Well, lets get real. A lot of kids who think they want to be doctors when they’re in high school don’t become doctors, and I’d say it often has little to do with aptitude. When we’re young, our knowledge of careers is limited to what we have direct contact with… doctors, nurses, teachers, dentists, police officers, and whatever our parents and their friends do. There’s a whole big world out there. And guess what? Goals change. This is not a bad thing, nor should it be a distressing thing to a parent. Who the heck wants their kids to have their life trajectories all wrapped by junior year in high school? Good grief, you don’t even know all the options yet. Explore. Live a little. And cut yourself some slack for questioning a career that will leave you with six figure debt from 8 years of formal education and then living on slave wages for 3-4 more as a resident.
I agree with most of the suggestions here - some excellent responses.
You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. Just do your best to keep the options open. Try not to engage in “all or nothing” or “black and white” thinking.
Wishing you peace!
Burn out and living for others expectations can be debilitating. Don’t feel guilty that you are re-evaluating your future. You are far too young to have to commit to a career unless you’re really feeling it. Keep your options open at this point and don’t give in to the, “But it was your dream! Don’t just give up,” voices. You are growing and changing and what was once a dream may not be a great fit in reality. There are so many ways to make a difference in this world and to make a living at the same time. Explore. Breathe. Enjoy this time of uncertainty, and make sure that you continue to go in a direction that fits your temperament and personal satisfaction- not someone else’s (parents, friends) expectations.