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age
30-35,
anonymous
writes: This isn't a relationship question but I was hoping someone wiser than me can offer some advice. I'm a full time college student, majoring in Biology, and I've hit a wall - my true passion a year ago was English but I decided (with pressure from my parents) to pursue a more concrete career, one that is practical and promising. Well, I just don't know in what direction I'm going. It just doesn't feel like "me"...I'm doing well so far and am learning a lot, but I feel like I'm mentally at a standstill. Should I continue down a general path and everything will smooth out eventually? I don't want to be a doctor, but I don't want this education to go to waste. I am worried because my parents got their education in the (back then) Soviet Union, which is muuuuch different than in America. So they really know nothing and couldn't offer me any sort of advice, which put me at a slight disadvantage. I'm just thinking about my loans, and counting credits very carefully, and I'm very hard on myself when I make mistakes. Should I keep striving, though I'm not sure what my final goal is??Thank you Reply to this Question
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (7 December 2011): I've never met another person with a story so similar to mine!
English was the love of my life, but my parents were determined to see me follow a scientific path instead. I failed Chemistry and Biology miserably though, because I had no real aptitude for them - and most importantly, my heart belonged to literature. My parents knew nothing about what it would take to pursue a medical career, nor did they want to. After years of conflict, I gave up on my lifelong dreams to study English because of the pressure, and now I'm a lost person. I'm doing a course in Business and Management at college but I have no idea where it'll take me; I feel like I'm running up student debt for no reason, to be honest. Not a day goes by that I don't wonder how things might've turned out had I had the guts to stand up to my parents and follow my heart. I had the chance to go to Oxford (one of the top two universities in the UK, as I'm sure you know), but I've wound up at a dead-end college around the corner instead. I'm heartbroken.
Don't end up like me, darling. Talk to a careers advisor if you have one and discuss your options. Even with the best of intentions, parents don't always get it right - but you don't have to let their errors of judgement divert you from the path you were destined for. Good luck and take care x
A
female
reader, bluecow  +, writes (7 December 2011):
 Can I suggest that you change now. Make an appointment to speak to the careers advisor (and if possible the counsellor) in your college. They will have the expertise to help you in the right direction.
IF you can, finish this year of college so that you get to keep your credits (not sure how it works in the usa - I am in uk), and then change in the new college year (september for us).
I did what you did, followed the path my parents wanted for me.
Now here I am at 31, back to college (biology lol!) as I followed the wrong path and was never happy in my careers. I am loving my course now, but I admit its alot harder going back to studying than it would have been first time round.
xx
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A
female
reader, Tyedyedturtle  +, writes (7 December 2011):
 Do what will make YOU happy. If you love English, consider becoming a professor or teacher! You can write creatively on the side. If you enjoy biology as well, maybe consider a dual major or a minor to explore both! Tons of possibilities. Try talking to an academic advisor at your campus.
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