I don't know what to do

[Arnaert]

I really don't. I'm 17 & everyone I know is talking more about what they're gonna do career wise. Countless of them are talking about being tattoo artists. I don't know why it must be a trend, I really don't think many of them actually will they know nothing about tattoo art except that its "cool". But at least they're dreaming about something. I'm not. When I look inside myself I don't see anything, no dreams or goals, I never have. Even if they haven't necessarily decided on a career just yet they at least have a hobby. What do I have? Nothing. I don't do anything. I try, I can't. My mind is constantly locking whenever anything new dares to get in. My body can't handle ANYTHING. I dunno, I was thinking I'd get a career in something very repetitive, where the routine is endless & my mind doesn't have many demands. It'd be best for me I think. I dunno, I'm just so lost & I feel like I just can't seem to grow up. My mind still works the same way it did when I was a child(I'm actually being serious there). People talk about hormones going mad as a teenager, I didn't really even feel that. All my friends going after the opposite sex nonstop. I've never been like that, I've never been sexually attracted to anyone EVER. I just don't feel it. I just don't know how to make sense of anything in my life. What am I a late bloomer in every aspect of life? When's it gonna kick in, when I'm 30 & 25 year olds talk about me behind my back even though they're not far away? I'm just completely lost.

 

[samba101]

Don't worry about finding a career, it's not really important at this stage you still have years to go back and study for something if you choose to. Just find a part time job and see how you do with that, after several you might find that you want to head in a certain direction.

For $50 000 and over jobs you need to study for them unless you work your way up the ladder which could take years, who knows it might not take that long.

Do what makes you happy, no point going around in circles when your not clear of a goal, sometimes we just don't know what to do because we haven't tried many things. I've had a few jobs and I know what I like and what I don't like so now I'm studying for a job that will see me into my 50's if I'm lucky and if I'm extra lucky 60's, who wants to be on a pension with stuff all money coming in not me, I'd rather be working I'll retire at 70 if I can.

 

[Zak]

You are only 17. I am 23 and I still don't know what to do with career. I have studied things in various streams which I thought would help me get hold of one. But I always lose interest in the end and look for something else. Studied Science major in pre-university thinking of becoming something scientific like a doctor or a scientist or something else like that. Lost interest and took Literature in Bachelors and it was a private registration (means I don't have to attend many classes. Just a few and rest the exams). So in between that I moved to another place to study 'office management' (some diploma to become private secretary or things like that). I came back without finishing that cos it was not interesting for me at all. Then I joined for another diploma which is from Ed excel UK and gives something like Level -5 qualification there (It's the revised levels degree so this qualification is in 'I' grade ie intermediate and so equivalent to pre-university and not like other Level 5 things which means doctorate. Doctorate is Level-8 in this). My Bachelors was going on one side with this and with that I enrolled to study Law cos many said that my evil twisted thinking is very suitable for a lawyer. I didn't even finish the first semester. Got bored of it and as usual - quit. At this time I got a job in a hotel, thought I would make my career through this, but since I am not from Hotel Management background, I found out my growth there would be SUPER slow, so again I quit. Now I am doing a job as a medical representative, a job I got through reference and a field which I don't know anything of. I have a feeling that I will quit this job soon too cos I m already bored of it.

So see it's not just you. I still don't know what to do.

 

[BlackCat]

You are 17. You aren't in college yet. When you get into college, you are required to take classes to work up to a major of some sort, and there are a wide variety of classes you can choose from to take.

You will find your destiny in college. Even though I've known for years that I've wanted to be a counselor, a mediator, or just something that includes clinical psychology. You just have to find your niche in life.

The economy sucks right now, I know, but just try to find a job. You will be working, you will have obligations, you will have responsibilities, you will get experience out there. And you will have money. Money is always a good thing to have.

And if you aren't interested in the opposite sex, quite frankly I'd say that that's a good thing right now. Just because you aren't "normal" doesn't mean anything really. That's just one less thing you need to worry about. I'm 19, and I honestly can't stop thinking of girls, sex, or anything like that. It's very annoying.

You don't seem like the type of guy that would be able to do repetitive work. You would HATE it. Don't force yourself into a mind set that isn't who you truly are...

Find a well paying job that doesn't make you want to throw yourself off of a building. Then from there use the money you get to explore life and the possibilities it brings, explore your hobbies, etc.

What are your passions? Interests? Hobbies?

But you have 2+ years in college to worry about finding your destiny. Just don't waste those years.

