confused about future/path

spinandscribble

i get the grades, i understand the subjects and am about to finish my arts degree but im doubting my choices. im worried if i dont wake up and figure this out i'l waste years of my life.

im studying psychology along with another subject and have always planned to be a psychologist. it was always that or be a artist. yeah kinda different to eachother but thats basically what my future boiled down to.

what scared me away from studying art was making something i love work which i worry would take away the joy it gives me. it seems like such a dead end life (all the artists i know are ex druggies/current or sucidical) and i know i'd hate to end up teaching it in secondary school (hate teenagers). i thought about teaching 3rd level or whatever but irelands so close net it seems like its hard to get in.

apart from that i always wanted to help people and being an artist just seems like it would be a selfish choice to take dont get me wrong i envy my artist friends and dont view them as selfish, i see them as risk takers but then i feel so bad when they have no money for rent and know i couldnt do it)

then with psychology i find it interesting, its a way of helping others with the correct path but now im terrifed i wont be able to handle their problems or will find it unfullfilling.

i know i have the abilty to do anything i want, i have parents who in spite of the fact they have mental problems/alcoholicism i know in their better moments they will support me through it.

im only 20 and will be 21 when im finished this primary degree which i know is ridiculously young to be worrying about my career. i feel so silly writing this rant and i'l get told to calm down but i feel like i'l never know what i want to do and will waste years on degrees and post grads ect (wasting my parents money) trying to find out.

i know deep down i'l never be happy unless i can combine both. art therapy seemed like the answer. still does but dont know if there are any jobs and noone seems to have an answer for me. the problem with that is i need to have a art profoilio ready which would take at least a years solid work but i dont know how i can do that but now that i think about it it would be wonderful.

im so confused. sorry about this rant (i know im about to annoy a few of ye with my "tiny" problem) but im hoping they'll be plenty of ppl to calm me by telling me they went through the same and be encouraging. the ppl i seem to talk to all went on a straight path with no problems.

scruff321

spinandscribble your situation is almost the exact same as everyone in college studying including myself!nobody is exactly sure what they want to do at our age seems to be the case for alot of ppl doin arts (me a drop out currently doin another course ),from the sounds of things your in a good position although you dont think it your caught in between 2 things you have a passion for and at the end of the day its entirely up to urself.i guess your just gonna have to work it out for yourself and weigh up the pros and cons, would you not even just do your art on the side or as a hobbie?
your only 20 even if you do flute around for a years or 2 what difference does it really make?your only young once!you could go travelling,try a few different jobs and see which you prefere,or go for the art and see out it goes if not you have a degree to fall back on,im sure it will all come into place.

leninbenjamin

i'm in the same boat as you and a huge amount of those in my classes or friends are in the same boat as us. like you i'm about to finish an Arts degree and havn't a notion, and kinda regret not studying music. but tbh i dont really care, it'll all work out. dont get stressed over it, just keep doing and make time for the things you enjoy.

spinandscribble

im still very involved in art lol i was in charge of the art society in uni last year while being a art teacher the past two summers.

i guess im just too much in contact with arts students that have a definate plan!

i've been proactive tonight. sent a email to an art therapist to get advice and maybe work experience. read up on what each field must deal with and im thinking of taking a year out next year to travel/get profolio together and gain work experience. now i need to see what mommy/daddy are going to say lol.

leninbenjamin

spinandscribble wrote:

i guess im just too much in contact with arts students that have a definate plan!

while i'm too young to have seen much of this myself in my own groups, any one the wrong side of 30 pretty much tells me the same thing: many plans never come to fruition (i've heard of tradesmen turning around mid 20s, goin back to college and becoming lecturers, pHd students never ever having used it once they got their qualifications and so on). some have an idea, some think they have an idea but circumstances and/or experience will change it, and plenty just don't. but the majority gets along ok in the end. i wouldn't place to much stock on anything really at this stage...

spinandscribble

i know but you know how it is, when you're nervous and everyone around you seems so sure of themselves ect...

oh the relief! realising that i want to go back to do a profoilio course for a year after next summer i feel so great! the more i think about it, the more im sure that
a) i'l have a blast
b) its give me from space from psychology to make a more informed decision

rang my bf and a mate to get their opinion since they know me best and they think its what i need to do.

i'l get a bit of travel in and earn a bit of cash to fund it if im lucky! thanks i think if i hadnt ranted here i wouldnt have seen how i couldnt see the woods from the trees.

Miss Fluff

Art therapy would be a great way of combining the two. You are actually in an enviable position OP, an Arts degree is a great foundation for anything you want to do so you should see all these choices you have as exciting rather than a cause of worry or uncertainty. Many people don't actually use their degree in their day-to-day work, I'm a senior manager in a business, my primary degree was Anthropology and Classics but I don't regret choosing those subjects for a moment over a business discipline. Get your degree and see where it takes you OP, you may change your mind many times over until you find a career you love doing.

spinandscribble

heehee my other subject is classics too. im going to see if i get the conversion course can i defer for a year. doubt it would if i could it would really help me out! plus the portfolio will stand to me since i need one for art therapy in cork.

Luckyduck

Hey,
Not trying to belittle your situation, however 21 is way too young to be panicking about career etc. My dad always said that he reckons people should not go to college until they are in their 20's minimum as before then people are usually far to young to know what they want. I am inclined to agree with him as I for one am only after finding out what I want to do and I am almost 30. I have a degree and post grad already and I am starting a degree in a totally different area. I don't see my degree, post grad as wasted years..I made great friends, tried that line of work, had great experiences. Had a nutty boss who I could write a film about...you just couldn't believe it! Had amazing bosses who brought out the best in me. Basically I have had loads of experiences through my previous qualifications and now its time to try something new. Maybe it will work out maybe this degree won't, but I know that I can always fall back on my previous career again. Psychology is a great degree to have, you will get a job if you look hard enough. If you like helping people and art, have you looked at the ABA Masters in Trinity, its for kids with autism? I have done so many nights courses, sports, hobbies etc that I have lost count!
My advice is try loads and loads of different jobs, through work experience etc. I noticed that you are in galway. They have a part time degree in art in GMIT, I know from all the researching of careers I did! Also maybe check out a really good career guidance counsellor. So what if Art is not a good career, maybe you could teach it to adults, child etc it doesn't have to be in schools. Try and try again! Best of luck

spinandscribble

well im fine now, i just felt a bit lost last night. lol like i said i knew someone would tell me to calm down.

i felt like i knew what ppl want me to do but i wasnt listening to what I want to do. now i am and thats why i'l get a portfolio together. i need it for art therapy and it gives me a year just to have mad craic without any exams to worry me.
i wont be posting in this thread again unless someone asks me a question, im happy with my decision.