I'm doing a teaching degree and no longer want to be a teacher

Hey. I need some advice. I've started doing a business teaching degree, which will prepare me to be come a teacher. I've come back from doing Camp America, and decided that I love the outdoors and would like to do something a bit more hands-on, as I've never been so happy. I'm two months into my teaching degree, and I hate it. I've hated it from like week two, but I thought I would stick it out, but I just can't get this feeling out of my chest that I shouldn't be doing this. I don't know what to do, as I feel like it is too late to switch course. If I'm being honest, I cry most days about it, and I'm miserable. I don't know what to do. PLEASE HELP ME. IS THIS NORMAL????

Hey. I need some advice. I've started doing a business teaching degree, which will prepare me to be come a teacher. I've come back from doing Camp America, and decided that I love the outdoors and would like to do something a bit more hands-on, as I've never been so happy. I'm two months into my teaching degree, and I hate it. I've hated it from like week two, but I thought I would stick it out, but I just can't get this feeling out of my chest that I shouldn't be doing this. I don't know what to do, as I feel like it is too late to switch course. If I'm being honest, I cry most days about it, and I'm miserable. I don't know what to do. PLEASE HELP ME. IS THIS NORMAL????

Hey. I need some advice. I've started doing a business teaching degree, which will prepare me to be come a teacher. I've come back from doing Camp America, and decided that I love the outdoors and would like to do something a bit more hands-on, as I've never been so happy. I'm two months into my teaching degree, and I hate it. I've hated it from like week two, but I thought I would stick it out, but I just can't get this feeling out of my chest that I shouldn't be doing this. I don't know what to do, as I feel like it is too late to switch course. If I'm being honest, I cry most days about it, and I'm miserable. I don't know what to do. PLEASE HELP ME. IS THIS NORMAL????

Hey!
That sounds really tough…and I just want to start by saying that yes, it is normal to feel like this. You’re definitely not alone in realising that the course you’ve chosen might not be the right fit once you’ve actually started it. A lot of people don’t talk about it, but so many students go through the same thing, feeling stuck, confused, and scared to make the “wrong” decision again.
It’s clear that your experience at Camp America had a huge impact on you and that’s something worth listening to. When something makes you feel genuinely happy, that’s a big sign of where your passions lie. The fact you’ve noticed that and are being honest with yourself is actually really brave.
It’s not too late to switch, you’ve only been on your course for a couple of months. The first thing I’d do is reach out to your personal tutor or course leader and explain how you’re feeling. They can help you explore your options, whether that’s transferring to another course, taking a break to think things through, or changing direction entirely. You could also get in touch with your uni’s student support or careers service, they’re used to helping people in exactly this situation and can talk you through what’s realistic and what steps to take next.
It might also help to take a step back and do some proper research before making a decision…look into careers and courses that combine education with outdoor or hands-on work. There are so many paths out there, things like outdoor education, youth work, or even adventure therapy, that could align with what you loved about Camp America while still letting you use some of what you’ve already learned.
And please don’t be hard on yourself for feeling miserable right now. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it just means you’ve learned something important about yourself earlier rather than later. I went through a similar experience where I was torn between a few career paths before settling on ODP, and I’m so glad I took the time to stop, research, and really think about what excited me most before committing fully.
You’ve got time to change direction and doing something that actually makes you happy is always worth it in the long run. You’re being honest, self-aware, and brave, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now….that’s something to be really proud of.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do! Sophie 🙂

Thank you so much for your response, it’s really helped calm me down. It’s one thing hearing it from friends and family that it’s fine, but hearing it from a stranger who could be as brutally honest as they want, is nice. I spoke to my student support, and they were the most unhelpful people on the planet. They said my options were to drop out (I absolutely hate this word as it makes me feel like I’m giving up), or stick with it. I already figured those were my options!!! I think i am going to take a year out to evaluate my options before pouring more money into a course that is taking me in a direction that I don’t want to go in. I’m looking at more broader courses, such as geography, which have a bit more of an outdoors focus yet can also lead to business roles if I decide to go down that path. What do you think? I feel like a total loser for starting uni at 20, and a bit behind in life aghhhh.