Adult Women Learners, We’re Out Here Struggling
Adult women learners, yo, we’re just trying to keep it together, right? I’m typing this in my cramped Queens apartment, coffee stains on my desk, laptop fan wheezing like it’s begging for mercy. The radiator’s clanking like it’s got opinions, and I’m over here wondering if I should drop thousands on a degree or just keep grinding through YouTube tutorials for free. I’ve screwed this up before—big time—and I’m still figuring it out. So, grab a coffee (or wine, no judgment), and let’s talk about whether adult women learners like us need a degree or just some solid skills. It’s messy, it’s real, and it’s my story.
My Total Trainwreck as an Adult Woman Learner
Okay, so picture this: I’m 35, stuck in a soul-sucking office job, and I decide I need a master’s degree to, like, prove I’m not a loser. I enroll in this online program, thinking I’m gonna be a boss. Spoiler: I was wrong. I’m up at 2 a.m., crying over a 20-page paper, my cat glaring at me like I’ve betrayed her. The Zoom lectures were boring as hell, and group projects? Don’t even get me started—why am I, a grown woman, arguing with some dude named Chad about deadlines? I dropped out after one semester, $8,000 in the hole, eating ramen for weeks. Total fail.
But then, I found this free coding thing online (FreeCodeCamp, legit lifesaver). I learned enough HTML to make a super basic website—think Geocities-level ugly—and somehow landed a freelance gig. No degree, just me fumbling through skills. It was like, whoa, is this allowed? Adult women learners, we don’t always need the fancy paper, but it’s not always that simple either.
Degree vs. Skill: What’s the Vibe for Adult Women Learners?
Here’s the deal, straight up. Choosing between a degree and skills is like picking between pizza and tacos—both slap, but it depends on your mood. Let’s break it down, real talk:
- Degrees: They’re like a flex, you know? Some jobs—like teaching or nursing—won’t even look at you without one. Plus, they can get you into big corporate stuff. But the price tag? Oof. Forbes says average student debt’s like $30,000. I’m still dodging my loan notices.
- Skills: Quicker, cheaper, and you can learn while half-watching Netflix (guilty). Sites like Coursera or Udemy have courses on stuff like graphic design or data stuff that take months, not years. Downside? You gotta stay motivated, and some bosses still act snooty about “self-taught” folks.
For adult women learners, it’s about what fits your life. Got kids or a crazy job? Skills might be your jam. Got time and cash? A degree could work.
My Dumbest Move as an Adult Woman Learner
I gotta come clean: I once blew $150 on an online course that was basically a scam. It promised to make me a “social media guru,” but it was just some dude reading PowerPoint slides. I was in this hipster café in Bushwick, sipping a $7 latte, feeling like the world’s biggest dummy. Pro tip: check reviews on CourseReport before you buy anything. If I’d stuck to free stuff like Google’s Skillshop, I wouldn’t have cried into my coffee.
Tips for Adult Women Learners (From My Messy Life)
Here’s what I’ve learned from screwing up as an adult woman learner:
- Just start, like, yesterday: Don’t wait for the “right” time. I learned basic SEO during laundry breaks. Got me my first client.
- Mix it up: You don’t have to choose. I’m auditing a free course on edX and messing around with Photoshop on the side. It’s chaos, but it’s my chaos.
- Talk to people: I met this dope mentor at a Women Who Code Zoom thing. She saved me when I was ready to chuck my laptop.
- Celebrate the small stuff: I write down every tiny win—like “Finally got that CSS grid to work!”—in a notebook. Sounds lame, but it keeps me going.
When a Degree’s the Move for Adult Women Learners
I’m not hating on degrees. For some adult women learners, they’re clutch. If you wanna be a lawyer or therapist, you need that diploma. Plus, degrees give structure, which I low-key crave since I’m a mess without deadlines. I know this woman, 42, who got her MBA and now runs meetings like a queen. She said the degree gave her the guts to ask for more money, which is huge. U.S. News has good stuff on when grad school’s worth it.
But, like, sometimes I wonder if I should’ve stuck with my master’s. The idea of being “official” feels nice, but the debt? Hard pass.
Skills That Kept Me Afloat as an Adult Woman Learner
Right now, skills are my vibe. I learned enough Canva to make flyers for a local coffee shop, and it paid my phone bill. Skillshare is my go-to for quick stuff like that. I’m also dipping into data analytics—DataCamp has free intros that got me hooked. Best part? I can learn while my neighbor’s dog howls at 3 a.m. It’s not glamorous, but it’s working.
How Adult Women Learners Can Pick Their Path
Here’s my totally not-expert but real advice for choosing:
- What’s your endgame? Need a degree for a specific job? Go for it. Just wanna switch careers cheap? Skills might do it.
- What’s your deal? I’m kid-free, so I can nerd out on code all night. If you’ve got a packed life, short online courses might be better.
- What’s your energy? Love structure? Degree’s your thing. Thrive on chaos like me? Skills are more flexible.
Wrapping Up My Ramble on Adult Women Learners
So, degree or skill? I’m still a mess figuring it out, and that’s fine. Adult women learners, we’re allowed to fumble, pivot, and try scary stuff. My apartment’s a wreck, my cat’s still pissed, but I’m learning and sometimes making money from it. Start somewhere—anywhere—today. Hit me up on X and tell me what you’re learning. I’m nosy and wanna know!
