Changing from music major

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I'm 25, married, and have a 3 year old son. From 2010 to 2012, I was a music major at my local community college, using federal aid. I successfully completed the music program, but was short on credits for the associate transfer degree. I had to pay for the remainder myself, so that took another 2 years. During that time, I also earned a certification to be a phlebotomist, which I, oddly, enjoyed.</p>

<p>Between then and now, I've come to realize music as more of a personal endeavor (I guess a "hobby"), and am having a LOT of trouble finding a different major that won't make me start over again from the beginning. I'm not really sure what I want. I know that I want a major that I will enjoy, and that will have at least a reasonable chance of landing me a decent job in the future. I'm really interested in cultural studies (east asian, specifically), history, and have also considered the teaching route. But I'm still not sure, as I want to do the best thing, not just for me, but for my family that I am responsible for. If I major in something that I like, and then end up with a bad job or no job at all, I will feel incredibly guilty, and won't be sure how I'm going to pay the federal loans back. That's my worst fear.</p>

<p>I know my message is everywhere, but that's how my head is all the time now. I'm really just lost.</p>

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<p>I’m assuming you lack STEM skills? Choosing a major in STEM would be the best for getting a well-paying career
A friend of mine has two boys and has an internship right now that pays really good, enough to support his kids while he’s completing his degree in Mechanical Engineering. Before he got that internship, he was literally living on ramen…no joke. He didn’t make enough at his job and worked full-time while going to school. Now he just works part-time and it’s enough. I think the dude about cried when he got the internship. Paying for kids is costly and he has the cheapest housing available.</p>

<p>You will probably have to start over in something, but you should really research what kind of careers you might want to pursue and weight the cost and risks. I’m on student loans right now, but I never would’ve taken it out if I didn’t believe it’d be worth it (Mathematics undergrad/Engineering grad). </p>

<p>Specializing in East Asian studies…isn’t going to get you much anywhere. I don’t think it would anyways unless you became a university professor. I don’t think it’d be a worthwhile endeavor if you’ve got a kid to worry about and need to support a family. Maybe if you were single and unmarried. </p>