What would you do if you were me?

If money was a major concern for me, then I would take number 2. If my dream in life was to be broke , then I'd go with number 1. If I decided to pursue number 1, then I would figure out how to get a job afterwards, how much that job would pay in a year, figure out a strategy to pay off student loan debt (if any), and plan accordingly. I'm sure the certification would allow a person to teach in more places.