So my freshman year of college is about to come to a close and I have been quite torn lately. I always felt pressured to go to college because my parents believe it is the right thing for me to do. I agree that it will get me the extra money I need to make me happy in the long run but lately all I think about doing is dropping out of college and becoming a massage therapist. I even considered this idea for a long time in high school- but it quickly became out of the question once senior year of high school hit and my parents decided my path for me. I think I would be happiest being a massage therapist but I'm not even sure how to approach my parents about it considering they heavily influence my emotions as well my career choices.
128969
it seems to me this is your dream if you are hating college that much then you shudnt stay for any one or any thing.\nfollow your dreams they will lead you to happiness not the amount of money you earn.\n\nby the way that job has got good money prospects anyway it not like you are telling your folks you want to be garbage person. no offence to any who has that job.\n\nmy advice be straight to your parents ask their advice to include them with your desicion but make sure you make it clear this is wat you want to do.\n\ngood luck
202131
After the year is over, go on a vacation to clear your mind. Spend a lot of time thinking and be sure to only do what YOU want. If you still don't know work some 'mindless' job for a couple of months or maybe join the service. Don't pay a college money you don't even know you want to go to. Finding out what you want to do is the most important thing for the rest of your life - give it all the time it needs.
473387
So if you feel like its holding you back, take a break from it.  Go out to Cali, and try to make it big time!  It's the best thing you can do, yer young & Id say do it now, DONT WAIT & dont be one of those people that wonder "if only .. "  Say things dont work out, you can always go back to college, it'll always be there. But then again, so will the music career. Hmm .. well good luck!
524675
Well, if you've been completely trustworthy growing up, and they don't trust you, they may never trust you.  On college though, IF you're paying the whole bill (or have gotten a scholarship) and will not be dependent on your parents for financial support during college (not even to come home to live during summer breaks), then they really have no say in where you go to college, as long as you're over 18 as well.  If you're a young senior, then you might have to wait until you're 18 to go to college.  Once you're 18, all bets are off with your parents, they're no longer legally responsible for you, and you don't have to answer to them about what you do, you just have to support yourself while doing it.  \n\nThink long and hard about what your parents are saying though, they have some valid concerns.  I don't think they don't trust you, but they were your age once (yes, I know that's hard to believe) and they remember that rush of feelings that accompany falling in love.  They just don't want you to make a mistake that will affect you the rest of your life.  They may be going about it the wrong way (but I've only heard your side of this tale), but most parents really love their children, and only want what's best for them.
653026
Do you have a job?  Or are you going to college?  I would suggest going away for college, at least 20 minutes away.  Your parents will physically have less control over you because you will be on your own and be able to do as you wish.  You will also meet tons of people in college and obviously it is good way to find yourself and figure out what kind of career you want.  You are 19, a legal adult.  You have every right to make your own decisions now.  The sooner you break away, the sooner your *own* life can start.  Good luck!
655443
I can't tell you where to go. I live in Cali. But it definately isn't a thank-less job. It feels great knowing that you're making such a difference in so many people's lives. The work is very physical and you have to keep your body in good shape, certain muscles and tendons to be specific, or you won't last more than 2 or 3 years due to overuse injuries. Most schools have classes on how to prevent this and what to do to strengthen your body for the job. Another pro is that, at least in Cali, it costs much less for your education than 4 yr colleges. All colleges courses are designed differently, so you'd have to pick a few and look at their programs. They can assist you in which classes to take depending on what route you want to take with massage. yes, there are many. be it for relaxation purposes or a more holistic approach.  Good luck and have fun
248593
Well... your life is about to be changed big time!!!!  I was in your situation years ago... sick to my stomach about how i was going to tell my parents.  when i did the first question out of my Dad's mouth was what are you going to do? how are you going to support a baby?\n\nI think that is probably the biggest question from parents... how are you going to raise a child when you aren't even an adult? what happens when you don't have a boyfriend to help you??? what then? what happens in a few years? what are your plans?\n\nThinking back on those days I wish I had spent some time figuring everything out before I'd spilled the beans. Here is what I wished I had done...\n1.  gone to DSHS or family services or whatever it is called in your area for medical help, information on child care support, and assistance. then i would have known what support is available to me from the state.\n2.  i would have enrolled in school immediately and tried to get through some sort of certificate program. If I couldn't get into one because i didn't have a GED then I would have started on my plan to get the GED done immediately.\n3.  a plan for the future..... I know I want to be a ______(fill in the blank) and this is how I'm going to make that happen. If you want to be a dental hygenist, you know the technical college you can go to.  you've been there and talked to the counselors and they are helping you get going.  \n\nMy thoughts today are now that if I had shown I had a plan to take care of myself and my baby my pregnancy wouldn't have been such a hard hit on them... they would have thought and felt like I was atleast being responsible... even if it wasn't maybe so responsible to be pregnant as a teenager.  \n\nso, my suggestion is work hard on pulling your and your babies future together before he/she arrives. know that this future has to be independant of any boyfriend. jump into school right now! get a jump start because when your little one comes it is going to be much more difficult and expensive to be in school!!!! unless you want to live on minimum wage the rest of your life you need to go to school!\n\nnext...... go to a pro-life counselor and talk!!!! i'd love to chat more with you and even give you some ideas on your boyfriend. if you want to chat email me through here. good luck!
