One phone call....And my life will now be radically different forever...

[Coventina]

44. The best advice I ever heard on the subject

came from a newly minted tenure-track professor when I was in grad school.

He said, with the greatest emphasis, to NEVER EVER go to grad school for either an MA or Ph.D unless you were 100% sure that getting the degree was the only way to do what you absolutely HAD to do.

Well, I knew that I absolutely HAD to teach art history at the college level, so a Master of Arts was the bare minimum. I had been mulling the Ph.D. but decided that the MA would be sufficient, as I felt I would be happier at the Community College level.

It was the right choice for me, although I spent MANY YEARS wondering if getting the degree had not just been a waste of time, money, and effort.

But, every time I stepped into the classroom, those doubts disappeared. They would quickly reappear every time a bill came in the mail, though.

It's a big decision, and only you know the truth of your heart.