 

[evanescencefan91]

hey arnaert i can rreally relate to the feelings of aimlessness it's okay it's pretty common,

i still don't what i want to do, or can do nonetheless

you've still got time in college and stuff, i guess right now, just make sure that you get decent grades, and yyou should be okay

i remember just last year, my senior year in highschool i really didn't have a clue as to what to do, i still haven't figured that out yet,

i've only kinda grown up a little, i'm still pretty dependant on my parents for money and for paying for my room and board (thankyou for parents paying for that stuff i'm pretty fortunate)

my parents and grandparents just kept nagging me to fill out applications for college i just did all the universities here in iowa, since they didn't require an essay i'm pretty lazy,

i'm sure there's something you could do, i mean if you like to sleep look for scientists conducting sleep/dream or rem studies, they'd probably pay you to sllep



or if you like tv, you could become a tv review crititc


maybe you should just go out and see the world hitch a ride and go backpacking, expand your horizions


hey don't worry too much about your sexuality, maybe you just haven't met the right boy or girl yet

also some people have been to be known as asexual, as in they do not feel any sexual attraction


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asexual

and thetre's nothing wrong with that either,

in fact your life would probably be a bit easier too, since you're constantly being distracted by trying to get tail

try not to worry too much about the future,

if you can just try to enjoy where you're at,

i was pretty lonely my last year in hughschool, but i still had a pretty goo time, i only had 5 classes, and no math classes, so i went out for bowling which was fun and easy, and i'd get home at 2 and take a nap

it twas nice

so you've got the time,

just take it easy, try n ot to dwell on the things you can't conmtrol

anyways good luck with everything
*hugs*

 

[Brian]

A lot of it comes down to life experience.

There's loads to be said for getting that simple part time job, and trying to be good at it instead of just treating it like a daily drudge. It teaches you about the world and gives you some practical hands-on time with living.

 

[Naval_Fluff]

Yeah I didn't know what I was gonna be up until...yesterday! And I'm sure that will change in the next few months. You'll figure it out soon enough, don's sweat it

 

[epileptic]

travel the world. You have no ties holding you back. Live Life!

 

[Estreen]

I wish I could travel the world...but you need money. In order to get money, you need a job. When you have a job, you are then tied down. You can not travel the world whilst being tied down.

Thus, the purpose is thwarted. v_v

 

[cheaptrickfan]

I really don't. I'm 17 & everyone I know is talking more about what they're gonna do career wise. I dunno, I'm just so lost & I feel like I just can't seem to grow up.

Don't worry, not everyone knows what they want to do from an early age. My own desires and interests keep changing, and I'm 40! I learned a lot in college and gained a lot of widespread knowledge even though I didn't train for a specific career. After grad school I traveled a lot and gained some awesome experiences. Living life and taking in all that you can is a precious thing.

I wish I could travel the world...but you need money. In order to get money, you need a job. When you have a job, you are then tied down. You can not travel the world whilst being tied down.

I was able to finance my travels by teaching English overseas. Although I had a master's degree in it to do so, plenty of my fellow teachers had no degree and no teaching experience, but were native English speakers. It was such an awesome experience.

Also, I see you're from CT. I am too. I got my M.S. in TESOL from CCSU in New Britain. It's a great program, and I learned a lot, plus the opportunity to travel and pay my way doing it was one of the best things of my life.

 

[Estreen]

I really don't. I'm 17 & everyone I know is talking more about what they're gonna do career wise. I dunno, I'm just so lost & I feel like I just can't seem to grow up.

Don't worry, not everyone knows what they want to do from an early age. My own desires and interests keep changing, and I'm 40! I learned a lot in college and gained a lot of widespread knowledge even though I didn't train for a specific career. After grad school I traveled a lot and gained some awesome experiences. Living life and taking in all that you can is a precious thing.

I wish I could travel the world...but you need money. In order to get money, you need a job. When you have a job, you are then tied down. You can not travel the world whilst being tied down.

I was able to finance my travels by teaching English overseas. Although I had a master's degree in it to do so, plenty of my fellow teachers had no degree and no teaching experience, but were native English speakers. It was such an awesome experience.

Also, I see you're from CT. I am too. I got my M.S. in TESOL from CCSU in New Britain. It's a great program, and I learned a lot, plus the opportunity to travel and pay my way doing it was one of the best things of my life.

Wow, nice! I didn't know you were from CT! I'm currently going to college up in Warwick, RI for my Associate's in graphics, multimedia, and web design.

I'm sure there are ways to do it, but I've never had anyone around to encourage, support, or help me with that. I'd love to be able to just travel about, even in the U.S, to visit states I've never been to, to see all the landmarks n' stuff, and to visit places around the world but money-wise....I have no idea how I could do that.Even if I worked for a year, I won't get much saved up. :s

Also, for the teaching English thing, you didn't have to know another language? Or were these students who already had a basic understanding of English? Also, where did you teach whilst abroad?

