[CrystalSteph]

Hello,

I have been in this roller coaster within myself for the longest. I know what I like but don't know where to head. I finally moved back to the states, PA to be exact and I am going back to school next year, finishing up my AA to then transfer to a university. My current major right now is Psychology but how vague is that? I don't want to be just a psychologist.

See, my dream is to have a decent paying career and most importantly inspire others. My hobbies involve photography,crafts,music things within the art. But then there's another part of me that likes to help others,mentally..emotionally and learning about people. I even started an online blog that combines creativity and healthcare, I have visions of myself being an artist and in the healthcare,psychology or education field. Writing books for children,helping and inspiring others (but don't know in what career)

I decided that I wanted something that combines both art and psychology and bam! I found it, Art therapist! I love the idea of it, but honestly how in demand is it? I haven't spoken to one person that doesn't ask me "What is an Art therapist" so I don't know if that's a good thing in terms of competition.

Then I think to myself.. an Art therapist is a masters degree, I am aiming for a bachelors.. I am already late going back to school as it is don't want to graduate when I'm 30 and on top of that a masters is money, but my partner tells me I am thinking too ahead.

I'm a mess when it comes to this, how bad do I envy those that know what they want to do and seem to have it all planned..

[Perna]

I would join an organization like the American Art Therapy Association and email/talk to actual art therapists and learn how in demand it actually is and how to shape what you are doing now so it will work in 4-5 years toward something like you envision.

One thing that caught my attention with your vision was that there wasn't much indication of the hard work and the boring stuff that is in there too? It is not all learning, art and fun? There is paperwork and practice and the day-to-day stuff that goes with doing anything at all, even stuff we love. I am a research historian and writer but I have to do timelines which I hate, the fiddling with the exact dates and putting them in order and getting the bare facts down, etc., why many people "hate" history and think that is all there is. Well, to an historian, it's other stuff that is exciting but every single job/career/calling, whatever, has its boring or difficult staff meetings, etc. Of course, the "public" does not hear about those because that would be like talking about going to the bathroom in a novel? LOL No action or glory there.

Yes, you may need graduate school but that just becomes part of your life and how you get from here-to-there, where you want to go. We never "arrive". You don't find something you enjoy doing and then are set for ever and every, happily ever after. Life keeps moving, basically like it is doing now and what you do and want to do keeps changing (think of technology and how much it has changed since you were a teenager/the last 10 years?).

[shortandcute]

I'm 51 and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

[Abe Froman]

So, you are not too old to chase your dreams. Yes, masters degrees cost money. No, money doesn't grow on trees (I think anyway, if you find a money tree, please let me have one of the seeds).

I think it's great that you are going ahead and finishing the AA and then planning to transfer. At that point you might be able to get full time work and go part time to work on your masters. So don't give up, look around and see what your options are. Information and knowledge are power here. I also didn't finish my degree "on time," but I will finish it in this coming December, and I'll start my masters after that.

Here's something to think about, a lot of companies will pay for part of their employees continuing education, so once you finish your bachelors, look for a job with tuition reimbursement on your masters.

Best of luck to you.