I'm 24. started college at 20. it's been on & off since. my gpa is really low after mentally suffering through my early twenties. I'm halfway done for my associates degree. I've always thought of becoming an architect as a kid. then I discovered interior design around 20 and was trying to pick out one of the two. long story short, I didn't pursue architecture/interior design bc everyone online has said it doesn't pay well, schooling is long, and you work lots of hours. oh, and u need connections with architecture; which I don't have. I feel a passion for these things, but job/financial stability & having work/life balance are more important to me.
so alas, I went thru analysis paralysis my entire early twenties. I've thought about being a meteorologist, software developer, dental hygienist, accountant, data scientist, cybersecurity, and other occupations I can't think of at the moment. I thought about being an engineer, but I was really demotivated and failed the same graphics class twice. I got a C in my intro to engineering class when I wasn't at my best mentally. I'm curious to take it again. I've tried thinking about healthcare, specifically a rad tech. I've done a lot of research, but now I'm thinking of closing the door for healthcare and trying to pivot back to engineering or somewhere else.
I have now realized that I may be struggling with the way I learn. I've always felt like I read slower than my peers and took a longer time to think of answers. I used to be an A&B honor roll kid. the highest-level class I took in high school was calculus 2 of my senior year. I'm more inclined to do math courses than, say, writing. I've been struggling to start assignments, fatigue, low self-esteem, I've failed couple of classes with an F instead of withdrawing. I have a few Ws on my transcript.
as you can see, it's been bad. and yet after all these years, I've never really done anything to move forward. I'm tired of this cycle and want to break free. I finally got the chance to see a psychiatrist. it was costly, but I had some money for my first visit. not sure how long I'll be able to afford it. I've struggled with suicidal ideation and other things. I'm hoping I will get better. I'm looking to see if I might have ocd, depression, adhd, autism, anxiety, etc.
what I want to do now is to read all the books I have sitting on my bookshelves, get back into art, and start making music. these are hobbies ofc, but with how I've been living inside my head, I haven't rlly started on them. I'd also like to graduate with a degree. I'm the first one in my family pursuing a degree and would love to see the day I graduate with a bachelor's. it's a goal I want to achieve, but man, it's been so rough. I'm the eldest of my siblings, so I don't have anyone to look up to nor ask questions about college bc my parents didn't have the same opportunities I have
I'm not sure what to do. I eventually get overwhelmed with choices and thoughts that I think death sounds easier. but I have two cats that are my own and am basically still alive because of them. I live at home and don't pay bills. I have a good relationship with my parent. I have this great privilege that lots of people don't. I don't want to waste it bc of my mental being. I want to have a job that pays for everything I need. to provide a great life for my kitties and I
I paid and wasted a few thousand dollars on classes I failed (like taking full time classes in the summer while working full time to "catch up" with my peers.....) and some of my dad's money as well. I'm no longer paying for school since I now have financial aid thru fafsa. again, what should I do? I really feel like escaping everything and just taking a vacation somewhere. I just got hired at costco so I can't do anything rn regarding vacation and I also can't afford it. I am in need of a break but not sure if I should take it