Layoffs have been pretty bad here in Wisconsin. Last year my husband was laid off from the Law firm he worked for. Despite having years of experience in bank management and customer service, it took him a full year to finally land a position with Wells Fargo. He did not waste his time sulking though, while he looked for worked, he also enrolled full-time in WGU (Western Governor's University) to pursue his Bachelor's in Education. Because this school allows you to complete classes at your own pace, he completed all classes needed for his Bachelor's in only 1 yr. I worked during this entire time, and with his unemployment, we were able to stay afloat. He studied and worked like a madman. He is set to begin his second round of student teaching this month and will graduate this December.
Well, I was laid off MY job this February after 2 years of working for a company. I have been attending the local community college part-time trying to finish up my pre-req's to begin nursing school, taking 2 classes at a time. I have been applying like crazy but so far, no dice. I don't intend to waste my time either. I have only 4 classes left before I can begin my core nursing classes for the Associates in Nursing (A & P 2, Microbiology, Intro to Psychology, Intro to Sociology). I plan to take A & P 2 this summer (a 6 week course) and if I am still unemployed come fall, attend full-time taking my last three classes. With a little luck, I will begin my core nursing classes spring of next year. I plan to study for my NLN exam this summer; I Just purchased a couple of books for it and a audio recorder to tape my class lectures. I'm currently taking A & P 1 and Developmental Psychology and pulling high A's in both. My English and CNA classes have already been completed.
After 10 years of working crappy data entry jobs just for a paycheck, I gotta tell you, it feels nice to have a actual plan of what I want to do with myself and know I will be good at it. Math is still the bain of my existence, but a small hurdle to overcome to get to my goal. If you find yourself recently laid off, as many of us have recently, take it as a blessing and a calling that it's time for you to go out and become whatever it is your heart truly wants you to be. Don't waste your time, and use it wisely.
I worked during this entire time, and with his unemployment, we were able to stay afloat. He studied and worked like a madman. He is set to begin his second round of student teaching this month and will graduate this December.