Here, I want to pursue my passion and a degree is the obstacle. I've worked in financial services for over a decade, but found I was burned out by the relentless sales pressure and began looking for positions in education, all of which require a degree. I never imagined how cheap it would be to go to school. What held me back for so many years was that I thought I couldn't afford it. Currently, I am on track to complete my AA degree this year and financial aid and grants have funded all tuition costs. I'm going to apply to a four-year university this fall and landed a job as an administrator at a charter school in the Bay Area. Due to my training, even though I do not yet have a diploma, my employer took into account that the diploma was being obtained.