That's right! A BIG, HUGE, MASSIVE secret! :)
And it has NOTHING to do with my blog by the way.
It's totally and completely personal...although my blog could have some positive impact from it.
Yep...I will officially be unemployed as of March 1st.
There isn't enough work coming into the company to keep me busy and they can't justify the expense of two admins any longer....so I was offered part time or leaving. I chose to be laid off.
This is not the good news of course. The good news is:
Starting in the fall....I am going to be a.......FULL TIME STUDENT!!!! :)
Yes, me...an almost 37 year old single mom, is going to finally finish college!
How can I afford to quit working and go to school, you ask.
Well, thanks to Mr. Dave Ramsey and his motivating books, by March my only debt is a very small mortgage payment!! So, we can survive on unemployment until something else comes along that will fit into the school schedule.
But the second part of this is thanks to my baby brother (and my service in the military)!!
At Christmas, while home visiting with family, my brother and I were talking. As I've told you before, my brother is on active duty in the Navy. We got to talking about education and he was shocked when I said I didn't know anything about the Post 9/11 GI Bill!!
I told him, once you are out of the military, they don't exactly keep you on their memo list! :)
Essentially, because I was still active duty in the Navy during and after 9/11, I qualify for a 4 year education package at a state university and they will pay for it, plus a book/supply fee, and a small monthly allowance while I'm in school (which, because of my lack of debt, we can survive on)!!!
I mean....how exciting!!! Who gets to do this people?? Not very many people would ever find themselves in a position to quit working and go to college full time in their mid-thirties....much less in a single income home! :)
My major you ask.....INTERIOR DESIGN!!
Maybe not the most lucrative degree in the world, but it's what I've ALWAYS wanted to do. And probably one of my biggest regrets, that I let fear keep me from pursuing it 18 years ago. So, I'm going for it!!
Even if I never use the thing in my real life...I can say I did it!!! :)
If you know anyone that was serving post 9/11, and may not be aware of this wonderful opportunity, have them check out this government site for more information.
This GI bill is also transferrable to your child, unlike previous GI bills (although I can't profess to know all the detais on that).
This GI bill is also transferrable to your child, unlike previous GI bills (although I can't profess to know all the detais on that).
Oh wow!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all: huge congrats on getting out from under the debt monster. I'm beating mine back like a mofo right now, so hearing someone has banished it is totally awesome!
and YAAAAY on following your dreams! That is so completely and totally incredible.
Frickin' marvelous!
ReplyDeleteYou let me in on the job thing, but I didn't realize that you were going back for Interior Design! You will rock it.
I am so excited for you what a great opportunity to follow something that you love. I am sure that it will all be a great success. (-:
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on getting the opportunity to follow your dreams!! That's wonderful news for you - and a shining example for your daugther to ALWAYS follow your dreams...no matter how long it may take you to get there.
ReplyDelete:-)
Erin! That is so awesome! I'm jealous beyond green, and so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! I am so happy for you!
ReplyDeletethat is fantastic, absolutely fantastic, that you not only get to do what you've always wanted to do, but that it is with this amazing assistance from your navy service. i envy you! i have always said that if i get laid off, i will go back to school for my masters full time. my agency, a small nonprofit, does not need this position to exist. there are a few positions that are state mandated, but this isn't one so it's a possibility for me with budget cuts, etc.
ReplyDeleteyou are really showing doodle something great, here!
Sounds like a wonderful opportunity. You'll never regret finishing your schooling. Interior Design sounds fun, but it will be hard work too. Hope all goes as planned.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, Erin! I think it's great you're going back to school, getting the degree in something you really really love, and you're setting a really awesome example for your little doodle. :) Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an awesome plan! Go you!
ReplyDeleteThat's incredible! Good luck and thank you for your service. -K
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Erin! I just started going back to school, too. It's been hard but it'll be worth it when I'm done :)
ReplyDeleteWhen one door closes, another one opens. I think it is awesome that you are going back to school AND following your dreams. What an awesome role model for your daughter to look up to! Congrats!!
ReplyDeleteErin, I wish you all the best as you move forward with your studies in Interior Design, and the beginning of a journey with new opportunities.
ReplyDeleteWoo-hoo!! This is SUPER exciting! You are gonna rock it no matter what your budget is....I just know it!
ReplyDeleteMany Blessings,
M.
OMG, how exciting is this!!! God works in mysterious ways, I got laid off a year and half ago and I am now living my dream. I got a golden parachute and my mortgage is paid off, I am having the time of my life. I was devastated at first, but things have a way of working out. Interior design, wow, to do something your interested in will make all of the difference. Imagine what you can teach us about design and color OHHH
ReplyDeleteCarol
That's so exciting, Erin! You will do great and you'll be setting a great example for Doodle as well!
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome!! Congrats! That has always been a dream of mine too. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteAngela
Hi Erin, this is Christina from mycreativedeparture and I wanted to stop by and say thank you for all the wonderful comments you left on my blog today! I am also a student right now--->go you!! That is phenomenal and obviously was meant to be :) The interior design thing is so, so cool. I worked for an interior designer for three years and next to bartending it was the coolest job ever. Hope you have a wonderful day! ~Chris
ReplyDeleteHi Erin - Thanks for the encouraging words! I had read your blog announcing you would be unemployed in the near future. Because of you, I was able to announce my decision on my blog today. I wish you the best!
ReplyDeleteCongrats and good luck!!! This sounds like an amazing opportunity in disguise! How nice that you are able to do this and still care for your daughter!
ReplyDeleteErin, thank you for commenting on my furbabies, yep we spend what ever we have to in order to keep them well I think next pet I am going to think about vet insurance. I am so excited for you!
ReplyDeleteCarol
This is very exciting news for you. This is my first visit to your blog. I'm following now and excited to see where this news takes you.
ReplyDeleteWell I stopped by to see your cute little pets then saw "You're Fired" and couldn't help but think of The Cat In The Hat movie and my heart dropped...being laid off is a terriible feeling but it looks like a blessing in disguise! Yay for college and that whole age thing doesn't matter one bit. I'll be cheering you on...so you go girl!
ReplyDeleteDontcha just love that Dave Ramsey...he's like the little angel sitting on my shoulder saying "don't you dare buy that!" Even though I wanna flick him off my shoulder sometimes I still love him!
Have a great Monday
This is so FANTABULOUS!! I wish I could get my husband to "drink the kool-aid" and get with the Dave Ramsey program - regardless of what he thinks of the man personally. ;) You are very blessed!
ReplyDelete