How can I not feel like a disappointment for not wanting to be an engineer?

I'm a freshman in college right now for Biomedical Engineering. I've been taking stem and engineering courses all through high school, I finished all my math including calc 3 and differential equations while still in High school. My school didn't offer it but I was so far ahead in math I went to community college on my own time in High school to take the classes. I got a 5 on my AP calc BC exam and graduated valedictorian. Everyone expects me to be an engineer, there is this pressure to be a "female in engineering" represent my gender and show that women are good in stem. I'm doing great I'm acing my classes, but the problem is I don't want to be an engineer. I'd like to get a Masters in nursing to be a Nurse Practitioner. I'm scared to tell anyone or switch my major because I feel like I'll be disappointing everyone. I also feel like people will judge me and assume I left Engineering because it was "too difficult" which isn't why I'm leaving. How can I not feel guilty about leaving?

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Wendy Sahli , Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society

Answered Monday, March 23, 2020 at 3:23 PM

It's your life!  You are the only one who will have to live it.  Do what you're passionate about and don't worry about others.  You will be much happier with your decisions if you follow your passion vs. doing what others feel you should be doing.  Be a rock star Nurse Practitioner and we all thank you for choosing such a self-less and rewarding career.

Anna Provaznik , KSQ Therapeutics

Answered Monday, February 24, 2020 at 2:57 PM

Hey Hanna,

First of all I want to say that you sound like a rock star, and no matter what career you take on I think you're already a world changer. As far as wanting to switch to nursing, I think that you should follow your passions, while still keeping your options open. Thankfully many of the pre-requisite classes for nursing may already be in your current course load (definitely speak with an adviser and learn about where any gaps might be in your course planning). You could also start volunteering at a local hospital, and looking into becoming a CNA to get real world experience with what a nursing career could look like. I think that it is completely natural to have some fears about what your peers and family might think about the switch, but ask yourself this, have you ever felt that a nurse took the easy way out of education? I certainly haven't. I think a nursing degree and an engineering degree will both have their own unique sets of challenges, both scholastically and when it comes to hands on experience. I have friends who graduated with bachelors in engineering and went on to become nurses and had plenty of hurdles in both paths. All of this to say, nursing is not an easy way out, and I doubt your peers or family will feel that it is. If you are still worried, see how long you can stay in your current program while still fulfilling the pre-requisites for nursing. Lastly, you will have a much better college experience if you feel excited and driven about what you are pursuing, rather than pushing forward through classes that you dread and won't move you towards your goals. I hope you stay excited about saving lives and helping people regardless of which path you ultimately choose.

Anna