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Should I Finish College or pursue my career?

A few years ago I got suspended from college for poor academic performance. While I was suspended I got a job at a magic shop. The owner of the shop is a great business man and under his mentorship I went from a cashier, to a top magician (salesman) to a manager and trainer and even opened my own franchise at the flea market (I had opportunities for better locations but I chose the flea market so it would not interfere with school). Now I have relocated to a small town 2 hours away from where I live. The owner pays for my apt and pays me about $23,000 a year. It seems the longer I stay with the company the more my income increases. He has future plans with would double my income in the next 2 years, or I can go to any major city I choose and open my own franchise. My family however refuses to accept magic as any type of serious career. They are putting tremendous pressure on me to finish school and go to law school. They don't seem to understand that getting into law school is not guaranteed for me..since my first 2 years of college were rocky. I do have a chance if I bring my GPA up and the last 2 semesters for me have been great. So now I have the hardest choice I've ever had to make. Do I stick to my career? I make enough money for myself to live a good life, although I would like to make at least $80,000 by the time im 30 (im 24 now). OR do I quit my job and go back to school full time and try my very best to get into law school? I will have to move back in with my mom (blahh) and have almost no money. On the upside Ill get to complety focus on school and Ill be able to graduate within 3 semesters, and hopefully get into law school. I'm so torn in this decision, mainly becuase neither path is gauranteed. If I dont get into law school I will have a degree in legal studies, but that seems kinda useless to me. If I stick with the company then I'm at the mercy of the owner, who can fire me on a whim (unlikely, but possible) and Ill have nothing. I have been going to school part time, however I really wanted to go back full time, so I arranged my schedule so that I work 4 days a week and go to school 3 days a week. I signed up for 12 credit hours but I had to drop 2 classes becuase it was too much work and I couldnt keep up. If I decide to go back to school I would work maybe 1 or 2 days and take 15 credit hours a semester.

Public Comments

1. Think about opportunity cost. Oprah did. Bill Gates did. What would thy have lost if they finished college?
2. I really think you should stick with your job. The thing is, jobs are hard to come by these days. By abandoning it and going to school you are taking a BIG risk. How do you know you will get a Law career after college? MANY don't. There are lots of college grads out there with fancy degrees but they can't get a job anywhere else. Plus, would you enjoy law? If you enjoy working at the magic shop, than why not stay there? Plus, you can go back to school at anytime. If you quit the job at the shop, you can't just go back when ever you want. If you quit, and college doesn't work out, than you're of college and out of a job. It's too big a risk. You have a job already. The ONLY reason you should go into law school is IF you LOVE law, and it is your dream career and that is something you WANT to do. Don't go into it just for the money. That NEVER works out. BTW, is it possible to work and go to school at the same time? You can just be a part-time student. That's what I am doing.