Hi C,
If you want to change your path, you should consider also your other goals at stake. Kim mentioned love, Steve mentioned happiness, Jordan mentioned independence, you mentioned self-efficacy and self-reliability, I’d like to mention balance and harmony. Reflect on the many things that are important to you, write them on a paper and see how many you’ll need to give up for a career change.
Anyway, my personal advice is to not change your path. You had a dream to make a difference in the research community, you did not tell us why that dream died out. While you study, don’t you envision yourself making a great research project? Maybe other things around you caught your attention, they may look better because you are not into them, they may look more funny, more engaging, more stimulating, that may be just because they are new. Recall your dream, didn’t you have the same feelings back then? Every path has its obstacles, the people that do not support you, the moments when you think that what you are doing is meaningless. Then reinvent or recall your meaning, support yourself, persist and be proud. Don’t you want to be an artist? Create your meaning, write the novel of your life.
A scientist is also an artist. He has to compose the different pieces of reality into the coherent unity of a theory that can explain things and help people predict outcomes. You’ve got many thoughts, many notes, many colors in your head, envision that music, envision that paint, craft your theory. That’s art, the production of a coherent whole that resonates with the soul of the people who assist to it. Maybe your audience of other researchers does not seem so fascinating, but other audiences may have their own quirks as well. Even as an artist you may be recruited to do repetitive and meaningless minor steps at first.
If you are burnt out, take some time for yourself to relax. Do what you like: painting, writing, playing for some time to recover. Then, like Jordan said, keep doing it to relax from time to time. Find a balance between the many things you need in life. If you are not so sure about changing your path, there is something really big you do not want to give up. Let it be only the self-respect for a job well done. Really, if you persist now, that a plus you’ll carry with you in future jobs. You’ll show people you are reliable and complete the things you start.
Maybe you’d like to talk with a career counselor as well.
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. 