Keep the job or go to college?

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My friend who has AS told me about this compensatory education (for people with intellectual disabilities) program that is free at the local community college and I might enroll in it. But, there's one problem: the classes are from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and that's when I work at McDonalds. I could easily quit, but my family's been pressuring (or should I say forcing) me to keep this lousy, low-paying job. To be honest, even since I graduated high school, I have no real reason to keep this job. Also, it's not fair that I have to blow most of my money over unnecessary things for my family like trendy clothes/shoes, fast food, occasional snacks, money for my sister to give to her friends, etc.

So, what should I do?

You give money to your sister? I used to give money to my brother (I had to). I say go to school... you could always get another fast food job in the evenings if you really wanted to.

Do you mind if I ask what your disability is?

I'm just curious.

Uh, just plain high-functioning autism.

Sorry your profile said "Other austistic spectrum disorder" so I wasnt sure.

Anyway you should do what you want and will help you the most. Or of course you can see if there is someway for you to work evenings or switch to part time.

There's a chance this might be a baby class where they talk down to you.

I'd really encourage you as a person with high-functioning autism to dream big. For example, going to medical school and becoming a doctor, yeah, the real deal and you might be able to do some real good. And you certainly would not be the first person on the spectrum to be a doctor. You kind of flow with your autism instead of fighting against it. So, maybe talk a look at EVERY PATIENT TELLS A STORY by Lisa Sanders, and see what you think. Or, the New England Journal of Medicine often does case studies, much of it available on line at nejm.org

There's also business entrepreneurship, accounting (which has a lot more feel and texture than people might think), science, engineering, etc, etc.

There's art. Even with talent and passion, it doesn't come on any kind of schedule. And then there's a tricky part that, yes, you do want to ping-pong it back and forth and communicate with your readers or viewers, but if you trim your voice too much that's not good either.

About school, speaking for myself, I am so given to the 'thoroughist' approach that when school preaches it, I take it way too much to heart. In my middle years, I have added skimming and multiple quick passes and that has added a lot to my intellectual skills.

If you took anything at the community college---biology, history, literature---maybe two classes so you could drop one (and get a refund if early! yeah, really) if it wasn't good, it would give you full access to the resources: computer room, workout room, extracurriculars (see and play with light touch because some are good, but most aren't, so please skim), etc.

What the hell?? Why on earth do you have to pay for your sister's stuff??

I really think you should quit; MacDonalds is a dead end (no offence to people who work there) and you could go so much further with more education. Your family must be nuts forcing you to miss out on this opportunity, unless you guys are really hard up or something.

McDonald's is not Microsoft but a job is a job and it would leave your mind free for study.

Why not talk to your supervisor about a shift change?

Yeah, why pick one when you can have both? The shifts at McDonald's should be flexible, so I don't even see a problem here .