 

[cheaptrickfan]

Wow, nice! I didn't know you were from CT! I'm currently going to college up in Warwick, RI for my Associate's in graphics, multimedia, and web design.

Good luck with that!

I'm sure there are ways to do it, but I've never had anyone around to encourage, support, or help me with that. I'd love to be able to just travel about, even in the U.S, to visit states I've never been to, to see all the landmarks n' stuff, and to visit places around the world but money-wise....I have no idea how I could do that.Even if I worked for a year, I won't get much saved up. :s

Ironically, it's more cost-effective to finance your travels by going abroad to teach than it is to travel across the US. :/

Also, for the teaching English thing, you didn't have to know another language? Or were these students who already had a basic understanding of English? Also, where did you teach whilst abroad?

1. Nope. It does help if you have some facility with learning languages, but that's mostly because you understand what it is it be a second-language learner. Most EFL (English as a Foreign Language, so overseas) classes I taught were done in English. Some of my ESL (English as a Second Language, so here in the US) were aided by my understanding of another language, but the means of instruction was still English.

2. I've had classes of rank beginners who'd never even seen our alphabet before, to college students who had very high academic proficiency in reading English but weren't at all conversant in day-to-day language.

3. Unofficially: The USSR,
Officially: Estonia and South Korea.

 

[Estreen]

Ironically, it's more cost-effective to finance your travels by going abroad to teach than it is to travel across the US. :/

In a way it does make sense to me when you say that. Just having viewed/read about the ways Europe and other countries run things, it seems like it's easier to move about than in the U.S., unless you're rich. Lol.

1. Nope. It does help if you have some facility with learning languages, but that's mostly because you understand what it is it be a second-language learner. Most EFL (English as a Foreign Language, so overseas) classes I taught were done in English. Some of my ESL (English as a Second Language, so here in the US) were aided by my understanding of another language, but the means of instruction was still English.

2. I've had classes of rank beginners who'd never even seen our alphabet before, to college students who had very high academic proficiency in reading English but weren't at all conversant in day-to-day language.

3. Unofficially: The USSR,
Officially: Estonia and South Korea.

Wow, that's pretty cool.

I did take honors Spanish all throughout high school so I can speak and read/write it at a basic level. I'm at a point where I can translate/understand most telenovelas and other spanish shows. I also dabble in some Polish, knowing most of the basic words/phrases, but not near the same level I am with Spanish. One of my best friends is Polish and I'd be around her and her family a lot, and nowadays I am teaching myself more in my spare time. Maybe you couldn't tell, but I love languages. ^^; Lol.

After I'm done with college I was thinking of either going through another 18 months to get my Bachelor's (if financially/situationally possible) OR traveling around for a bit before attempting to settle down for a serious job/career.

---

Now, my apologies to the OP. I did not mean to threadjack. ^^;;

I am 22 years old and I just started this past Spring in college. I tried college right after high school, viewing it as I just needed to "get it out of the way", but I feel that this is the wrong approach. You should only go to college if you really want to, and should find something that you're at least interested in. Otherwise, there's not much to motivate you, and it's just a waste of time, money, and effort, unless you can manage to drag/push yourself through it for the sake of just getting a degree.

I'm doing the best I ever have grade-wise, and it's because I finally have found something that really interests me, and makes me want to work hard for it, but it took me about 3-4 years after high school to figure that out.

At your age, I actually thought I KNEW what I was going to be at the time. From middle school to 18/19 years old, I went on thinking I would become a translator, and that was that. I was set, or so I thought. So, your classmates who seem so "sure" about what they want and/or like? They may not be as sure as you think, or they may change their mind a dozen times for whatever reasons.

Also, just because they might be good at something or have an interest in it, doesn't mean they'll end up wanting to make a career out of it. I love languages and learning to speak them -- but at my own pace, as a hobby. I didn't figure this out until after high school.

So don't worry, in time you will find what you want to do. It may take you some time, for you are still young. Heck, I'm still young and still finding out things all the time. I understand and remember how it felt, not knowing and feeling overwhelmed by it all, but please believe me when I say that it will get easier and you will find your niche in life. =]

 

[Brian]

At your age, I actually thought I KNEW what I was going to be at the time. From middle school to 18/19 years old, I went on thinking I would become a translator, and that was that. I was set, or so I thought. So, your classmates who seem so "sure" about what they want and/or like? They may not be as sure as you think, or they may change their mind a dozen times for whatever reasons.

This is pretty relevant.

I can't stress how 'sure' I was at 16 that I wanted to be a pilot. I was more sure of that than my previous plans to be a game designer, so I figured I'd found my thing. I was studying, getting ready for flight lessons, learning procedures in Flight Simulator, and then...

