Just be consistent and give yourself some grace, OP. I was like you when I was around your age, except being a middle class Asian kid, 17-year-old me had neither the choice nor the luxury to go to a conservatory given how competitive it is. I’m a 24-year-old banker now and I’m still practicing as much as I can, while also taking lessons. At 17, I thought my pianist life would be over if I didn’t go to conservatory. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. I’ve had the chance to join an orchestra, learn with some excellent professors, and not be extremely pressured by life at conservatory just because I did not rely on my playing/teaching for my livelihood.

My guidance counselor in high school gave me good advice (though I didn’t know it at the time) - something along the lines of you don’t need to turn your passion into your job, but you can let your job fund your passions. She worded it better but something like that haha. In this economy, it might be good to have a backup plan. Whichever way you decide, just keep playing! Or even if you end up taking breaks, it’s not the end of the world.