These certifications sound great.
It brings tears to my eyes. I am happy other people have the chance now. I am sad because I never did get my diploma, I dropped out because I strongly believed I was wasting my time. For my father's sake, I wish there was something I could do. A GED is the only option here, and I don't want to do that.
One thing I did was take a job where I was working on swing shifts as a security guard. Everyone else was bored stiff, but I was able to take advantage and study on the job. Unfortunately, the supervisors saw that I was someone trying to improve himself and jealously sought to hamper this activity. Reading magazines -- OK. Reading text books -- not allowed. I had to photocopy my text books.
I would encourage you to take that GED test and focus on some kind of strategy such as this one. There are scholarships available which come to your advantage. When I was working my way through college, there was no such thing as a 529 fund. If there were, I wouldn't have paid any income taxes whatsoever. Every little bit helps.
Also, keep in mind that you have a support structure of more than half a million people here in FR that would be rooting for you. GO Girl!
Get your GED. My brother did. He then got an Associates degree at the local community college, went in the Army for several years and now runs product development at Dell Computers.
Me, I sit here with my almost MBA (I need to do the electives and the school is a 2 hour drive away) with huge student loan debt.
Bro owns his home, has one of his girls in college and is getting ready to build on his new property.
No, a GED isn't the only option. There are a lot of
online high schools that will accept older people. For
starters you can try American School.
There are lots of options other than a GED. Look up Keystone High School - they deal with all ages of students for high school degrees, and you can get thru very quickly if you want.