Okay, with school starting in 3 weeks, I really need to make a decision on this. I’m going to try to share it all here, as maybe it will help me mull over my options and make the right decision.

I am having a hard time deciding if I want to go back to school, or concentrate on my freelance writing as a career. I’ve been freelancing since March 2008, not very seriously…just to make enough money to cover gas, groceries, and help with bills. It was originally a work at home, part-time gig so that I could finish school without having to worry about finding a job, be scheduled awful hours, etc. Since graduating with my Associate’s degree in May, I’ve been really focusing on earning more money in order to have some saved up for when I go back to school in August. I believe I will have much less time to write then, with going to school full time, doing student teaching, and having a crap ton of homework. I’ve come to really like working at home, and have begun realizing the earning potential…as much as (or more than) I could make as a teacher.

So, I’m trying to weigh the pro’s and con’s of going back to school for my Bachelor’s degree in Education and becoming a teacher versus continuing freelance writing and building up my clientele to a full time income.

Going back to school
Pro’s
-Getting to work with children, something I have always wanted to do
-Student loan money that could help us pay bills while I wasn’t writing
-Having the degree would give me two options for a career (writing or teaching), and I’d always have a backup plan
-Going back next month allows me to enter straight into the Education program. If I don’t go back Fall semester, I’ll have to take 4 classes when I do decide to go back that I was exempt from due to being on a previous course catalog…different class requirements.

Con’s
-Full time, for the next 2 years, equals big commitment
-Student loan money isn’t alot…so probably going to be broke for two years unless James lands a super good job
-Having to put off the thought of having children at least another 2 years
-Thought of going back, getting my degree, and THEN deciding I’d rather write…Student loans and 2 years basically wasted?

Freelance Writing
Pro’s
-Work at home, basically on my own schedule
-Could make the same or more as if I was teaching
-Getting paid to write, another thing I love to do

Con’s
-The thought of not having a back up plan (couldn’t teach without the degree, so writing would be the only option)
-Not going back, and then regretting it later or becoming burned out on writing and hating it

There are also factors like:

-I know I could continue writing and just go back to school later if I wanted. But then, there’s the whole taking 4 extra classes that I wouldn’t have to take now, and the idea that I may never find the time/cannot afford to go back if I go own with my life, have kids, etc.
-With my Associate’s degree, I can teach and work in private preschools and daycares. I like this idea, as I really like working with 3-5 year old. That way, I could work with children AND write, or work with children if I ever got burned out with writing or missed the opportunity to work with kids.

This is a lot of think about…seems like even more now that I’ve written about 600 words about it! If you’ve read this far, I appreciate it.