I'm a 29-year-old man who has been living off SSDI for the past three years while trying to navigate my mental health challenges and the job market. I've been unemployed for a while, and my mother is pushing me to find a job, which adds pressure to my already difficult situation. I have about two years of a computer science degree from a decade ago, but I had to drop out multiple times due to my bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression. Recently, I decided to return to college online to finish my degree, but my previous experience with a for-profit university left me with significant debt and skepticism about the value of my degree. After some advice from a friend in the tech industry, I dropped out again and focused on getting my student loans discharged due to my disability, which was approved last November. Now, I can't take out federal loans for a couple of years, so I found a non-profit online university, Western Governors University, which offers a more flexible, competency-based approach. I received maximum Pell Grants but still need about $600 per term to cover costs. My mother isn't able to help financially, which is frustrating since she previously encouraged my education. I have limited programming knowledge, mainly in Python and Bash, and I've been trying to self-study more to improve my skills. I have aspirations to develop an indie game based on some board game ideas I've had, but I feel stuck due to financial constraints and the challenging job market. I recently learned about running small AI models and have been experimenting with that, but I still want to deepen my understanding of programming. I also have a partner who supports me, but my financial situation is straining our relationship since I can't contribute or move in with them. I feel overwhelmed by the job market, especially with so many applicants for each position and the expectation of years of experience. I'm seeking advice on whether it's worth pursuing my degree and how to navigate this tough situation.