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1dayatatime2 said:If I had to give up the career I wanted (and am currently trying to get into), I would be devastated. However, "being an adult" sometimes requires tough choices. Being an adult just plain stinks sometimes. How did you come to the decision to change career tracks? I'm sure you thought it all out and made an educated decision. Doesn't make it easier. Have you considered that maybe this IS just a rough patch?

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It's always about money. Nevada schools don't offer any kind of mortuary science courses. California, Arizona & Colorado have an outrageously high cost of living... The school in Oregon has criteria that exclude me w/my high-school drop-out GED & no pre-med classes... Minnesota is a 6-year medical bachelor's degree. Tried to live in New Orleans to go to school - but that was so pathetic. No one would hire me because I was 'over qualified', when I finally did get a job it was a minimum wage job where I ended up working 3 & 4 shifts in a row because I was the only dependable employee... and we just couldn't financially make it a year there to get residency so the college courses would come down in cost. I've researched most of the schools in the U.S. that offer mortuary science classes, the job opportunities, the residency requirements, and for the most part, it would be a repeat of the New Orleans debacle all over again. During the years that I actually qualify for Pell grants - well, the Pell doesn't cover room & board, food, car insurance, utilities, credit card bills, living expenses, etc. And I don't have any living relatives with money who would be willing to finance my educational ventures.

There's a song by Train called "I Am", and the line that seems to bear so much truth for me is when he sings "I've never had a day when money didn't get in my way!"

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No matter what you decide, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Things happen for a reason, even though we don't know why at the time.

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Thank you, 1day. I just get down sometimes. I know that being a mortician & caring for the dead would be right for me. There's peace and honor and purpose there for me - but probably not in this lifetime.