Hello everyone.
I’m currently studying Elementary Education at my hometown university. I previously attended another public university in Illinois but I wasn’t happy there because the university did not seem like a good fit for me and it did not have a stellar academic reputation. So I decided to move back home and take a semester off while I decided what I wanted to do. I chose to attend my local university because my parents wanted me to make a decision and I decided to major in elementary education because I was working for an after school program at a local elementary school and I enjoyed it. However, as I started working on my coursework for the major and getting some experience planning lessons and teaching, I started to doubt my choice and question whether or not I wanted to be a teacher. I’ve read so much about how teaching is such tough, underpaid, and thankless job and how the turnover rate for teachers is through the roof. Now I understand that every job or career has its downsides, but I’m really started to question whether or not I want to be a teacher. I think I just like working at my current job because I like kids, but I don’t actually want to be a teacher.
The problem is that I’m not exactly sure what I want to do. I’m not happy living at home and attending my hometown university but I feel like it would just be dumb to transfer now. The main reason I chose to attend my current university is because I felt like I should have stayed at home to save money. But this university may even have a less prestigious academic reputation than the one I previously transferred from. I already have 64 credits earned and I’m already behind for the elementary education program. I think transferring and changing majors now would put me at least another year behind to graduate.
I’m already graduating a year late and I already feel like I hate college and just want to be done with it. But, I’m afraid that I’m making a mistake by making the “wrong” career choice and becoming a teacher. I just feel trapped. I don’t want to graduate 2-4 years late but I also don’t want to graduate and realize a year or two later that I chose the “wrong” major.
I just don’t know what to do. I feel like I messed up my shot at undergraduate school. I wish I could just go back and choose a new university and major and not be so far behind. I’ve been looking at University of Illinois, as that is my state flagship university and a great school to attend. Like I said, I feel like transferring and changing majors now would put me really far behind. I’m worried about the cost of transferring to UIUC at this stage. But I’m really unhappy with where I’m at and my current major and I just hate college. I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and hard place and I have no idea what to do.
If anyone could offer and help or advice it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Paul