I (23F) studied at two engineering colleges at once and graduated from one, but I was completely burned out, so I froze the second degree. During college, I discovered I actually want to be a teacher and when I told my parents it went exactly as I feared... they’re still disappointed and bring it up almost daily.
This is the first time I’ve gone against what they want and they’ve cut me off financially because of it. I’ve worked briefly as a math teacher at a private institution because I have to take a math exam to work in schools (an exam which I can't take because I do not have the exact degree to enter that exam). I know this is the direction I want to pursue and I understand that teaching pays less, but I’d rather accept that than feel miserable in whatever engineering career I don’t truly want.
Right now, I feel stuck. My parents are pushing me to finish engineering, while I want to move toward teaching. At the same time, I’m also hoping to move abroad with my boyfriend, which makes committing to a long academic degree feel uncertain.
The options I see right now are (maybe there are other options that I do not know of yet)
- Finish the 2nd engineering degree (which even if I'd have I wouldn’t plan to use)
- Take the engineering exam so I can be in the system and do a conversion degree to teach math (what I want most)
- Or start a 3 year math degree if I don't take the engineering exam and get in the system
I’m under constant pressure at home and I need to decide on something. I know that the path I am taking it's hard (and my parents say not rewarding which is not true because for me it would be... I will feel fulfilled when I'll be a math teacher in a school). The thing is my parents are always in my ear and it makes me feel kinda bad to start another college (the 3rd one for that matter:)) and like what... finish at 26 years old? This is what is making this harder... the feeling that I’m falling behind so to say by starting another degree and potentially finishing at 26. It feels kinda wrong to finish college at that age and have no work experience until then. Also feels like I am wasting my youth and the most important thing is that I do not wanna stay in this country another day even so years. I know that teaching is what would give me a sense of purpose and fulfillment. I just don’t know how to move forward while dealing with my parents’ expectations. How do I stay true to what I want and what would you do in my place?