What's better: a good education or happiness?

So I'm faced with a dramtic problem. I am in the Nursing program at College, I should be graduating in July 2008. However, I'm not enjoying it. I don't like the tasks we are supposed to perform: giving shots, passing out pills, dealing with body fluids, having patients be mean to you, and so on. I actually totally dread going to school each and everyday of my life. I cry everytime I think of having to go to school. I come home from school and I'm just drained. Not only does school consists of tons of in class lectures, it also consists of 3 whole days filled with on the job tasks. Then I have to come home and study my butt off to do well in lecture. My "out of school life" is diminished. I've become dedicated to school and dont' get out anymore. I'm becoming really upset all the time. People around me tell me " I'm just not me anymore." I have thought of dropping out of the program. It's just draining me, it's pulling all of my happiness out of me. But.. Then you've got people down your throat saying, you've come this far, just finish it out. You can't just give up. You need to keep going. What are you doing to do if you don't continue? My mom even said to me "What, if you don't finish with a nursing degree are you just going to flip burgers or scrub toilets for the rest of your life?" No I don't look at it like that. I am perfectly capable of finding a job that would support me financially, maybe not as much as nursing, but it will get me by, and I'd be happier with it than if I were to continue. You know what I mean? This world has become so materialistic that it's unbelievable. People always strive to "out do" someone else. Why not just go with the flow and do what makes you happy?? Why can't it be that easy? So, here I am.. Wondering.. What's better?? A good education that will get me a job where I make pretty good money, but absolutely hate it so much that when I do come home from work with all that money, I'm so emotionally drained I don't feel up to doing anything? Or.. Do I want happiness? Find a job that pays OK and to where I still come home after work feeling relieved and still happy.. Does anyone understand what I'm trying to say? I'm really confused. I just wish I knew what was best.. I know a good degree is good, but not as good as being happy, right?!?

you should drop out. If this is making you that unhappy, its bad for your health. Do what you think will be better.

You don't think you need money to be happy? You've never been without money, have you?

I've been where you are. At one point school stressed me out so bad that I dropped all of my classes on an impulse and swore never to come back. Many people ARE able to make enough money without a college degree, but they usually have exceptional talent, charm, or luck. As for the rest of us, a college degree helps. I don't doubt you could get a job as you are, but would you be able to save some money in case of emergency? Would you be able to pay all your bills if you decided to take two weeks off?

What you should do is take a break. Take a semester of two off, but tell yourself (and your mother) that you'd be back. There's no sense in working hard all these years if you're just growing to throw it all away. I'd rather work hard (and suffer) for another year than to have to work hard for the rest of my life.

Hello, My name is Tammie, to my family and friends I am "Queen". I am 45, a mother of four and a grandmother of two and I am just now starting college. Nursing is my dream for as long as I could remember. Not because of the great money but because I like helping people from my heart. You see, I was a teen mother at the age of sixteen. The nurses I met back in the seventy's was over worked and under paid for the job that they did, so yes, they were mean as hell. Mostly because they were in it for the money not the love of the job. I say to you, the same thing I say to my girls, when you are born it is all up to the your parents to make you happy. After you graduate from high school, it is all up to YOU to make YOUR LIFE a happy one. Yes you want to please every body, but you must start by pleasing YOURSELF FIRST. But, I would say this, because you have come this far and 2007 is on it's way out the door, if you were one of my girls, I would say this to you: GRADUATE from the Nursing Program, so you'll have that degree in hand and nothing will be lost there! Hold on to that degree, and try your hand at what YOU THINK will make you HAPPY. That way if the things that you venture into don't pan out, you will have a Nursing Degree to fall back on, you know it will serve as YOUR SAFTY NET, so to speak. GOOD LUCK IN WHAT EVER VENTURE YOU DECIDE ON! And Have A Queen's Day :-)

Thanks to all that have responded. It has helped me through my decision process.. I did end up dropping my Nursing program because I felt as if my heart really was not in it, therefore, I was not working to the best of my ability. I knew that I lost the drive to go to school everyday, lost the courage to study so the only result of that would be bad grades. I'm dropped because I did not enjoy it. I'm hoping to take the next 2 weeks to try to figure out what I really want in this life, and I'm thinking that may be psychology, but who knows. I'm excited to start a new journey in my life!! I'm trying to live it up and enjoy it to the fullest!! I want to smile, laugh, and just not have to care for a little while. I'll probably start taking new classes in January so not much time is lost!! I love all the input and it helps to know that there's kind people out there that care enough to chat with strangers!!!