Confused (Orphan?)?

Hi everyone. I really need some advice about my education.

I'm a college freshmen, studying nursing. I used to want to be a nurse...but now I realize I may not want to be. I'm bad at math and science and am struggling. I can't see myself being a nurse the rest of my life. My father is forcing me into this job too.

I really have a passion for English, and writing. I'd love to go to college to study this. I was the only one in my class to make an A in AP English...I love English class right now...so obviously I have the ability.

But here's the dealbreaker...my mom is dead. My dad has 2 years left to live (terminal lung cancer). We have no money...no insurance...no savings.

Most people I know who major in English have to depend on their parents for a few years after graduation because the job market for liberal arts majors is so grim. But I won't have that luxury.

Nursing, if I study my *** off, would guarantee me a job most likely. In 4 years.

So which do I choose?

If you cannot get good grades in math and science, then you do not have a guaranteed job in nursing. I know more about med school requirements than nursing school requirements, but I'm sure that you still need relatively good grades in science to even be accepted.

There is currently a nursing shortage, so if you choose to continue on that path it's certainly laudable. But if you simply cannot excell in the necessary classes or would be completely miserable, then your first loyalty has to be to your own success and happiness.

English and pre-nursing are not the only two majors out there! You could change your major to business, teaching, or another non-liberal-arts major that would prepare you for a job and which you would enjoy more (at least relatively speaking) than science. With a non-science major, you could quite possibly minor in English as well.

Your school probably has some sort of career planning advising center. Someone there ought to be able to give you further advice on how you can get an education that will be practical based on your needs but also enjoyable based on your interests.

You can always apply for scholarships!
Your scenario puts you at a great chance of winning one.

omg, I'm sooo sorry! That sounds like such a hard decision to make! Maybe you shoudln't do either? Try something that you know you can accomplish, but something that you can start right away. It would make it a lot easier for you, and I'm sorry about your parents.
The best of luck to you!

go with your desires it will be with you for the rest of your life I am sure there are grants available to help you and your dad will be proud he wants to make sure you are ok before he leaves to visit your mom

I'm sorry about your mom and dad. If you have a close relative, I'm sure they would understand your problem and be willing to help. I think that if you think you'd do better in English and it's your passion, you can ask colleges to set you up with a job after you're done studying, it really helps. Although, only 10% of journalists have jobs from what I remember. So it's risky. Maybe you can have both: study nursing, and work really hard. And then start a website or something and display your writing on there! You can make huge money off of a website. If you get a lot of visitors, people will want to advertise on your site. Depending on your success, within 6 months you could VERY likely get $2000 a week from the other companies advertising. That way, you can help pay for your nursing degree too. I am starting a website, so if you have sample writings you can send them to me, just go to my profile and send me one. That way you can put your stuff on my site and I'll see how well it does. :]

~~ my granddaughter graduated in 2004 from collage with a degree in chemistry /biology. .because her mom insisted!
her mom is a reg. nurse. she wanted her to be a doctor of some sort.
she hates anything that is connected with science!
she waits tables in a white table cloth restaurant. she make more money that she would in medicine.she loves her job! might be with schooling somewhat behind you, a quick way to earn money might be in the service area. most of the really good places only hire people almost out of collage. they want well educated servers, because they have the 'top' people in the good restaurants. you must be able to carry on good conversations.
she earns almost $76,000 a year.
you can always continue school later in life.
GOOD LUCK! ~~

If you decide to do what you really want to and major in English, you wouldn't have to get a job that uses your major right away. Get a lousy job that pays the bills until you can get one that you love.