I’m currently a sophomore in my spring semester of college, and lately I have been having a really hard time. I’ve always been a creative person and have had dreams of careers that are typically “unrealistic”. But lately I just haven’t been happy in my major. I already changed it because I was previously in communications but couldn’t think of exactly what I wanted to do with that. But with all of my coursework, I’ve just been so stressed out and cry at least a couple of times a week because I’m so unhappy with what I’m doing. I don’t have any time to do things I enjoy, like reading or writing or playing video games. There are also a few personal creative projects I have always wanted to start, but between work and school I’m too exhausted and have no motivation. I just know that once I do have a full-time job, I’ll be even more exhausted and less motivated to start them. I don’t want to keep spending money and taking classes for a major that I may end up just dropping, so I want some time to myself to still be able to work part-time and make money but to explore my options and also work on my own projects. It’s just gotten to the point where it’s really affected my mental health and I feel like I’m having a quarter life crisis, and I’m only 20.
There are so many things I’d love to do, like be an actress or a novelist or write scripts for film/tv, or write narratives for video games or create cartoons, but I’m aware that these fields are very hard to get into and make money in unless you become really successful. I just don’t want to end up regretting what I choose and wishing I had taken more chances when I was still able to. I have considered possibly just becoming a part-time student instead of taking a semester off, and I could take just two gen-ed classes or two electives to try and explore other things, however this worries me for two reasons. The first is that of all the different creative fields I’m interested in, my school either doesn’t offer it as a major or minor or the classes that are offered for it can only be taken if you are that declared major. The second is that I feel like taking classes would defeat the whole purpose of taking time for myself to work on my projects and explore my options. If I did take a semester off I’d have to move back home, but I’ve been considering doing so anyway because I really haven’t been my happiest here. My roommates are very nice people but they don’t have much depth to them, so I can’t really talk to them when I’m struggling and at least at home I know I would feel supported and safe.
Additionally I’d be able to save some money and afford to start going to therapy again, which I really think is an important thing for me to do. I’m already on track to graduate in 5 years vs 4, so I’m really not concerned with the whole “graduating on time” thing. I believe that everyone goes at their own pace and runs their race how they want to run it. I’m just concerned that if I do take a semester off and am living at home, I’ll lose the very few friends and social events I have now. I’m also concerned that I may need more than just one semester, and may have to end up taking two semesters off. I know that I’ll have time over the summer to work on projects and explore options, but I just feel like I need more time than that to get myself in a better place overall. I’m just not sure what is the best option for me right now. Has anyone ever been in a similar situation or did take a semester or more off and had success with it?