Deanna,

First of all, I want to commend you for asking for advice. So many people won’t, and it’s foolish not to seek out wisdom when you can benefit from it.

I was in a very similar situation. You have to tune out your family’s objections and really consider what you want for you life. It’s your happiness, and sometimes you have to fight tooth and nail for it. If money is an issue, attend a community college for a year or two and keep your grades up. It will dramatically decrease your cost, as well as buy you some time to consider what you want to do with your life.

Sometimes our families think they know what’s best for us, despite our best efforts to tell them otherwise. Being a doctor is an admirable and worthy profession, but if you feel deep down it’s not for you, don’t do it! You are the only one who has wake up every day and live your life. Remember you have a few years of preparation before you even get into medical school, so it’s not urgent to tell them that right this second.

We also should remember that our families know us better than anyone. Maybe your family is stuck on you being a doctor because you used to play doctor all the time as a kid or something. My mom is actually the one who told me ‘Amelia, you should try court reporting. I really think you’d be great at it.’ I had a scholarship to go to acting school and thought she was crazy, but I did it, and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

As for being awkward, remember that it’s just a stage, it’s not who you are. I was so awkward in high school it was coolest to make fun of me over everyone else. People made unflattering videos about me in film class, knocked my books out of my hands, called me a man, told me I should kill myself, and my ‘friends’ just stood by. Learn to take charge of your friends and only surround yourself with kind people. Remember, it’s your life. You’re an adult now, and you get to decide. It’s okay to say ‘I don’t think these people are the best friends for me.’

The best practical social advice I have ever gotten is to just let people talk about themselves. People love talking about themselves. Usually, if you just ask someone a lot of questions about their life, and say nice things about it, they’re pretty apt to like you.

“The key to an easy relationship with other people is not to impose your ego, nor crush the ego of others.” – Swami Prajnanpad

I hope you find your happiness.