<p>My grandfather passed away Sunday afternoon. Some may recall the issues with him and my family beginning in November 2004 when he had a serious stroke and I had a communication break-down with my parents, who felt it best to not tell me and thus I end up shocked to call home and hear from my brother “They’re at the hospital.”</p>
<p>Another such episode – my mother going into a scheduled hip replacement surgery a week early – occurred at the beginning of the month, but this is not the reason for my post, merely background.</p>
<p>Though funerary expenses are already taken care of, but my parents’ finances have been firmly tied up in his since we all moved in together in 2000. The house is in my grandfather’s name, and my parents would be hard-pressed to afford the increase in the monthly mortgage payment that would occur if they were to transfer ownership or buy it off him. As a result, a move is in the near future. How far, to where and when? No clue.</p>
<p>To add salt to the wounds, my dad’s company is unstable, and we’re 75% sure that there won’t be a contract renewal for him when the term expires in February. While this doesn’t mean he’ll be out of a job, it does mean he’ll return to contractor status instead of salary – instead of being paid monthly, he’ll be paid per job after the completion of the job.</p>
<p>The interruption in income flow, combined with the uncertainty over the house, means that my final semester at college is in serious jeopardy. Grants and student loans cover the cost of school and materials, but my parents have been subsidizing my rent and living expenses. This will no longer be possible. </p>
<p>While it is technically possible for me to maintain my student status, it would require taking up a job paying at least $12.50/hour for a 20 hour work week during my hardest semester yet. My schedule does allow for it – I have classes most of the day Tuesday and Thursday and for 4 hours on Monday, leaving Wednesday and Friday-Sunday open – but the courses will require a great deal of outside class work.</p>
<p>The kicker? I can graduate with my Bachelor’s in English right now based on coursework already completed. Staying in college is so that I can pick up a minor in my area of specialty (Medieval Studies), increase my GPA, write more large papers, and network with more of the excellent professors in my field Berkeley boasts – in other words, it’s a semester to significantly increase an otherwise mediocre college record. Additionally, and not insignificantly, it sustains my student health insurance until August 15th and continues to give me academic access to the university and all that entails. </p>
<p>I really want to stay. This semester is the culmination of everything I’ve worked for – it’s the perfect schedule with the perfect set of classes, including a rare opportunity to work with the manuscript librarian in the manuscript library. I also make frequent use of the health services, so the insurance is incredibly valuable to me right now.</p>
<p>If I opt not to stay in school, I will remain in Berkeley, but I’ll pick up a full-time job. There’s no guarantee I’ll have any insurance, as the market for hiring fresh graduates from my field doesn’t often provide for a benefits package. I will also likely end up being a little more responsible for helping with the move.</p>
<p>This (finally!) is the part I need wisdom and experience on. Thank you if you’ve read this far.</p>
<p>I very much want to take this final semester of school, but I feel really guilty and selfish wanting to indulge in this extra semester when my family might need me. I don’t need the schooling in order to obtain my B.A., but I don’t think it’s far-fetched to say that that semester can make the difference if I decide to pursue a Ph.D.</p>
<p>What do you suggest? School or work?</p>