I’ve tried to live by the motto, “Nothing worth having is obtained without risk.” However, I will not blindly leap into an unknown without some preparation unless the cost of not trying is too great.

You need to decide for yourself whether the time left to finish school is a worthwhile investment? Or, is the opportunity to move to Germany too good to pass up?

There are also many smaller considerations that require decisions to be made. For example, what will you do to support yourself once you make your decision? Will a degree in Technical Writing open doors you want to walk through? Will it get you closer to your ‘Dream Job”? Will you even be able to find a job in Germany without a college degree? Or at least one that will allow you to pursue what brought you there in the first place?

If I were you, I would finish what I’ve started. It takes great strength of character to stick with a decision, especially when quitting is easier. It will be a lesson that no professor can teach you, only something that they can help you to self-realize. Standing strong in the face of adversity is a true test of confidence and self-esteem. Those who do not truly believe in themselves and do not trust their own judgement are the ones that are easily swayed by the voices of the herd.

It took me suffering and struggling on my own to realize the truth in all the lessons my parents tried to teach me, all the wisdom in their attempts to save me from making their same mistakes or having to learn the hard way, all the things that their years had helped them understand.

When a student of mine seems discouraged and wants a reason why this class or that is so important, this is what I tell them. “It is far better to learn from education than from experience. Experience is learning from your mistakes. Education is learning from the mistakes of others before you. So again, it is far better to learn from education than from experience.” As in school as it is in life, this rings very true although some of us, myself included are sometimes too stubborn to accept advice but would rather find out for ourselves.

Whatever you choose, be sure that you consider the consequences of either action and decide which is easier to live with as most times, there is no going back. Best of luck on your very difficult decision.

Trust me, it will be worth the wait!

Good Luck!

JP

You will be able to get a better job with a degree. If it isn’t worth nine months of work to get that better job — go now. If it is, then stay for a year. We can’t decide this for you — we can only lay out the options.