Does she get say? (game, parent, child, husband)

[maciesmom]

I am not dropping out of college for good.
I just don't want to go next semester.

It is so much harder to start again than it is to keep going...once you stop, other "stuff" has a way of eking into your life and taking priority. I have seen many people your age "take a break" with all the best intentions of going back - and it often just doesn't work out that way. Have you already been accepted into the Police Academy? 100% for sure? Fall is still a ways off - Get help with your depression; try to stay in school - maybe you can take that trip to TN over Christmas or Spring break? Winter breaks are usually pretty long for college students - my DD has about a month. That is a nice long time for a trip to "clear your head".....

[suzie02]

Originally Posted by txtqueen

I'd like to go visit my grandmother and great grandmother, just spend some time down in TN to clear my head.

If you are suffering for clinical depression you will not "clear" your head by yourself. Withdrawing from life is a symptom of depression and once you start on that path recovery will be more difficult.

Clearing your head only works if you had a major change in your life like the loss of a loved one, a job loss or some other major event that requires time to feel better.

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by txtqueen

I am not dropping out of college for good.
I just don't want to go next semester.

Either way, I have to take a break from college next fall for police academy.
and then doing my field training after graduation and most likely going back to college that next fall of 2011.

I'd like to go visit my grandmother and great grandmother, just spend some time down in TN to clear my head.

I WANT a degree in Criminal Justice. There is no way I am going to quit college for good and not get that degree.

If you are suffering from depression just clearing your head will not happen. People who are suffering from depression need professional help. There are people who can help you. Most universities have a health center that will be experienced in dealing with students with mental health issues.

[cleasach]

Also, if you are clinically depressed, the police department may not take you. There are psychological exams that need to be taken and passed to get a job with any police department.

It sounds to me-- and I could be wrong here-- that you are depressed because you are being made to do something that you don't want to do right now. Being in that situation makes it very difficult to be a motivated student and you get bummed out, dread getting up in the morning to go to school and whatnot. If your mother said that you could take the semester off and do whatever you wanted, if you are clinically depressed, that would not make the depression disappear.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by cleasach

Also, if you are clinically depressed, the police department may not take you. There are psychological exams that need to be taken and passed to get a job with any police department.

It sounds to me-- and I could be wrong here-- that you are depressed because you are being made to do something that you don't want to do right now. Being in that situation makes it very difficult to be a motivated student and you get bummed out, dread getting up in the morning to go to school and whatnot. If your mother said that you could take the semester off and do whatever you wanted, if you are clinically depressed, that would not make the depression disappear.

I don't believe in drugs, I think often "depression" means you are not living in sync with yourself.

If college and everything is bringing you down, maybe you should consider career alternatives, community college programs, technical - vocational programs that get you job skills and quicker.

At your age, you really cannot have someone else, not even a well-intentioned mother create your goals and life ambitions for you. You need to look into your own heart and mind and go where they want to take you. You DO need to have something, some way to support yourself and you do need to build yourself for your future, but you also need happiness.

Maybe if you find an alternative training program, your mother could accept that - otherwise you might be better off leaving and tell her not to try to live her life through you, maybe she should go to college herself.

[txtqueen]

Either way, whether or not I take the spring semester off, I still have to take a break for academy.
They aren't going to accept me this far out.
I do plan on working for the PD that I am an explorer for so I plan on really impressing them during my time there to get hired.

I am doing community college right now and they do not have any sort of health insurance. There isn't anything I can afford.

[maciesmom]

Either way, taking 8 months "off" isn't helping you accomplish anything.....If you get into the academy and take a detour (I wouldn't call it a break) from college that is different than just not doing anything. I know it's hard to see right now, but you are fortunate to have a place to live and help with tuition - that is a wonderful opportunity. FWIW - many people in their early 20's are not where they want to be right now - it's just the nature of the age - but the only way to get there is to keep plugging away toward your goal. You have stated your goal is a degree in criminal justice - YOUR goal, not your mom's goal YOURS....well, the ONLY way to get that is to keep going to college. Wonder if you don't get into the police academy ( could be many reasons, testiing issues, budget cuts you have no control over etc etc - staying in school is very impressive to potential employers btw)? What then? You'll be 8 months out of college, no closer to a degree of any sort, no police academy...then you'll be even more depressed. Try to find some kind of help, keep working through it - at least then you'll be making progress toward YOUR goal....good luck.

[christina0001]

Some counseling centers operate on a sliding scale for fees, so if you have no income, you will qualify for free services. If your school doesn't have a health clinic, if you would feel comfortable posting what state or region you live in, we might be able to help find some agencies for you to call for free assistance.
I hate to tell you what you don't want to hear, but as you know, you almost always need a degree to go into law enforcement. My thoughts:
1. finish school, let grandma keep paying for it. When it's time to transfer to a 4-year school, why not live on campus? If grandma can't afford the room and board, you can probably take out a loan for the costs. Then you don't have to worry about pleasing mom, riding a bus, and most larger schools have counseling centers, too.
2. go to police academy, then go back to college...but will grandma pay for academy? where will you live? But are you really going to be motivated to go back to college at that point? It's hard to go back...I'm doing it now and while it is certainly possible, it's hard to get back into those routines you need to succeed in school.
3. can you visit your family in Tennessee over winter break? over summer break? That would give you a rest from school, too.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by txtqueen

I am not dropping out of college for good.
I just don't want to go next semester.

Either way, I have to take a break from college next fall for police academy.
and then doing my field training after graduation and most likely going back to college that next fall of 2011.

I'd like to go visit my grandmother and great grandmother, just spend some time down in TN to clear my head.

I WANT a degree in Criminal Justice. There is no way I am going to quit college for good and not get that degree.

Follow your heart, chase your dreams - they aren't bad ones. Maybe you need adventure of some kind and visting your grandmother will free your spirit.

[kek1993]

No, I think you should move out, and get a full time job. You won't have to do what your mother says at all. You will have to pay your own rent, bills, and be all grown up. Your depression will be cured, because if you don't go to work you will be homeless.

I won't say what I really think...because it would be too detremental to your fragile state.