What would you do?

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!