What can I do with a photography degree?

My love is documentary photography…like the photos featured in articles.

But I’m also capable of architectural and staged fine art photography and even fashion.

I used to want to be a photojournalist, but now I don’t think that’s the route I want to take. I want to eventually teach photography but I feel like I need to be successful before I teach (like Gregory Crewdson).

I’m just not sure how to get there…but I think I must be pretty good at it.

I’ve had my work in some student galleries and I guess my photos stood out; I watched and people would glance at the others but gravitate to mine and actually talk about it.

But I’m worried about my competition. A lot of the kids I take classes with, their parents have more money and they can buy more equipment than I can…and also a better education.

I’m just not sure how you make money doing photography??

And real photography, not working taking family pictures in the outdoors…anyone can do that.

Fortunately photography isn’t the only thing in my toolbox. I’m also good at illustration. People tend to love the things I draw but they’re few and far between. I have friends that draw all the time…but a great idea will come to me, I’ll draw it, it looks great and then I won’t get another for sometimes months.

I also have an interest in psychology…but I don’t really want to go to school to be a psychologist.
I like it, but I don’t love it. The people in that field aren’t the same. I want to be around other artists.

And this would be a shot in the dark but I could also try modeling. I’m tall enough and I can get thin enough. I’ve got thick skin and can take criticism but I’ve been told several times that I could be a model so I think it’s worth giving it a shot, I wouldn’t rely on it though…but if it worked out, I could use it to substantiate income while being a photographer.

Also, I would like to live in NYC. Pipe dreams, right?
It’s the only place I’ve ever been truly happy. I have severe depression but I’ve never been depressed in the city.

Sorry this is long, I used to know exactly what I wanted to do with my life, but now that it’s coming down to it I’m beginning to worry about making the wrong choices. I just don’t want to be unhappy or stuck. I felt like going to the college I wanted to go to (Ringling in Florida) would make me feel trapped in a state I hate for at least 4 years.
I’m now looking at NYU.

Am I choosing the wrong career path? A financial assistant I talked to said that you have to do what makes you happy, not to do something you hate for the money. But what if what you love doesn’t make much money at all?