re: taking a break by anonymous questioner

April 11, 2008 02:55 PM

voting has closed for this question

dear internet,

A little background: So I go to a moderately-sized university (not teeny-tiny, but not UW-Madison or anything), and this year has been the year from hell. I started out with 20 credits (a total of 13-or-something classes; music classes are almost all 1 credit each with the workload of a 3- or 4-credit course) and now I've got 12 and I'm still struggling a little bit, what with having missed a lot of classes due to stress-related illnesses and whatnot.

Anyway, I'm thinking about leaving for a short amount of time and going to a school in Lawrence, KS (a loooong way away from where I am now) where they offer an A.A. in Theatre. I'm a theatre minor currently, and this other school would be so much less stressful.

I have a full ride scholarship (I have loans to pay for room and board) at the school I go to now, and I really don't want to give it up, but I'm starting to think the stress might not be worth it.

Another option is to live in this city (closer to home, lots of friends who still go to my university) and working for a semester or a year while just taking it easy otherwise. I'd consider taking classes part-time (probably I'd do the opera studio, a jazz choir and/or voice lessons).

But when I decided to go here, I sort of relinquished the opportunity to go far away to school, which I wanted to do originally.

Anyway, sorry for the super-long story! On to the question:

Dear Internet,

What should I do? :)

results 14 votes

Transfer to that other school to get your Associate degree, and when you have, transfer either back to your current school or to another one to get your Bachelor's in whatever the hell you want without worrying about money. (3 votes)
 21%
Take a break from school altogether! Live with a friend, get a job and maybe even a car, and you'll be infinitely less stressed without worrying about everything in the world. Also, you could have the time to do those community theatre things in which you've been dying to have the time to get involved. (1 vote)
 7%
Take classes part-time, still doing the stuff listed above but getting credits you'll need when you go back to being a full-time student. (7 votes)
 50%
Move somewhere else and get a job, then go to school after you've been working for a semester or two. You need a break from your current surroundings (I really do...). (2 votes)
 14%
I have a better idea which will solve all of your problems! (1 vote)
 7%
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comments

  • littlewolf says:

    Good luck with whatever you finally choose to do. I hope life gets less stressful for you soon!

    Apr 13, 2008 06:51 AM
  • anonymous questioner says:

    Yeah, I'm afraid that's more complicated than it sounds. However, I'm leaning toward focusing on my theatre minor (maybe 5-6 classes total?) and staying full-time if I can, and I'm 90% positive that'll help. I think it was everything combined with the school work (family deaths, panic/anxiety attacks, depression, relationship woes) in a sort of commotion cocktail that just kicked my butt. Anyway, here's hoping next year will be a lot better!

    Apr 15, 2008 03:53 AM
  • sheepofages says:

    Commotion cocktail! It sounds kind of cute when you put it like that.
    I think staying in school (part-time or transferring) is fine so long as the majority of your worries aren't of the what-to-do-with-my-life kind.
    But I voted for being out of school altogether for awhile. It is a whole new box of troubles but I think in my case it would have helped. And I always offer other people advice that would be ideally suited for me...

    Apr 16, 2008 10:57 PM
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