What To Do, What To Do?

I may have made a career decision... I think I'll go back to school and get my PhD in theology once Adam's done with his degree.

Over this past year, I've realized that, while I love being a writer, I really need to learn some more stuff about which I can write. Whining about my feelings and arguing over politics on my blog or in online articles isn't gonna cut it forever, folks. Getting an advanced degree and becoming an academic would really give me a lot of opportunity to exercise my awesome writing abilities, and maybe even write a sweet book.

I've also realized (what with all the crappy day jobs and all) that I need a flexible job, a job where I can have less work in the summers, and time off over the holidays so we can go to Ohio and see our families (and later on, so we can take our kid to see his/her grandparents for Christmas), a job with benefits and job security. Being a professor provides all that— and I should know, since my dad's been a prof his whole life.

And of course, being a professor would satisfy my deep and abiding urge to show off just how smart I can be. Showing off would kind of be my JOB.

The problem is: how would we do this, logistically speaking? I'd have to wait another two and a half years, since SOMEONE has to be making the money to keep us from starving. And how willing are we to shoulder a SECOND debt burden? We already have these stupid school loans from Adam's degree, and we'll have to be paying those off ASAP. As many of you are aware, I don't like debt, and it's not like professors or priests make ridiculous amounts of money. (I mean, they do okay, but they don't make as much as, say, lawyers or doctors or businessmen.)

Also— where exactly would I go for this degree? I could go here to General for my M.A., but then I think I'd want to go somewhere a little bit bigger— like Union, or maybe Yale— for my PhD. I mean, I love General, but they seem more focused on practical-minded M.Div. students (i.e., future priests) than on people who are getting degrees just because they want to know more stuff.

And y'know, I'm worried— what if, after all this time, they don't WANT me? What if no school wants to take me? Who would I ask for letters of recommendation, anyway? It's not like my professors from Vassar will have a clear picture of my abilities after five years. What if divinity schools look at me and say, "Ewwwwwww, gross! She's lame!"

Ah, well. I guess I have a long time to think about it. Longer than I'd like, in fact. I can't wait till it's my turn for school! :D