I worked summers my first two years in school and part-time after that and FT in grad school. I was determined to pay my own way and not be dependent.
I worked the whole time, too-anything I could get paid for that was legal-my uncle’s drywall business as a laborer when I was too young to work in a bar, and as cocktail waitress in a restaurant and club after I came of age. I did live at home for awhile until my baby was old enough to entrust to a private sitter other than my mom-I was determined to be a responsible adult.
I do regret not having gotten a Masters, but by the time my husband and I were making enough money for me to do that, I realized that I did not want to stay in the social services field, so there was little point in getting an MSW-I was already burned out-I took some courses in voc rehab and such and went to the private sector as a workers comp casemanager instead.