Hmm, that all depends, did you go straight from school to TAFE?
I found that going from grade 12 straight into university to study medical science wasn't the best idea, I really needed a break. I found myself skipping lectures, dropping subjects and eventually just not going. So for my first year I did the first semester, did kinda well actually, even got a 6 for chemistry which surprised me as I didn't really like doing it. But then the second semester turned to shit after the mid year break and too much alcohol infused benders with friends who weren't smart enough to go to uni, or were too smart to go to uni straight away.
Worked for a bit, always intended to go back, and eventually went back the next year for my second semester of my first year, if that makes sense. I got a few weeks in and said 'you know what, fuck this, I'm working to get some money NOW!' and dropped out. As I said, I needed a break, and during the period I had off I never really did anything bar get wasted, which isn't that unusual for a guy who's just studied for 5 years at an elitist school that I didn't really fit into.
That was 2005, now I'm thinking about it again, and pondering whether or not I should be doing some sort of biological science, as that's what I naturally excel in, or if I should change my focus towards physics and maths and look into some form of engineering as I have since built an interest into that. I'm not bad at physics and maths, but it seemed to bore me a little more than biology did, in fact I love numbers and I'm thinking this is perhaps why I'm inclined to head in this direction now.
The hardest part for me though is giving up my job and money, which although it's not that much, I wont get anywhere near $1200 in my hand each fortnight with centrelink, some study and a casual job at a burger or chicken joint.
It must be said however that I've limited myself to uni or a select few jobs because I chose to be a dead beat in those years off and drive whilst slightly intoxicated, which was a bit over what was recommended, hence my problem.
I get it back next year, and I'm leaning towards the idea that I'll work my ass off, buy a car and see what other career options I can have. I really don't want to study or be stuck in a lab/office/etc for a job. Leaning towards earth moving and construction, get my training for heavy machinery out of the way and make some big dollars there..we'll see..
End of the day, and the moral of my small novel, is that if you're not happy then get out of there, it will only get worse, and when you do finally change, or leave, it will be hard to get motivated again after being unmotivated for so long.
I found that living a decent life for a while and having heaps of fun and learning stuff about other things has given me a vision of what I would like to do, and has put everything else in perspective. Working sucks, and doing a job just because it's a job that pays OK is shit, I've learned that, and when my options open again I'm gonna go see where they may lead.
You should probably decide if it's the whole study thing that's getting you down, or just the fact that you're doing something you don't really like or have as much of an interest as you initially thought. This is the first thing you need to consider, if it's the latter then just look at other options, however I can't say enough that having a break is really beneficial for some people. But then again, some people, like myself, may never return. Your call.
