Well, Alma, as a child I did want to be an artist, since I couldn't be a veterinarian (I don't like animal research.) Turns out I hate medical things anyway. So, after a couple different language-oriented jobs, I went back to school for a BSC, because I'm interested in the environment (as it's called, or nature, as I call it) and am struggling to find a way to apply this that isn't just more service to people. I have always done visual art from time to time, painting or sketching things people need such as logos, or just expressing myself. It's very natural to me, not to say I'm outstanding at it, but people are surprised when they see what I've casually done since I never talk about it. It's just something I do. I remember taking a book of single-panel cartoons I'd done and showing them around at work because they're funny. "Where did you get these?" I made them. But they are not pro level graphic quality -- I know that.

So actually right now I just had a job disaster (that I am telling myself was a successful experiment) and I am playing around trying to do some visual art stuff as well as my part-time transcribing job. Here's the link to my job disaster/experiment thread:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/work-...k-new-job.html

The soul-sucking isn't necessarily because I didn't become a pro artist. It's just that everything seems to require becoming someone I am not, or other unbearable compromises like being poisoned by smoke even if the person isn't right in front of me.

That's great that you're scheduling time for your own pursuits instead of sacrificing everything to school. Makes me think of this demotivator:

http://www.despair.com/sacrifice-temple.html

Managing a job well means having time to take care of yourself and your personal matters, for sure. Balance.