<p>I'm starting my second semester at a "large" University which I hate. It's not terribly huge and neither is the town but I'm from a town of 5000 and a high school of 600 so it is HUGE to me. I intend in transferring to a smaller university in fall/ spring 2014. I changed my major to Elementary Education which I'm happier with but I'm also considering Nursing. I really don't know and they are so far that if I change I have to start over, again.
I hate my school I'm at. I come to my apartment in tears because its horrible. My best friends live 45 minutes away and I go there whenever I'm not in school or working, I lived with one of their families when I got kicked out at 17 so its really my home.
I just want some time off to find out who I am and what I want. I don't see myself anywhere in five years because I don;t know where I want to be. I spent my teenage years living to other peoples standards and meeting their goals so I am just realizing I don't know what mine are.</p>
<p>Should I take time to figure out what I want to do? I have a job and am considering getting a CNA license and working for a year.</p>
<p>I think it sounds like a year off might do you good. Has the spring semester already started, or could you take a leave of absence right now and not incur any bills? If classes have started, then really work hard to do your best, finish the semester with excellent grades, and don’t just drop out. Take a one year leave of absence. Although you don’t like your school right now, they may offer you the best financial aid and you may need to return to school there. When you apply to other schools later, you will be considered a transfer student, and may not get all the financial aid you need, etc. Also, did you take out any loans to attend school? Be aware that you will have to start paying these back 6 mos after your last day attending classes…you might be able to get a deferment on paying back the loans, but there is no guarantee. Time to figure out what you want to do, where you’d like to live, what you envision for your life in 5 or 10 years is totally reasonable, and better than wasting money on schooling you don’t value. Work as much as you can to save money while you are not in school. Pay attention to any “rules” about taking classes while on leave, etc. You want every door to remain open to you, and not have any close accidentally because you didn’t follow all the rules, etc. Good luck.</p>