Stressed, I went through a similar experience with my easy child. She was accepted into the art foundation program of our local university (that actually has the best fine arts school of any public university in the country) beating out thousands of others. She had set this as her goal when she was a sophomore in high school. Fast forward a few months into her freshman year - she hated it!
She hated the whole "art on demand" and the total art only immersion of the program. She wanted to major in photography but be exposed to more. My suggestion to her was to stay with the program for the first year since she had made the commitment and needed to give it a chance. If she felt the same way in the spring she could address what was next from that point.
Come spring she was in the same place. She was very emotional coming to me because, in her words, "she didn't want to disappoint me". My advise to her, because at this point she was at a loss as to what she wanted to do, was to bow out of the program. Since no matter what she wanted to pursue through a degree was going to require her to "study the basics", I suggested that she sign right up for classes at our local community college in the fall and just start pecking away at the science, math, english, etc.
Now we sit 2.5 years later and she has found her career path. Our state has a program where, if you attend a community college and maintain a high GPA, once you have received your associate degree you are guaranteed admittance to any state college or university of your choice! Since she is working part time and going to school part time it is taking her a little longer, but she is set to attend a very prestigious university for her masters as a Special Education teacher.
Stressed, some of our kids need a little extra time. Some go right on to college and finish those four years and move right on to their career of choice. But others need more time to decide where they want to go in the future. My thing was not to push but more suggest since my little birdie need a little extra time to learn to fly!
I think the most important thing is to always separate who we want or expect our children to be from who they are or what they wish to be. Naturally there is a line that needs to be drawn if you are dealing with a lazy kid that has no motivation. It's probably a good idea to sit with our daughter and lay out a plan. Here's the scenario should you not return to school to school and here is what happens if you do.....
Hang in there!
*Sharon