LHG - It takes a lot to stand up against the pressure that some (in virtually every congregation) apply to females who decide to get the training they need to care for themselves financially. You are an inspiration!!
Recently i have heard of sisters getting professional degrees - and taking a lot of guff for it still. But, like you, they realized that no one was going to give them a handout. This trend seems to be more prevalent among sisters than brothers.
Social Security benefits will likely be reduced by 2034 and many will find their sole source of income to be less than formerly when it still was insufficient. It makes me very sad to see JWs who will be affected even more severely in the future than they already are.