Future Decisions

   
      Well, its almost finals week.  Another semester down, one more to go before I have my bachelors degree in animal science. I know, I know, its taken forever to get here.  So, to answer your constant questions and put to rest your remarks of "you've been in school forever" "Are you ever going to graduate".  Yes, I have been out of high school since 2008. No, I have not been in college the entire time.  I will complete this degree in 8 semesters. I took semesters off which delayed my graduation.....something I wish I wouldn't have done but hey,  at least I made it.
    So, now the big question.....what am I going to do after graduation????? I have a couple of options: 1) Get my degree, continue working where I am now and wait for an opportunity to fall in my lap.
2) Use my degree to get a higher paying job with Tyson or potentially the USDA
3) Take the Biochemistry class I am lacking and apply to vet school
4) Pursue a masters degree in Animal Science
    I have been dead set on becoming a veterinarian my entire life......so it really pains me to admit that I'm having some major doubts about it now.  I've been in this field for a really long time so maybe its just that I'm getting burnt out on it a little bit....but I'm not sure that I want to go through 4 more years of college (out of state) and come out sitting on a couple hundred grand in student loans with a starting salary of about 10 grand more than I'm making now....... I absolutely haven't ruled out this option and I will most likely go ahead and apply just to see what happens....but Im not entirely confident that this is something I want to do anymore.
   Option 1 is irrelevant, Im not going to pay for and complete 4 years of college not to use my degree...no thanks.
   Option 2 could happen....I haven't done much research into the types of jobs that would be available with just a bachelors yet.
   Right now, Im leaning towards option 3. I've spoken in depth with my advisor and we both agree that grad school could be the right decision for me. I will be taking the GRE this summer and , if accepted, I would start grad school next fall.  This would allow me to do research and explore different options while working towards a masters degree.  Plus, I could still apply to vet school at any time during this program.
   So, for all those constantly questioning me about my future.....here is the answer. I don't know.  As of right now, I have a job that I am happy with, a house by myself, a truck and motorcycle that are dependable and that I love, my horses are here, and I have enough friends to make this place feel like home.  I will most likely be pursuing a masters degree in animal science here at the U of A.  I may end up going to vet school, that option is still wide open.....but for now, I just don't know.
  I have to say thank you to everyone who has supported me and my decisions this entire time though.  My parents and sister and brother in law are amazing and I have friends and coworkers that have stood by me through it all. I know that I have made some seriously bad decisions; but, I'm only human. I learned from them and they have made me that much stronger.  So thanks to all those who have been by my side and I can't wait to see what the future holds for me :)