and not just education that makes sense.

this is a great way to put it. I grew up isolated from culture, from the world, and from the personality, curiosity and interests that kind of exposure can give - and now that I’m knee deep in adulting, I don’t know how I would go about learning more about culture and humanity, especially since I’m stuck working full time to keep the lights on (and pay my student loans).

If I felt that I could do a bachelor’s in gender studies or social sciences, I would. I wouldn’t expect it to make me rich, and I’m already a network engineer and systems geek, so that pays the bills anyway - but I’d do it because I think that’s something that would make me a more balanced person, and that would make my work better as a result.