ok. i would like some feedback from anybody who feels like doing it no offense will be taken. i have a degree in nutrition and dietitics but i do not work in this field because the job opportunities are little pay with high on responsibility. i am self employed and the money is alright. my question is this, excluding the money issue, am i failing because i am not using what i went to school for or should i be proud of my accomplishements. i am happy doing what i'm doing just like to hear some feedback. this is not an attempt to stock egos i'm just curious to see how others feel about it.

So you took some schooling and found when you got into the real world that the job opportunities were not as plentiful or financially rewarding but demanded a lot from you. Perhaps before you chose this field to go into that you might have done some homework and determined this before hand. Maybe you did but as you loved this field so much you had blinders on and dived right into it. What it comes down to is don't dwell on the past but look at yourself now, today. Are you happy with who you are and what you are doing now? From your post I'd say you were so that makes you a success. No where does success say you have to have a degree. No where does success say that if you do have a degree that you have to use it. You simple made a better chose for yourself or perhaps a career change, it happens all of the time. I bet if you polled the majority of people they are not doing what they thought they would be doing, myself included.

Your self worth is based on you today, and all of those things previous are what shaped you but don't define you. To get the answer to your questions simple stand in front of a mirror and ask that person the same questions.

i am happy and i don't feel bad about my life. i did not mean a degree makes anybody better i just wanted some oppinions i hope nobody takes this qiestion the wrong way.

If everyone does the 'right' thing, we all should be marrying the girl next door we grew up with.

Nope, that you are happy then that is what matters because basically our end result is to be happy in life and if that means not using your degree then you took the right path in life.

No education is ever "wasted" if you aren't happy then go back to school (my neighbor did and she's in her 40's) it's never too late! If you are happy doing what you are doing but not using your education that's ok. Life too short to sweat the small stuff.

Casey

My late sister had a degree in music and teaching and was making a wad teaching privately (cello/piano) the children of the social elite of Cambridge for years and became very uninspired with it all and found her niche doing home care for the elderly and housebound for social services earning a fraction of what she once did but infinitly much happier but then to develop breast cancer and pass away. Go figure

Just because you are not "working in that field" does not mean you aren't using your education. Knowledge and education should be lifelong pursuits, just for their own sake.

I have two bachelor degrees (Law Enforcement Administration and Geology) that are separated by almost ten years. Altogether they add up to about 212 college credits. And it turned out that my major career (for the last 20 years) is unrelated to either one.

Furthermore... as soon as I retire (1-2 more years) one of the top things on my list is to go back and start auditing some courses on subjects I just want to study more: art, music, history, geography, languages.

I'd relax about all this. If you are lucky enough to enjoy a long life, it will take more twists and turns than you could imagine. Education is just the lightposts along the way. Our lives are a little darker without it.