I feel torn...

[Tobias]

Its really becoming something that is only more and more evident, and thats where i should be going to school next year. Ive been accepted to 2 different schools, each with their own backgrounds, and each with their own credentials

One the first hand, there is Johnson and Wales University, which i have notified you about getting into. It is a decent school, with a fantastic culinary arts program. Its all the way up in providence, and its nice.

Then there is Fairfield University. I was accepted on the 27th of march. It is one of the top 100 schools in the country, and it is 1 minute from where i currently live right now. As far as campus life, i could have one due to my proximity of the school. Also, it cuts the cost down.

Putting them both together, they both cost relatively the same, around 25000 a year. With both schools, im being granted (in some way, shape, or form) 5000 dollars aid. Yet this is the point in which i get torn. Do I go to the school that is for culinary arts, which i do show interest, but never in public? Or do i go to the school that is close to home, that is very distingished (Not to mention a Jesuit University), and has, for the most part, a promising future no matter what?

Ive turned to you guys for opinions, because im stuck. On one side, ive got people telling me to do what i want to do, and to go to the Johnson and Wales. On the other hand, Ive got my family, who seems to be only throwing out the negative things of going to Johnson and Wales, and have been basically telling me that they think i will be making a mistake going to JWU, and to go to FU instead.

Its just hard...i weigh my family as much as i would the whole world, so i dont really know what to do. I should, but i just can't figure it out.

That is all.

[Suna-chan]

hmm...that is a tough decision...

Basically, i would ask yourself "If i do go to the Culinary arts school, am I willing to admit to the public that's something i enjoy doing? Would i be ok telling my friends and family that i like the culinary arts?"


if it's something you only want to persue privately then i would suggest going to Fairfield University and looking into extra classes that may be offered outside the college.

If you feel that one day you could really admit to the world you love the culinary arts, and could make a living off that, then by all means, go to Johson and Wales University!

I mean, this is really an important decision and no one else can make it...and perhaps you already know your answer, you're just waiting for someone else to say it to you. -shrugs-

don't worry..in the end, no regrets. you'll make the right choice for your life! ^_^

[emmy]

if your really passionate about culinary arts you should do that. you can live life everyday knowing that you love your job. even if you haven't expressed it to your peers yet i think if that is something that you really wanna do, then just go for it. and there will be people at the school who have the same interests as you, so you can be more open about sharing them. just trust your instincts....whatever they might be..

[Excel Zero]

Simple my friend...take a deep breath and do what will make you happy for the rest of your life. Now I am not anti family and will not say naughty things about your's....but I had the same exact thing happen to me with my mother telling me I shouldn't be a paramedic, and how I shouldn't join the military and all that stuff. Sort of like you said, throwing negative things my way. All she does is say how great of a grade school teacher I would be, and I want to be a Doctor and god help me I will. I say stand up for your interests and go to JWU. Just like I did one day I called her and she started up on the topic and I said ya know what? I love teaching but I will only b ultimately happy in proffession as a Doctor, so nyah. Since then...she's let it go. ah well...parents, kids, we're all bad! j/k

Be happy my friend

Excel

[Doot]

Tobs, if you have a passion for something, you should never let anyone's decision deter you from your dream. Sometimes it's hard to let family go off on their own and that may be a reason why your family wants you to go to the one locally. You can't fault them for wanting to keep you around. You have to look at what it is inside you have this passion for and go after it. Trust me, you don't want to wait til you get older and be filled with regret for abandoning a dream.

It's a hard choice but deep down you always have to do what's best for you.

[Tobias]

Thanks guys, i really reflected on this today at work, and ive got the rest of the week off from school, so im going to dedicate it to figuring this thing out. I love my passion for cooking, and i feel i could make a great chef / food marketeer. And it made me feel much better when my parents came up to me after work and said: "No matter what, Mike, we will always be hehind you."

Thats what makes Tobs warm and happy through and through

that is all

[reaper]

Good chefs make good money you know.

[Reverend]

Follow your bliss Tobs, let it take you where it will and as long as you continue to love what you are doing, it won't matter

[Sperrit]

Here's something that I had to learn the hard way, buddy:

You are damn, lucky, ya know? To know now where you want to go, what makes you really happy, what you want to be, that is an extremely important fact for your life, and it's something that some people never figure out.
I was in a similar situation to yours, Tobs. Now, the schools I was choosing from weren't as distinguised as the ones you're talking about, but it basically went down like this:
I was deciding between a Jesuit school (a good one) and a school where I would study music. The Jesuit school was closer, thus making it an "easier transition." My parents and close family were pushing for the Jesuit school, so I (unconsciously) did what I thought they wanted.
Big mistake.
I bombed. Big time. I went there for one quarter and left in disgust and failure. I tranfered to the music school and I've been happy ever since.
College is a unique experience in that it HAS to be FOR YOU. You cannot go to college for someone else. If you do you'll end up being miserable or failing. The decision to go to college and then which one you want to go to has to be yours and yours alone. Trust me on this one. Don't make the mistake of going to the college you think will make everyone else happy. Go to the college that will make YOU happy. In the end that's what they really want, too.

Join the Fun

[Tobias]

i think that your right Sperrit. And i think i know what im going to do with this situation. The only thing is that im not gonna say what i think here right now...not just yet. I wanna clear this up with my folks one last time before announcing what i want to do, and that's that

That is all