I went to university straight out of high school at 18 years old. Wasted my first year doing a program I wasn’t sure about and spent the next 3 years trying to get into my university’s nursing program. I got rejected twice and I’m in the middle of my third year trying to get in.
I was also taking out student loans during this time so I’m in a lot of student debt without making any substantial degree progress since I’m technically not fulfilling a degree, just taking prerequisites.
I’m also embarrassed to admit but I’ve never worked an official job before. I’ve volunteered here and there and worked for my mom’s business, but nothing official as I didn’t get paid.
I know 21 is still young but my parents are getting old (53 and 56) and I’m worried that by the time I graduate and get a job they would be too old by then. I’m also an only child and they’ve always talked about finally retiring once I become a nurse and I feel so guilty because it’s gonna take me 8+ years to actually graduate, not to mention my accumulating student debt.
Part of the reason it took me this long trying to get into nursing school is that I didn’t want to become a nurse in the first place. I only seriously tried pursuing it when I realized that it was the only choice that could make me have a secure career and fit my life’s demands. My mom failed to become a nurse and now she wants me to become one. I also believe it can better help me help them both financially and health-wise but idk anymore since it’s taking me this long to graduate.
I feel so guilty because my mom has been bragging about me becoming a nurse and lying to her co-workers and our family that I’m in nursing school already so I feel like I have no choice but to pursue nursing. But I know they’ll start getting confused and suspecting that I’m actually not in nursing school since I haven’t graduated in 4-5 years since I started uni.
I feel like I failed everyone and my parents, especially my mom since it’s taking me 8+ years just to get my bachelors instead of the usual and expected 4-5 years.
I’m so lost on what to do and what to say to my mom. I feel like I’ve made so many bad life choices already and wasted so much time and money trying to get into nursing school.
TL;DR:
I went to university at 18 and ended up spending 4 years trying to get into nursing school, getting rejected twice while building up student debt and not making real progress towards a degree. I’m only 70% sure I want to be a nurse, but I feel pressured by my mom and guilty because my parents are depending on me. Now at 21, I feel stuck, behind, and like I’ve wasted time, money, and let my family down.
Any advice on what to do in this situation would be appreciated!