170563
I did CC in high school, and it was the worst time i've ever had in my life even though i was the top runner. i think you should quit track. it realy doesn't sound like you're having a good time of it. i wish someone would have made me quit CC--my life would have been so much better!Waaay too much pressure. I've learned that all the things in HS i thought were such huuuge problems really aren't that big of a deal. If you want to talk sometime, i'm here. As for the phone thing....it won't last forever. Use the time you would've talked to friends to write in a journal, figure out things in your life.
433443
College is way too time-consuming and expensive to not be happy with what you are doing.  If you are more comfortable doing piano then I'm sure your parents won't care that you do that and would want you to nail down what you want AND be happy.  Go for Jazz!
355486
Have you ever tried massage therapy? I know you might feel exhausted all the time, and at times you might not feel like doing a thing, but some light exercise might help keep you going, something that wont make you feel worse. Massage therapy is recommended to relax the patient, decrease muscle tone (spasm), prevent joint stiffness, help you with range of motion. Is good just to go for 1/2 hr treatment at least twice a week, you don't want to get more tired that you need to.\nYou might want to find maybe a school of massage therapy around you and up in the clinic of the school the prices are very inexpensive, compare to the spa outside.\nHope it works and hope you feel better\nGood health :)
647134
I applaud you in wanting to becoming a nurse and doing it on your own. Here is a little story for you and may it help you. I was 20 when I got out of high school and my parents could not afford to send me off to college and so like you I had to decide what to do. I joined the Marines and spent time during Viet Nam, when I got out I had saved enough to get training into the field that I wanted to be in. I found a cheap computer and never being on one before but having the fields that I had learned while I was in the service. I learned very quickly and became good at what I wanted to be and to make a very long story short I ended up helping the family and and friends that supported my efforts to make my dreams to come true. Before my mother passed on to God and the Spirits above she told myself that I had become a jack of all trades and a master of some. What made me proud was that she said any thing is possible if you put your will, soul and mind to it. Good Luck at what ever you decide and may you always succeed at. God Bless
124414
What initially drive me to think about college was the pressure of my parents and the people around me to attend college. I decide on the college that I would go to by just checking all their program and see what match. This progress is very tedious, although in the end i was able to control my life and the way i see fit. Along the way I have met many who share the same interest as me. This process will bring u a sense of acccomplishment once u fully are invigorated in that idea.As it seem I chose to major in dentistry because it is a profession that have been long to fulfill.
339050
I actually felt the same way. The best first step you can take before you do anything drastic like dropping out or withdrawing is to go in and talk to a counselor. Your college probably has a CAPS (Counselling & Psychological Services) center, where you can meet with a counselor who has helped many people with problems similar to yours! Do not lose hope...when you are depressed, things usually seem worse then they really are. Take this first step and see what your options are, and maybe you will be able to find some solutions to your depression. I made this choice and it has helped me immensely.
258311
I thought about this a lot when I was your age, and for a few years after.  It's normal to think about this, since you're in a transitional period in your life.  You're finishing basic schooling and getting ready to go out into the world for either further schooling or into the job world.  Basically, you're going out on your own either way, and it's scary.  You start thinking about getting older, and what the future may hold for you.  The uncertainty is what leads you into thinking about the finality of your life, and the inevitablity of your "impending doom".  These thoughts will pass as you set your goals, start working toward them, and start accomplishing things.  The secret is: don't let yourself sit around and think about it too much!  Keep busy, and keep your mind occupied with other things.
446128
I graduated HS at 16, started college at 17 and do not regret it one bit. By the age of 21 I had my Masters Degree and was ready for the world. I will tell you though when I started college as a "young" 17 yr old not many of my peers wanted to hang around with me due to my age. Why I will never understand as if a yr really made a huge difference. I also had a very good friend graduate early with me and she didn't go onto college for 2 years after wards because she was not as ready as she thought she would be to get out into the real world. If you think you are ready to face the world I say do it but do not feel bad if you feel left out by your friends who stay in school and graduate when they are supposed to.
606731
trust me enjoy high school and college as much as you can...live life to the fullest because you'll never get that time back!...i finished college almost a year ago and i wish i could do it all over again!
420397
Although our families are a great influence in our upbringing and how we are raised \n\nAs an adult you sometimes have to break the hell away and just do what you want to do and what makes you happy. Sometimes parents arent supportive in our carreer choices and alot of times because they pay for our education we bend our desires their way but I say to follow your dreams and do what you want to do in life no matter whaty your parents dreams are for you. Maybe you will be making a mistake and they will have the opportunity to say I told you so so what it is your mistake to learn from. If they dobt like it so what this is what growing up and becoming an adult is.\n\nI wanted to go to schoo for law enforcement after highschool because I was married and a young mother my family was agaisnt it, and my parents refused to pay for my tution so I went into business management. Here I am 15 years later going back to school for Criminal Justice because thats what I really want to do. So if you want to waste you time doing what other people think is best for you then go ahead but I garuntee your true desire will never go away. Dont waste your time just do what you want even if you regret it later & its hard work,at lease you would have gotten it out of your system