Summer game design

[Noodle]

So I'm in a little bit of a bind right now. It's not a serious problem, it just comes down to one pretty important decision about how I'll be spending the next 4 months before I go back to school in the fall.
I have the opportunity to accept a job with fair work and good pay. What the job is isn't important, but I'd be working there for the next 4 months if I choose to accept. Just know that there really aren't any downsides to the job other than me not taking option 2.
My second opportunity is to choose self employment, and spend my summer doing independent work on art and animations for games here on the internet. I do have someexperience with this, and have mostly pursued it as a hobby. But now I have the chance to do this 5 days a week, and make my own living for 4 months. It wouldn't be a desk job, it'd be me waking up in the morning then going to the desk in the other room and working 8 hours a day in my own house.

I know the pros and cons and the risks involved from deciding to do art for the summer. I don't want to make a decision based on fear, but there is just so much potential for this to crash and burn, while this other job is a guaranteed paycheck every 2 weeks.
I feel privileged to even have the opportunity to be making a decision like this. It probably sounds like quite the first world problem to choose between employment and risky self-employment, but it's something I'm passionate about.

I'd like to hear from other people who have maybe spent some time to pursue game design over what some might call "real" work. Did you regret it? Were the times of struggle worth it? I know either way there will be days where I wish I had made the other choice, but damn I hope there aren't many of those.
I can't look for anyone to make a decision for me, that's something I have to do. But any guidance or words of wisdom from personal experience would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you all so much.

[Timex247]

Although I've never had a job (and I didn't fully read your post trolol), I'd suggest option one. A work-at-home designer is good, but I don't think it'd be as great as real workplace experience. Thinking longterm, it'd be more impressive on your resume if you had already worked at a qualified job than make money with art on the internet, but I'm dumb, so that's just my opinion.

I'd kill for a job, you dick.

[EJR]

Hmm, this was something I've also been considering. My situation doesn't include me already having a steady position waiting for me though. Since I got back into doing art and animation, I think I could use the summer to brush up on my skills and produce some cartoons and games and hopefully get the ball rolling for the future. Eh this post isn't really helpful but I do know what you're going through and it's tough to decide!!!

[estrago1]

I would go with option 1. That way, you have guaranteed income. As for the animation, keep doing it regularly, get better, and get your name out there. then maybe you can make the transition into full-time animation/game design.

[Wolfos]

Or you can do both part-time.