What do you do when you know your calling but you have absolutely no way of making it happen?

Question

I chose a field I'm not really passionate about but the field I am passionate about I can't do because I'm held back by money and science.

I used up all my funds to go back to school for it and I'm not good in chemistry to study it. But I know it's what I'm meant to do. It's like a gut feeling. I've never felt so strongly about something so strongly before.

7Phoenix7 · Accepted Answer

If I genuinely felt that strongly about it, I don’t think I could completely let it go. And you shouldn’t..

I’d probably look for another route, even if it meant taking one class at a time, getting tutoring, or finding something closely related to the field first. Being bad at chemistry right now doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get better at it with some time and effort.

Sometimes the path just ends up looking a lot different than we imagined

ElenaLena · Accepted Answer

If you feel that strongly about it.. I wouldn’t give up just because the path is difficult right now. Maybe you can’t do it the way you originally planned, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t another way…sometimes we just have to find a different path to what we really want…

Advisor Smith · Accepted Answer

I’ve been in that tension myself—loving a path that seemed closed by money and ability.

A few practical steps:

1. Test reality vs. story
- Have you truly maxed out options? (community college prereqs, tutoring, retaking chem, scholarships, assistant roles, online alternatives?)

2. Redefine the calling
- Often the “core” is a theme (helping, creating, analyzing) that can be expressed in multiple careers, not one job title.

3. Bridge role
- Get a job that pays bills and gradually builds skills/credentials toward that field.

4. Small experiments
- Volunteer, part‑time, shadowing. Treat this as data, not all-or-nothing destiny.

ArrowheadSW · Answer

I know a lady who wanted to become a physical therapist, but she wasn't good at those kinds of classes in order to even qualify to get in. I politely told her to save her money and not pursue it, and to stick to the career that she currently had at the time, which she did. She never would have made it.

Laws-Of-Existence · Answer

One thing i can say, is that gut feelings, even real clairvoyant intuition, does not mean that it is a good thing. We can and do use our intuition in negative ways all the time.  ㅤ

Anonymous · Answer

I think sometimes knowing your calling is the easy part. The painful part is realizing you don’t have the money, connections, time, or circumstances to pursue it yet. 😔

I wouldn’t give up on it, though. I’d start with whatever is actually within my reach, even if it feels ridiculously small. Learn, practice, save, meet people, build something quietly. You don’t always need the whole road figured out before taking the first step. 🌱

And honestly, sometimes the dream has to wait while you survive and get your life together. That doesn’t mean you abandoned it. It just means you’re preparing for the right opportunity when it finally comes. ❤️

msc545 · Answer

Well, you haven't said what it is so it's hard to offer you any good advice, but what comes to mind immediately is that if you cannot like a profession out of it because of money and perhaps some scientific issues then try making a hobby out of it and find a different profession in a different way to make your money. I did this with sailing because there is no real good way to make money at sailing but as a hobby it's great. I also did it with music because I'm not a very good musician at all but I love music so I've made a hobby out of it. Nobody would pay to listen to me play music.

ohsheeT · Answer

When we were 2 years old we started to learn how to walk we would fall down and we didn't give up we would get back up and we would do it again and we would fall down again as we started getting good then we wanted to learn how to run and we fall down over and over and over until we figured it out but you kept trying no matter what because it finally will come together when everything clicks you can't give up you have to keep going forward something will happen you will make something happen guaranteed

MrChinaski · Answer

You just started a new job that you will likely be very successful at. Put your head down and over time you will start managing people, gain experience in leadership and can use those skills in any number of other areas down the track.

Chemistry is a fine profession. But the education path to meaningful employment is often long and the salary at the end isn't earth shattering.

I feel like I'm your dad...

Anonymous · Answer

If the field you’re talking about is medicine and you already have a college degree, try Goucher College. They have an excellent post-baccalaureate premed program that prepares you really well for medical school and I’m pretty sure they give merit scholarships for up to full tuition.

NathanDavis · Answer

realize that it wasn't a calling... OR realize that it is actually POSSIBLE, and make it happen either way

Billlewis · Answer

You switch jobs. I've done the three things that you can do better than anyone in the world, and still not eat: writer, musician and commission sales. I was fortunate enough to be exceptionally talented at sales, but then technology and big box stores took over, so I worked at a gas station for seven years. I saved enough money from my sales career and invested it, instead of buying expensive cars, and now I'm doing alright.

thegreenyogi · Answer

If it's your calling you find a way to make it happen, it just might take you a bit longer than expected.

Anonymous · Answer

is it a competitive program in the medical field?

some of these programs don't allow you to retake chemistry if you have already failed it once. Call the college to make sure you can retake it. Do better on your sciences next time.

I know this because I am a nurse. My path has not been easy

Anonymous · Answer

If you are talking about being a doctor, then go into something closely related to it that doesn't have the science requirements. Healthcare is going to be one of the top 5 biggest employers for at least the next 25 years.

If it's something else, do the same thing, get as close to it as you can without having to do the science requirement.

exitseven · Answer

You probably think you are too old to change careers. It is a lot more common than it was a long time ago I was 39 when I got out of grad school and was 40 by the time I got hired for my first IT job.

molonski2 · Answer

I'd keep the thought there and pursue it at least partially , sometimes things change and what looks impossible becomes possible. I'd say " Hang in there " .

Nikki1989 · Answer

You can't force a door open that isn't there. Instead, you change your strategy so you don't crush your spirit along the way.

AviatorTom · Answer

When what one wants is not possible, one changes what one wants.

astlavista · Answer

Start small with what you can control—learn, prepare, build connections, and keep moving until an opportunity opens.

dudeinohio · Answer

I still haven't discovered my calling. Maybe i don't have one.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

What is your calling or your passion?

AngryCarl3 · Answer

Don't give up your day job. I've given up on being a chess Grandmaster but I still play in my spare time. Funny thing is, I'm probably happier that way.

Paige2006 · Answer

Keep trying and be positive

CubaPirate · Answer

Study hard and dont give up!

Anonymous · Answer

What field do u wanna study

Elizabeth113 · Answer

Start small and gradually grow.

What do you do when you know your calling but you have absolutely no way of making it happen?

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