Ok, so I have a decision to make. Fun, I know. What's especially fun about this is that this one decision will have an affect on the next couple of years of my life. Don't you just love these??

Here is my dilemma--as many of you already know, I am going to graduate in December with my BA in English. My long-term goal is to teach ESL. So at this point, I have two options: 1) get my ESL teaching certificate, OR 2) do the certificate ALONG WITH an MA in English. The difference? The MA takes 2 years. So, if I started in the spring of 09, I wouldnt be finished until the spring of 2011...I kinda wanted to be at Southeastern (in seminary) by that point. However, if I did the ESL certificate, we could probably head to Southeastern by the fall of '10 (because I would finish the certificate by the spring of '10). The good thing about the MA? I would be highly employable by colleges, so that provides potential employment (well-paying, low-stress, and flexible employment) for while we are in seminary. That would definitely be a plus.

The bad thing? Well, I am not sure how long we want to be in Johnson City...we just don't know. We are beginning an new ministry at church, so we aren't sure how long we will need to be here. Not that we're dying to leave, by any means...we are very excited about our new ministry, and want to see it through all we can. But we also long to be overseas, and don't really want to be here in JC any longer than necessary. Another bad thing is that I worry that I would be burned out with school by the time I finally made it to seminary...going right from 5 years of undergrad to 2 more years for an MA and then another 3 for a second MA...that just sounds....gruesome. The ESL certificate would allow me to have a break, even if it were a short one. Also, for MA completion I have to teach 4 classes at ETSU, and take--and pass-- this 5 hour essay exam. Don't get me wrong, I can do it. I can definiately do it. But, do I want to do it?

I guess it boils down to which one I want more--employability or temporal advantage?

Grrr. I just. don't. know.