Choosing Between Law School and Advocacy: Is It Wrong to Prioritize Mental Health?

Is it wrong to give up on something for my mental health? I’m in my undergrad and have wanted to go to law school for 2 years now. My biggest drive is helping victims, but now I’m reconsidering my career. I want to be a victim advocate I think. I’m torn between law school and victim advocate. I love the idea of both but one I’m done with school in 2 years for advocacy or 5 for law. School is really hard due to my mental disorders so I can’t decide if putting myself through 3 extra and extremely tough years will be worth it. I also feel like giving up in a sense is wrong because it’s literally giving up. So is it wrong to let mental health control my life like that? Also side note, my mental health isn’t getting better I will have what I have for the rest of my life. There’s no possibility of it being better in 2 years unfortunately.

Your answer

Jade1

2y ago

It took me 17 years to get my degree. If you're financially stable, you can take breaks from school. I had to do this a few times. Seek out disability accommodations. I was able to turn in work later and leave the classroom for breaks. Graduating from college is a huge goal. Break it down to smaller goals like just going to class. Every homework assignment completed and test taken is one step towards graduating. Take it day by day. I look back on my academic career and it doesn't feel like I was in school for two decades. Things that are worthwhile take time and effort. Therapy helped me A LOT.

feellicks

2y ago

there are no rules to life. do what makes you happy. going down a path where you end up losing that passion because you tire yourself out isn't good for anyone. there's nothing wrong with you for wanting to change your path. sometimes you've just learned everything you can from one situation and you have to move on 💕

Knightstarr

2y ago

Following your passion is NOT giving up regardless on how you achieve it

Scarlettrose

2y ago

No its not wrong. You know what's better for you! You know you better than anyone. Mental health is as important as physical health.

jdubz

2y ago

also, i really don’t see this as giving up. changing your major in college is super common. even post college, a lot of people decide to change career paths and pursue something unrelated to their degree and that’s totally fine! you gotta do what makes you happy. and just to try to reframe this for you a little more, it sounds like you still have the same end goal: help victims. whether that’s being a victim advocate or a lawyer is totally up to you. it’s like how some people will become LCSW (licensed clinical social worker) instead of LPT (licensed professional therapist). they both are there to help people and had to go through years of training. the journey was just a little different.

DangerNoodle

2y ago

Hmm, that's a hard one, I would suggest maybe making a list of pros & cons it may sound simple but if you make a really in depth list/chart (in depth as in even add all the small nitty-gritty stuff) you might find that one is more worth it or that the pros outweigh the cons or vice versa. You could do this for both law and advocacy if that would help too

jdubz

2y ago

if victim advocacy is something you’re interested in, then i think it might be best to pursue that, at least for now. i also have several mental health disorders that will never go away, but as life circumstances change, things might not feel as heavy, or you’ll have a better support system or better coping strategies. just because you don’t pursue a law degree now, doesn’t mean you can’t ever change your mind. school will always be there, so i say do what’s best for your mental health now.

MiMiMiMi

2y ago

Law School is really stressful, according to everyone I know who has been through law school. Could you go part time?

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