I fit all criteria except I don't have any kids. Though I will add that I didn't even graduate High school thanks to my witness up bringing, I got a GED instead.
Knowledge and education are paramount to me, and it was very distressing to me after I woke up that I had so little formal education, even if I was an avid reader.
I am 27 and in my second semester earning a degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics, which I have yet to decide if I will turn into a second major, or if I will add a second minor. I definitely am not made of money, but student loans are currently covering my academic costs (mostly, I have had to pay just a bit out of pocket for a couple of text books.) My goal is to both improve my lot in life, giving myself a useful set of skills and abilities in the job market, to improve myself as a person by getting a rounded education and a greater mental discipline, as well as just the pride of having earned a degree (or two.)
It does require a tremendous amount of effort and dedication, and I have little free time. But in all honesty, I am doing exactly what I would want to do with my free time if I had any.; study, learn, write, and better myself in general. I could think of no better way to spend my mornings and evenings than writing critical textual analysis of a book I'm reading for English class, or visiting local art galleries and writing about it for my Art Appreciation class, or studying diligently to solve math and physics problems.
It is immensely rewarding, especially after getting that "A" on a paper I busted my ass on, or passing a major exam with flying colors, or sometimes just stopping and looking back at how far I've come. Only four years ago I was miserably knocking on doors and handing out magazines in a religion I strongly suspected was a lie, washing windows for an elder that profited off the ignorance and sense of obligation of the members of his own congregation. And now, I work for a company with nary a witness in sight, studying math, art, physics, literature, biology, sociology and I have years of this ahead of me. I worked hard and changed my circumstances and that alone has been worth the price of admission.
Given that I am married (to a witness girl,) I do have to balance my time. I always make sure to at least once a week take her out to a movie, or dinner, or shopping or some such, and make sure to sit down and have dinner with her with not books or study materials. It's a balancing act, but it can be done. Even better, my being in college has inspired her to go to college. I am helping her get prepared to enroll part time for the next fall semester. She isn't going to go full time or anything, and isn't even sure what it is sure wants to work towards, but she wants to go and learn and think. Being passionate about education is contagious. She is going to take just one class for the fall semester (which we should be able to pay out of pocket) and she is excited thinking about what class she will choose.
I can't recomend strongly enough the value of going to college. It makes me sad to see how many worldly high school kids go to college and just spend the whole time drinking and partying, or maybe just not taking it seriously. They don't know what an amazing gift it is, and how much it can improve us as individuals and our lot in life. Go to school. It's not always easy, but it's the best decision you can make.
