Need help with a big life decision

Hello everyone,

I need some advice. For the past few weeks, I’ve been very distressed. I’ve actually never felt the symptoms of stress until recently. I’ve lost my appetite and my upper body is tensed. All because I can’t decide whether to go to nursing school or medical school.

I got into both. But I’m having trouble picking. I’m not sure if I love medicine enough to be a student for the next seven years. I’m 24 and hoping to be a pediatrician. But I was at my worst during HS, undergrad, and studying for the MCAT. In these moments of my life, my mental health was at its worst. I’ve never really like school. I would always dread going. And I believe that medical school will just be a repeat of that for me, especially because of the studying demands of both medical school and residency. The exams are very off putting as well.

I was a kid when I decided to pursue medicine. I wanted a job that pays well, job security, the ability to help people, and something that wasn’t boring. But I don’t know if I have the passion for medicine. I can’t see myself striving and working hard for something that I’m not entirely passionate about. I feel like the motivation is not there for me.

My family really wants me to go. And my parents keep saying that something I’ve been working for so if I don’t go out, I’ll regret it. But I believe my mental health would suffer. Also, the medical school I got into is across the country. And I don’t like the idea of being so far from home for something I don’t really feel passionate about.

What’s so appealing about my nursing program is at 16 months and then I’m done. And in my state, nurses make low-six figures and in my opinion, have a great work life balance. I know doctors as attending a can have a great work life balance but that’s not necessarily something I want to wait for. I value time more. I like to relax and just lay down and do nothing. And with nursing if I decide that I want something else, I can continue my school and become a mid-level or an administrator or an academic.

I have talked to a therapist and she recommends that I see a psychiatrist to get on like a low grade antidepressant so I will be doing that. I just need more guidance. Everybody that I’ve confided in, most think I should go with medical school. But none of these people are doctors or have been a medical school. I do have a meeting with some residents at a hospital I volunteer at later next week. Just to pick their brains. But I would like some of your opinions. Thank you.