You're not in a bad place, Mia! You already have several pieces of the puzzle! Keep in mind, even people who have already established careers re-evaluate and frequently shift to related fields, or even entirely new ones. And you already have several puzzle pieces right in front of you!
Nursing, caring for others, teaching, leading, activism, and a particular community you are committed to are all already here. Given a few years, if you follow your various dreams and goals and keep open to the wild and wonderful opportunities life mysteriously tosses your way COULD lead you to your very own perfect niche. It sounds exciting, whatever it is.
These things do take time. Build your skills and continue gaining experience. In some way, at some time, it will start coming together.
I'm 30 (ish) and am finally seeing several of my lifelong dreams coming together in my life more and more. It happened for me by focusing on one skill/pursuit at a time, and I picked up the secondary skills along the way. Now it's all a well-defined package of talents that relate.
Regards your education, can you take a "deferred admission?" I think that's what it's called, when you get in, but postpone your frosh year for 12 months while you pursue other activities. It sounds like that might be a path you'd enjoy - it would allow you to do the Ride next spring. And students who have taken time off and really lived get the most out of higher education anyway. Something to think about.
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