There are times when I resent having to work, but I am glad that I had that option! Education and the ability to work (even if you never choose to do so) are a blessing, not a burden.
I hope God grants you a life full of blessings, and you are able to use your gifts and ability to the full
....^^this does sum it up beautifully.
Keep your intention correct...(after all even doing an alimah course with the wrong intention is not a good place to be or if you do not act upon the knowledge attained).
Having gone through what you are going through now...i really hope you do get yourself a degree while you are are not so tied down...it will be useful I.A.when ever you come to the realisation of how you want to help the ummah or if Allah forbid you face any financial difficulty...yes you must make dua in tough times but this does not negate the need to take practical steps also and this is where the education can help make it easier.
I am at that stage in my life where i wished i had done so when i had the oppurtunity...but Allah knows best. I am looking to do a degree now because there is so much need out there (teachers /health practitioners/social workers/therapists and many more where a practising muslim female can make a world of difference to her sisters)
And so i feel i am wasting my time as i dont do anything other than look after my family and engage in a lot of useless social cultural get togethers-as in a lot of asian cultures food is a big issue ...daily cooking of luxuious unhealthy meals when a wholesome simple one will do is not taking care nor a part of islam neither is keeping a home in sterile conditions furnished in the latest trends. Simplicity allows one to focus on real needs.
I will have to fit the degree and my aspirations around my family and it is v.hard to do that...but to be useful to the ummah when one has the oppurtunity to do so is something that will I.A. keep driving me.
I want to be able to volunteer in certain areas. To do this to the best of my abilities i will need to educate myself and have enough earnings to support this goal.
Our iman is not so strong like that of our pious predecessors...we must accept this fact..we are weaker than them and have more needs. As long as you avoid haram in what you do (eg music/dance studies) you will not go wrong I.A.
Be sure to keep your intentions correct and think of your education as tools to help put you in a better position to keep your faith strong...
Try to know yourself and what you are good at and enjoy ...then see if theres any way you can use that to help others...Focus on that for progressing your 'career'.... career here is not meant in the ususal sense of giving you the most money or power but how you can best help others (whilst keeping yourself stress free to carry out your necessary duties) to please your Creator...therefore it will be a lifelong journey not just till retirement!
This does not mean you can not aquire Islamic knowledge at the same time..there are plenty of books, halaqahs and websites that can help you with this but keep it a little at a time so you can act upon it and do justice to your education.
All the best.