Continuing my Education *self-harm trigger*
 

I'm stuck right now. I'm not sure what I should do when I graduate.

I want to go to college for Music Composition with maybe a minor in like some kind of art, English, and/or Music Education (definitely wanting to minor in this, so I can teach music to kids while trying to kickstart my music career).

Problem is I'm really sick of school. I want to take a break from school for a year and work on stopping my want to hurt myself and trying to be a happy, organized person.

Though I also want to at least do my General Studies, so if I do go live in Japan for at least a year, I could live there on an English teaching license. (They let you teach English if you can speak fluent English and have any sort of college degree)

I'm not sure what to do... Advice?

I would say it depends on what you want to do with that year off, and what kind of person you are. If you think you could focus on recovery better with less/different distractions, then that could be a pro. If you think with more free time you'd have more time to be unhappy, that might be a con. Would you be able to get a job that would make you feel fulfilled?

Don't forget that college is A LOT different than high school - so while you may be sick of high school it might turn out that college is just the place for you! And there's also always the option of going part time, although usually that means you can't live on campus so I don't know how that factors into your decision.

If you're thinking about just doing general stuff, you could get an Associate's degree at a community college, which would be a lot cheaper and still open doors to degrees at a four year college. (Bearing in mind that Music Ed is a pretty intense/involved major! There's also always the option just to teach privately if it's a backup plan.)

You have a lot of options - maybe talk it over with your parents/teachers as well and see what they have to say, and they know you well.

I don't get the difference between part-time and full-time student. Could you explain that to me?

What I want to do during the time off is recover and stop resorting to self-harm. I want to try to see myself as well as make myself a better person by changing some habits around, espcially my work ethic. How I'd do that is try to do some little jobs such as baby sitting, dog walking, etc. Maybe get a actual job once I feel like I have a better work ethic. I'd wanna save most of my money for school and-if I do go-living in Japan for a year. I'd also wanna work and making me happy with myself by changing how much I sit around the house, what I eat, etc. (I hope this all makes sense...)

Sure, high school and college are different, but my orginazation and work ethic is not college ready, so I think it'd probably benefit me to step back for a year to make myself into a better student and hard worker.

I've considered talking with someone, but I'm scared to. I dunno why.

Sure thing! Whether you're a full-time or part time student depends on how many credits you're taking per semester. A college will have a given number of credits that would qualify you to be "full-time" and anything less than that would be part time. Full time usually puts you on track to graduate in four years. Does that make sense? So as a part time student, you could take just two classes a semester or something like that.

All those things sound really good! And it sounds like you have the motivation to accomplish them, which is good. It sounds to me as though this is what you'd really like to do - what are the cons of taking a year off, is there something that's making you feel that you should go straight into college?

Thanks. I get it now. c:

The cons are I wouldn't go live in Japan for a year quicker. I'd have to wait another year to go, but it does give me time to save mooney, too. And my mom said the longer I wait to go to college, the harder it will be. I'm taking her words seriously cause I'm a paranoid person.

My mom is really pushing me to go to college, but she'll respect my decision should I choose to take a year off. And of course, the living in Japan for a year thing.

A lot of people do say that the longer you put off college the harder it gets to go - but if you know that it's something that you really want to do, then I think you'll do it when you're ready. It's up to you. Maybe you'll find that college isn't really what you want out of life at all, and that's okay too.

In regards to the Japan thing - I don't know where you'd be considering going to school, but don't forget that universities offer study abroad programs! You could potentially spend a semester/year/summer in Japan DURING college, and be getting credit for it, and then go again once you graduate. My roommate freshman year was a Japanese girl on an exchange program - my college sent 5 students to her university every year, and theirs sent 5 to us. And study abroad programs have tons of options. :)

Yea, I know I can study aboard, but I really wanted to use the study aboard to study in another place I'd like to visit for a little while, Finland. I've always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis and I actually have a friend there.

I heard something about drexel university I think that has a campus in japan I beleive that are practically paying people to go to school there.

I took a year off and I think it was a good move for me. I had a solid plan of the colleges I wanted to attend and I made sure to get my applications in early for possible scholarship money etc.

I know that my mom knew I would go back and my dad was skeptical. I think part of the problem with taking an actual year off is the uncertaintity of the future and also getting out of the habit. Somethings like math if you do not use them you lose them. So, I would suggest maybe taking 1 or 2 classes, even online classes so that you do not lose your academic swagger. Part of being a student is playing to your professors, and being out of practice can hurt you a bit.

My hubby took a year off right out of high school and it was a struggle for him to get back in the swing. I took time off in the middle and transferred schools and it was great.

If you value your mother's opinion because she knows you well talk to her more about her concerns. If the only reason you are considering her opinion is because of paranoia, then try to take a step back.

I hope I made sense

You did. Thanks for posting. c:

Any decisions made?

I think I've narrowed it to two options.

Option One: Take a year off, recover, save up money, become a better person, go to the community college for GS, go directly to the college I wanna go to for Music.

Option Two: Go straight to community, take a year off, then go to my college of choice.

I'd go to Japan after I finish my college and I may even join the National Guard at one point before I go to my COC.

I feel like option one has a bunch of stuff in it. Is there are halfway option like maybe take 1 class at community a semester in the liberal arts to get the core classes done and a class in your major (Music) as well if you want to while using the rest of the time to recover and become a better person?

I'm doing the "recover, save up money, become a better person" with the year off in option two as well, but I didn't feel like writing it again. I'm sorry.

And I really rather just do General Studies at Community, not Liberal Arts. I'd have less classes if I just do General Studies. Less stress.

EDIT: Wait, I read it wrong. I don't see the point in a year off if I still go to school...

I guess my thinking is that taking one class during that time lets you have more time to yourself but also gives you the freedom to do other things. Taking a full class schedule can be hard and stressful. I dunno I was thinking of a solution that was a little bit of column a a little bit of column b.

Which way do you think you are leaning?

Probably option two as of now. But I may change my mind as the school year closes. Depends on stress and if I get on meds soon and how they affect me.

cool beans!!

I put my app for community college in yesterday.

Awesome! I'm glad you are getting things done so you can acheieve your goals. Congratulations

Thanks. ^^ I got my packet of info the other day on what to do by next fall. c: Now to work on it.

Cool! How is it going with the packet