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I need some advice about a potentially life-changing decision.?

I just started my first semester in college (I'm 20. And a mom, this is relevant) and I'm doing horribly. I'm majoring in psychology, and this is something I definitely want to pursue - I'd like to be a therapist someday. The thing is, there's room for improvement - I'm just having a lot of trouble making that happen. I'm terrible at math, and that's the class that I'm failing the hardest. I'm also doing poorly in psych, and my other general ed classes, and even P.E. (please don't ask how you fail that. I don't know how to tell you) I'm really trying to take school seriously, but it's so hard and I've been having trouble handling school.

Plus I have a three year old, and he's a handful. On top of that, early last month I was diagnosed with three different psychiatric disorders and put on SSRI's and some other antidepressant. So now I'm in therapy. Early this year I went through the foreclosure of my childhood home; I had to help my dad move 30 years worth of crap out of the house for two weeks after I started school. I went into the semester feeling totally confident and on top of the world, and now I'm just feeling like it's not worth it anymore (which lol is so relevant to one of the conditions I was diagnosed with).

Anyway, I've come to a major decision now. I was working part-time for a family member, and these kids I watched for this person had developmental disorders and I had a lot of problems with them. This family member "fired" me, but is still paying me weekly because of everything I'm dealing with (and to my family, me going to school is like, a huge thing because I used to not go ever). Now they're beginning to struggle financially, and I still haven't found a new job (I've been looking for two months and nothing!!! Not even a phone call!) and I took a break from looking to try to get back to being dedicated to my studies but to no avail.

I have the option of taking up a year of vocational training and I've kind of always wanted to be a makeup artist/hair stylist, when I was young that was what I HAD to be when I grew up but once I had a kid it was like "I need to be a little bit less practical" and decided on psychology. Anyway, I've been thinking about getting certified, then getting a job with my certificate, then going back to school to study psychology.. I'm just having a lot of trouble actually making the decision because it's a really long, messy process with transcripts, school, financial aid, etc. My boyfriend has been by my side (literally, we live together, and go to school and have all the same classes) through all of this and I would feel like I'm letting him down because he's doing so well in school and he's going back in the summer. If I do vocational - it would have to be at another school and it would be so difficult. I don't know what to do.

Thank you, to those of you that read all of this.

3 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    you are not now and probably will never be a student. a trade is for you. trade school, a trade.

    you seem like a very nice person who has made some bad choices. you smoke pot? right there is a problem. people who smoke pot do NOT progress in life. they just dont.

    i am completely against taking medicine to get thru the day. this is another reason you cant focus. this is another reason you so blithely make rather stupid excuses for yourself. oh well!!

    the best thing you can do for your future is to acquire a skill where you can make money. you lack discipline and interest and hunger to make something better for yourself.

    use birth control or you will compound your self inflicted problems.

  • 1 decade ago

    I'm sorry to hear that you're having a tough time with college. Remember it is your decision but here's some advice.

    In this economy, we have to be practical. You NEED a job, so I would advise you to go get certified first, work, then go back to college.

    This is similar to what I went through. Thank goodness my mom forced me to go to beauty school during my senior year of high school. I spent 4 years in a pretigious private college, owe tons of money due to student loans, & I was failing every single class. I needed money for school, so I withdrew from college, moved out of state & started working as a nail tech & going back to school next year after I get all my finances in order. Now, this is WITHOUT a kid.

    You have a child you needa start saving up money to support in the future for college & such. As for the boyfriend thing, I know it's gonna be hard not seeing him as often during the day, but this is your life & during this time of economical distress, you gotta get your sh*t together by doing what IS practical & then go back to college.

    I hope that helps somewhat.

  • maybe you should talk to your boyfriend and make a list of the pros and cons of getting certified you can always go back to school for psychology if you boyfriend loves you and is a supportive as you say he is he will back your decision. you will be doing it for you as well as your child.

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