I am months away from finishing university and when people hear this I often get "what do you want to do after university?" And I tell them and we discuss it etc and it's all fine.
However, my best friend (although we haven't been close for a while so maybe not best) and her boyfriend (also a really good friend of mine from school) have both made comments that have upset me.
First was from her, it had come up a few months back that I'll be finishing uni soon and she was like "what're you going to do after though? You have to actually do something" in a bitchy tone but laughing it off like it's a joke IYSWIM?
So I told her I wasn't sure yet and she rolled her eyes "jokingly" but I could sense she was annoyed. It was never mentioned again but I was hurt she spoke that way to me. I know a LOT of people who don't know what they want to do after university so it's hardly unusual.
So, last night I was out with friends and her boyfriend, also my friend, was there but she wasn't. He asked how long I had left so I said 5 weeks. And he asked what I was going to do when I leave and I said that I plan to work part time and do some volunteering for 18 months then start my teacher training when my son starts school September 2018.
His response was exactly like hers, in a jokey way but you could tell he was annoyed and said "yeah but that won't pay the bills!" And I said "I've just said I will be working" and it got joked about and left again.
I have worked so hard to go to university starting when he was only 1 and I've worked non stop to get the best results again while trying to be a good mum and keep on top of the house work. The first year I coped fine, the second I was half and half. And now in final year I'm happy to admit I'm absolutely exhausted and almost not coping because it is so demanding to be a full time student and single parent.
If I started my teacher training now I don't think I'd cope, or I would but not so as well as I know I could.
Hence my plan for 18 months working and getting plenty of work experience ready to apply in September this year for a 2018 start. I am desperate for a break from education, I need to take it easier and enjoy my son instead of constantly feeling exhausted and struggling to do it all.
I think this is a perfectly reasonable plan, I'm going to be working 3-4 days a week so it isn't like I've said "I'm not going to work for 18 months then do my teacher training", I could understand their reaction if so.
I don't understand what their problem is, I haven't had this reaction from anyone else.
I literally collapse onto the settee every evening the past few months because I'm putting every minute I have into my degree.
I feel like they're suggesting I'm lazy but I've always worked, I'm on a full time course and looking after my young son so I can't see how they've got that impression.
They've had life handed to them on a plate (a HUGE amount of money from their parents) so maybe they're money orientated and expect me to feel the same?
A friend thinks they might be jealous for various reasons but I'm not sure why anyone would be jealous
AIBU to feel upset that they're talking to me in this way? They're clearly annoyed at me for something and I feel judged