or are you content w/o a degree? I just ask b/c if it's something you do desire, you can find a way to go. I take online classes, currently, but will go full-time, on-campus in the fall when my youngest starts preschool.

I didn't enroll in college righ after high school like everyone else in my family (siblings have a MBA, BA, and my parents have two masters and a doctorate) so it wasn't like I came from a family where college wasn't the norm - I just chose a different route. I got a job, took a two year training course in Montessori (Masters level, but not for me without a bachelors) while working... and started having babies at age 21 (I have four now, and have been a SAHM for almost a decade). I took a few college classes around the time my 2nd was born, but got overwhelmed with it. Now, I hope to finally get a degree within the next few years. For me, it's just time - but previously I was content w/o a college education. It wasn't necessary, IMO, b/c I was happily raising my babies, and not working.

Everyone's different. If you are okay with life as it is now, I wouldn't stress about not having a degree. If you want to go to school, find a way to - even 1-2 classes at a time. My DH doesn't have a degree, but he is content at the moment, and worked hard (with a bit of luck thrown in there) to have a great job despite not going to college.

Best of luck figuring it all out.

[KristaDJ]

I have no college education at all and I feel great about it
I used feel bad when I was a single mom and people always asked me "what are you going to do?" when I was working in the home and caring for my child, I knew that they meant, "when are you going to go to college?" Oddly, I have not heard that comment once since I got married .
I think too much emphasis is placed on "education" and "income" in America (where I am) and frankly I'm happy with having enough for us and enough to help others and being able to spend my time with my children.
I would never take myself from my kids to go back to school now, my kids are my life and there is nothing more that I want. If you happen to go to college and get an "education" before you start a family that's great and could help you tremendously but if you want a family sooner or it just ends up happening that way you are not worth less than those who go the other route. Personally I live right next to a college town and I am less than impressed with the product of those expensive "educations" and the behavior of the "students" during their schooling. I think real life is the best teacher there is and that is evidenced by the college students I see all of the time who are unable to safely cross the street, do laundry, grocery shop alone, manage a four way stop or have any manners at all. I am not by any means saying that all college students are that way, not at ALL, but around here the majority are and that speaks volumes to me about how this country's social expectations are all screwed up.
I think not going to college is a very valid choice and not something that one should be ashamed of. I homeschool because I dislike the very idea of formal "education" and so do many others. Not everyone learns well in a controlled, structured, environment where you have to do the same things as everyone else and for those of us like that, the sooner we get away from that the better. You can't learn everything you need to know inside a box and IME not going to college gives you an early start on real life which is where you will learn the most valuable things you'll ever know.
It is hard to feel judged as not good enough.

[CookiePie]

I have no college education either. I had my first baby right out of high school. I have considered it on & off over the years, but I'm now content without it. I was able to raise my kids the way I intended & I have no student loan debt as many of my friends do. I'm now working outside the home part time & I making full time money. I figure if I ever do decide that there is something that I want to do that requires me to go to school I'll go, but now it doesn't fit in for me.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

No college ed, and Im totally fine with it. I have a very good job, which I continue to excel at. It pays well, my kinds are well provided for, and if I absoluytly had to, i could support them on my own.

Everyone else I know or is friends with has a college education. Except my husband. I don't care. I don't feel like any less of a person without one.

[josie423]

No college education here and I feel just fine about it!

Like a pp said, way too much emphasis is placed on college. You don't have to go! You don't have to conform.