So I am on a private scholarship for school and the wonderful person paying for my school doesn't care what I major in, so long as I'm doing something that I like.
My immediate family is a different story. I signed up for machining classes summer quarter and I was excited, and they basically cornered me and harped on me about my major. To them it's a blue collar "shit job," and I should do something more white collar (they're a little bit elitist). They want me to be an addictions counselor. I've been known to overdo the alcohol, and I now abstain from it. They seem to think my past experiences with it and my fairly decent interpersonal skills will make me a good counselor. I caved under the pressure and enrolled accordingly.
With my course load it's tough to work enough to move away from home. I study 4-6 hours a day 7 days a week and never get less than an A- in anything. Every time I focus more on work, my grades suffer. I can't have that. So I basically hear about it every day all day until I give in. But I digress.
Here's the thing: There are things I like about both. Psychology is fascinating, and I enjoy learning about the various theories and therapeutic techniques used to effectively treat clients. There are pros and cons. What I really don't like is the fact that I take some responsibility for patient outcomes. I'm tasked with restoring the sanity of bottom barrel alcoholics and addicts who may die if I can't get through to them. It's not that I'm not up for a challenge or I don't think I could do it well; I'd be exceptional. But I've worked in a similar field, Emergency Medical Services, and found life or death responsibility to be brutal, draining, and taxing. On the other hand, it would be immensely rewarding to make a difference. It would test me considerably and would be a daily challenge. It may be something I can look back on with pride.
Machining appeals to my love for mathematics and the physical sciences, both of which I excel in. I like that it is a practical application of both. I've done my share of reading into machine processes, and I think it would be immensely challenging, and the reward would be in that challenge. The accuracy and knowledge required to be a good machinist appeals to my meticulous and ambitious nature. Of course the cons would be the fact that I'm not as quick to learn hands-on. I do much better with concepts. I'm a better book learner than a hands on learner. I may fall behind and would definitely get frustrated. But it's not something I can't overcome.
I'm not asking you to decide for me. Just any words of advice or insight would be awesome. I just don't know who else to talk to about this. I can't find any allies in my family.
In any case, I think I need to find a way to get away from my family.
My immediate family is a different story. I signed up for machining classes summer quarter and I was excited, and they basically cornered me and harped on me about my major. To them it's a blue collar "shit job," and I should do something more white collar (they're a little bit elitist). They want me to be an addictions counselor. I've been known to overdo the alcohol, and I now abstain from it. They seem to think my past experiences with it and my fairly decent interpersonal skills will make me a good counselor. I caved under the pressure and enrolled accordingly.
With my course load it's tough to work enough to move away from home. I study 4-6 hours a day 7 days a week and never get less than an A- in anything. Every time I focus more on work, my grades suffer. I can't have that. So I basically hear about it every day all day until I give in. But I digress.
Here's the thing: There are things I like about both. Psychology is fascinating, and I enjoy learning about the various theories and therapeutic techniques used to effectively treat clients. There are pros and cons. What I really don't like is the fact that I take some responsibility for patient outcomes. I'm tasked with restoring the sanity of bottom barrel alcoholics and addicts who may die if I can't get through to them. It's not that I'm not up for a challenge or I don't think I could do it well; I'd be exceptional. But I've worked in a similar field, Emergency Medical Services, and found life or death responsibility to be brutal, draining, and taxing. On the other hand, it would be immensely rewarding to make a difference. It would test me considerably and would be a daily challenge. It may be something I can look back on with pride.
Machining appeals to my love for mathematics and the physical sciences, both of which I excel in. I like that it is a practical application of both. I've done my share of reading into machine processes, and I think it would be immensely challenging, and the reward would be in that challenge. The accuracy and knowledge required to be a good machinist appeals to my meticulous and ambitious nature. Of course the cons would be the fact that I'm not as quick to learn hands-on. I do much better with concepts. I'm a better book learner than a hands on learner. I may fall behind and would definitely get frustrated. But it's not something I can't overcome.
I'm not asking you to decide for me. Just any words of advice or insight would be awesome. I just don't know who else to talk to about this. I can't find any allies in my family.
In any case, I think I need to find a way to get away from my family.