Despite the title of the question feel free to offer any advice or what you'd do in my situation. A little back story; I received a promotion at work and I turned it down after a couple weeks on the job. That put me in the labor pool but currently I'm doing my job prior to the promotion. However since I'm in the labor pool the company can move me to any job at anytime.. If they want to put me on third shift or a job to strenuous on my body.

If that happens and I quit I have close to 15 grand saved in the bank. Makes me think about just taking out a small student loan (if I'd even need one) and getting a small part-time job somewhere and go get a certification or perhaps associates degree, I hate the idea of college for FOUR years. When it comes to certification there is a college offering cert in: computerized accounting, engineering design, manufacturing tech, CNC machining, industrial maintenance, community health worker, alternative energy and phlebotomy/EKG amongst others. Many of those aren't suited to my strong points as they all seem mathematical or mechanical in nature.. Things that fascinate me and I'm knowledgeable about are diet, exercise and economics but it's rather difficult to get into those fields. (Personal trainer and personal dietician work is unstable at best. )I want stable good paying employment though so I'd be willing to suck it up and get something in say CNC machining or manufacturing technologies. Do any of you out there have cert. in any of those aforementioned areas? What's the work like, and was it easy to find employment?

A thanks to all who actually READ all that and a big thank you to all who will answer.

I'd find the career you'd like to have and then seek out job openings. Look at the qualifications needed and that will tell you what you need to do. Don't assume you will "get" a student loan or that you'll be accepted into a program. $15k saved won't last long, so have your plan all worked out before you quit your job.