[brudgers]

feel like I’ve made a mistake ‘giving up’ second year of music school

Leaving music school doesn't mean you cease learning music. You have a lifetime to learn more about music. That's good because that's what it takes to scratch the surface.

Anyway, it sounds like that music school might not have been the right music school for you because it didn't make you feel like you wanted to stay. That is probably some mix of its culture, curriculum, and location with your ambitions. You can take music lessons anywhere.

Anyway, I don't think where I am is an independent choice. There are external factors: friends, family, work, etc. Recognizing the complexity of the world a reward for growing older. Good luck.

[liminal-dev]

Very on-point. I’ve made some friends and amazing memories there, but overall the experience was lukewarm, and sometimes bad, in terms of everything you listed (curriculum, culture, location.)

My dilemma is mind vs heart - the mind knows I can learn anywhere and it’s time to move on, and the heart doesn’t want to ‘miss out’ on the memories I could make there next year.

[brudgers]

Do what makes you happy.