I know this was directed to Don, but the follow ups have triggered some thoughts.

76, it looks like you have a fundamentally sound plan to pursue a course of action that fits your desires. What I want to point out for you, Matthew, and anyone else around, or in, your 20 something period is that you have way more time than you can imagine. We've all been there and lived the impatience of youth. And that's not to say that perpetual procrastination is a viable alternative either. But each person has a different life "clock". Some can focus in early (say in their teens) on a career path, design an education plan to meet that objective, and follow that plan with a strong sense of purpose. I see that in Don's path, and his reward has been a very successful career, and attainment of some of the highest credits in his field. Other's may take longer to figure out where their path is. I'm reminded of another poster here who was apparently lamenting that he wanted to change his life's direction but was unsure that at 30 he could do that anymore. As someone nearly twice that age I can tell you that not only can you do it successfully at thirty, but you can do it at 40, or even later, if you want to. I would certainly encourage anyone to make every effort to choose a path as early as possible and pursue the highest form of education you are capable of. You can never start too young, or learn too much. But, if your first choice isn't working out well for you, don't lock yourself in misery for the rest of your life either. We do make mistakes, whether it's forming a bracket, or choosing a "profession". Those mistakes are turned into positives when we recognize them as what they are, learn from them, and then move on to a better choice remembering not to make that same mistake again.

It's too easy to try something once, meet with obstacles, and cave in, only to accept something less than we are capable of acheiving. If this has happened to you you have a LOT of company. Meeting failure is not failure. Giving in to failure is failure. I'm reminded again of another member of this forum who has a signature line that shows a lack of understanding of his subject. Trying to be charitable I'll just concede that he's inexperienced and, at best, insensitive. I don't remember it exactly, but the general message is "Even if you come in first at the Special Olympics you're still retarded". Now, I've spent a fair bit of time at Special Olympics events and come away with a different perspective. What I see there are people who struggle mightily to do the best they can in spite of being short changed. By comparison to us "normal" people their performance may appear awkward, and substandard. But what they are doing is the best they are capable of without excuses. And what I've observed is a decided lack of "quit" in nearly all of them. Even the slowest keep "running", or rolling, or whatever their event requires, and their capabilities allow, until they hit the finish line. And then they go to the next event and do it again, with the same level of commitment. And I've never seen any other winner take more joy than any one of those kids do. Having run competitive track I can safely say I've seen a lot more "quit" from "normal" people.

Some of us learn early, some of us learn late, and, regettably, some of us never learn at all. Some will aspire to higher school based education , others will get theirs at the street level. Whichever way you choose, make the most of it. The best piece of advice I ever got was; "You'll be on the path to success when you stop saying "I can't.........................." and learn to believe in "How can I.............................."".