What would you do?

[Sherendyln]

I know other people can't make decisions for you, but I really need advice.

I went to college in the 2007-2008 year. I did poorly, only earning 17 credits and half of them were D's.

I did great in high school, and graduated with a 3.5 and scholarship to the school I failed in.

Nursing was my passion for all those years. It's all I wanted to.

But, a lot of stuff happened. My mother passed away when I was 12, which started my interest in nursing. I loved being at the hospital and seeing things get done, my family tried to protect me from what I found interesting.

The summer before I started college, my father got diagnosed with lung cancer. It's part of the reason I did so poorly, I truly couldn't focus on school. That probably sounds like an excuse, but it wasn't. His condition literally took over my entire life, all my waking moments were devoted to him.

I dropped out of school in the summer of '08, and he passed away this Janruary.

So now, I am 20 years old and live alone. I have very little money, and will have to start working (living off his money thus far) to make it.

I want to go back to college more than ever. But there's obviously some obstacles.

If I choose nursing, it will take around 2-3 years before I can get accepted into my school's programs. I'll have to repeat what I failed and take more classes. Then *if* I get accepted, it will be 3 more years of school at least.

But I'll have a high salary and plenty of job opportunities, I don't have to tell you guys.

There is a respiratory therapy program at my school, it's an associate degree program but would take me about 3 years. That's so much better than 6+ it would take for nursing, since I need a career NOW.

It sounds like such an interesting field. I'm sure I would love doing it. The pay is good, but I worry about the opporunties. Whether I'll be able to find a job, whether it would be limited, etc.

What would you guys do in my situation?

I know it's ultimately up to me. But I'm at a loss.

If you read this, bless you!

[AnnKatherine]

You have my condolences on your recent loss. As far as your question goes, you have to go for what you have a passion for.........going for a degree just because it will be completed earlier will leave you with a "feeling of emptiness". Have you considered getting a CNA certification? It doesn't take long to earn and it will give you a bit of insight as to whether nursing will suit you. Well, after you earn an Advanced Skills certificate(which you can get in even shorter time after earning CNA certi.)..........Advanced Skills cert. gives you even more opportunities for working in different environments, which will especially help you decide if you want to be a nurse:nuke:

[WIGGIES_future.rn]

Its amzing on this website how many people like me there are with just slightly different stories. When I was in high school my mom died she was sick from when i was 12. I cant even lie and say i cared about school because i didnt care at all in the end I got almost all d's a one f which caused me not to graduate.

If thats your dream why not go back and do it no matter how long it takes your young and you can get there..Being a cna would help with bills im sure but what you need to ask yourself is why waste time on something you wont love?? Spend tons of time on the things you do love it may go faster..

just my 2 cents