I'm so sorry for taking so long to get to this - I thought LiveJournal was notifying me when I got replies (when it wasn't), and I came across your note only today. Thank you for your kind words, and I'm very sorry about your current troubles with your loved one - I hope you and they have the support you need familywise, from the medical staff, and from your school. I wish I could give you more original advice than to do what feels right for you personally and the career path you want, but I don't think there's any better. (And, like in my case, the career path you want can change the more you find out about a given career - I'm glad, though, that you seem to be working with a better class of colleagues.) Good luck!