It took me nearly 7 years to finish my BS degree in CS. I took a couple of years off in the middle and then at the end I was working full time and taking part time classes.
I also took 7 years to finish my Master degree. I was working full time and only took a couple classes a year. I also took off a few semesters off when I had kids.
Nobody has ever asked about either situation. I wouldn't worry too much. As a hiring manager I've never cared about that.
Although I’ve never been labeled as “toxic”, I’ve been a development manager that had to help coach “toxic” individuals and have worked with numerous toxic team members throughout my career. Here are some things to keep in mind:
1) It is really hard to go from toxic to non-toxic within the same organization. Once your peers and management have formed that impression of you, it is difficult to get rid of it.
2) Engineers typically undervalue the importance of communication skills and interpersonal relations. You need to cultivate these skills probably more than you realize and they will become even more important as you advance in your career. The way to cut through road blocks and bureaucracy in the real world is through relationships. Ever notice how some people can just make a few calls to resolve issues?
3) The “golden rule” is just as important as it was in elementary school. Keep the tone professional at all times – especially over the phone or when emailing or texting. If you have problems with this, try to talking to your coworkers in person.
4) You probably need to better understand the business side better. Your employer wants to get the best return on their investment. Sometimes that means that it is better for you to develop the Pinto instead of a Cadillac. Developers have a really hard time with this because we always want to do things the “right way”.
5) Instead of complaining about the incompetence of your management, try explaining the limitations of their decisions and offer some alternatives. Once a decision is made, however, drop it and just do your job.
I made the switch to management and did that for several years. I don't regret it at all. I learned lots and had a bunch of experiences that I would never have had otherwise, but I eventually made the switch back to being a "lowly" engineer. In the end, I personally had a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment in that role than in management.
I would say that besides technical skills, the number one reason I didn't recommend people for hire is because of poor communication or interpersonal skills. In today's environment, these are essential skills and you should practice if you struggle in this area. Nobody wants to work with somebody that is not a team player, no matter how brilliant they are technically.