What is an Artist?

I have struggled with calling myself an Artist. I've been creative my entire life with drawing, sketching, writing short stories & poetry and painting. Yet something has always stopped me from declaring for myself that I consider myself an artist. I feel like there is always some bar, qualification or certified way to be, and that I'm never "that good". I'm taking Art classes right now in the hopes of getting a Studio Arts Associates degree. Why? Because I want to learn these things with more skill. I really love the challenge and the skills & knowledge that I am gaining from the classes. Yet there is still that part of me that says that "I have to" get a degree, otherwise I'm "not good enough" to claim the description of artist. I'm working on that.