pegsuern

You are so right about the "mega loans" that are being pushed on students. And it scares me that people actually consider student loans in those proportions. I was fortunate enough to be able to pay for my education (while paying off my husbands Health Profession Loans over a 10 year window). But I hear "youngsters" in the profession talking anout paying 1200 and 1400 a month in student loan repayment!! Life is way too unpredictable...as all of us MS'ers know. My daughter went to school in FL and got Bright Futures scholarship thru the FL Lottery. That paid 75% of the tuition. But then there were all the OTHER expenses that needed to be paid. She has some loans and we have some parent loans. She entered the profession as a sales rep for a spinal surgical supply company and did extremely well financially. Paid off one of her student loans, bought a new car, upgraded her standard of living...AND boom, she got laid off after 10 months. The owners could pick up her accounts and the monies that were going into her pockets. My daughter is extremely resourceful and picked up the pieces with cleaning services, pet sitting and personal appearances (she is an NFL cheerleader). And it has motivated her to return to college for a Masters. But she is wiser for the experience and back on a starving student budget! THANK YOU for being realistic.

I am struggling with where to go in my career. I am a career L&D nurse with some NICU thrown in. I have done the Clinical Ladder path as well as the management route. The past 8 years I have worked as travel nurse. That industry seems to be "drying up" with the current economic crisis. I was diagnosed with MS while I was on assignment in San Diego. It actually coincided with my 50th birthday...somebody has to the on the downside of the bell curve. I do well on Avonex. I have had 2 relapses both brought on by serious infections. I do work full time in a small Birthing Center. I love my profession and feel I have contributed to it in many ways. I am looking for a direction to go...educator/Women's Health Practitioner. I love to teach and precept. I do not want to give up my profession but seek a new direction with less stress. And I am newly located in southern VT and do not know anyone with MS here. Suggestions/guidance/friendship/commiseration/ice cream sundaes all accepted.