I found firefighting.

And it wasn't even an obvious 'fitting' passion. I mean, I was one of the out-of-shape, kinda pudgy, loser kids in school who got picked on except for a few other loser friends. Hell, my grades sucked too. At one point my best grade was like...a C. I had an F-, yes, an F minus, in English. I don't think any of my teachers ever hoped for me to get anywhere.


Teen years are a dynamic time, for better or for worse. I don't think most of us get a taste of what life really is until we're adults. And I think as young people we overthink things and make them more emotional or introspective than they should be...really, it's a lot simpler.

I mean, who says you -have- to be 'passionate' about what you do? My last boss isn't 'passionate' about working in the woods, I don't think. It's not like he's saving whales or something. But he is damn good at it, and he's not stuck in an office or behind a counter, and that's why he likes it. It's not a big emotional puzzle like we sometimes try to make it in to; it just...is.

 

[Estreen]

*nods in agreement with Brian*

I think to pick something for a career/job, you should either: a) like what it is/involves, b) are passionate about the suject, or c) are just plain good at it; it doesn't have to be all three.

It also depends on what your motivation is, as well. Are you looking to be "fulfilled" or is your aim to be raking in the dough? Or are you just looking for something where you'll be least likely to worry about job security?

One of my friends works as a dealer at one of the local casinos. He's not a millionaire or anything, but he banks a decent amount of money, plus the health benefits are pretty good. He is rather proficient/good at it, but his aim/motivation is also money. This is just something for now, until he goes to college, gets a degree in business, gets a better job, and hopefully makes some money in the stock market. He has this whole plan in his head already, and if it works, it's a pretty damned good one too, but not everyone's like that. Money alone isn't enough to make me block out the crappiness of working at the casino (where I used to work for almost 2 years); I nearly went insane after a while. Then again, I was solely in customer service.

However, I digress. I'm sure you get what I'm trying to say though. In time, you'll figure out what you're looking for, in terms of motivation, and whether you like it, or are just good at it; or both! Everyone's different, and you've still got time to figure out what it is that you want out of life. Don't let your parents, school, colleges, peers, or anyone else pressure you into thinking that you HAVE to spend lots of money on a fancy college RIGHT after high school. Don't let anyone dictate what you do. You can take advice, but you can also leave it; it is completely up to you, because it's YOUR life, not theirs.

 

[jolojim]

I guess it is just normal to wander on your career at a start, it is the matter of you would start at the very first thing in your career so you have to try something that is in your mind that you know that you might succeed.


_________________
Travel ins

 

[Brian]

Remember, too, you don't necessarily 'have' to even get a college degree. People don't realize that there's still good money to be made with a trade and honest hard work.

UPS drivers make pretty good money, plus benefits, and there's room to advance. And they get to drive around, so they're out and about and not stuck inside (I hate being stuck indoors for work, lol).

Linemen make good money and have a job that could be considered pretty engaging, plus some of them get to travel for work, at least regionally.

Welders make good money. Some of them -damn- good money. Have you ever pictured yourself scuba diving to the ocean floor to fasten pipes together? Underwater welders do it all the time.

And none of them really need college. They just go to trade school.

 

[ravenm721]

Don't sweat it . I'm 17 too, and undergoing the issue,lol!
But as many of the other posters, mentioned you still have a bit of time left. Maybe once you get into college, you can try out different types of courses and see what interests you best. Trust me, I'm sure there are several out there who might have changed their major numerous times, and they never knew what they were going to be until at least 20.

If you feel like browsing here's all the majors in the U.S.,see what interests you the most:
http://www.a2zcolleges.com/Majors/

Haha,and I agree with you on the tattoo statement issue. I'm pretty sure that many of those kids who say they want to be a "tattoo artist" will most likely change their minds,once they see how hard it is.

 

[rolpete08]

Yeah I guess traveling the world would be a nice thing for you to do if you don't really know what to do with your life. You should go from your inner life and think about what is your purpose on living.


_________________
Travel insurance quote

 

[epileptic]

Don't sweat it . I'm 17 too, and undergoing the issue,lol!
But as many of the other posters, mentioned you still have a bit of time left. Maybe once you get into college, you can try out different types of courses and see what interests you best. Trust me, I'm sure there are several out there who might have changed their major numerous times, and they never knew what they were going to be until at least 20.

If you feel like browsing here's all the majors in the U.S.,see what interests you the most:
http://www.a2zcolleges.com/Majors/

Haha,and I agree with you on the tattoo statement issue. I'm pretty sure that many of those kids who say they want to be a "tattoo artist" will most likely change their minds,once they see how hard it is.

It honestly could be worse. You could be 30 years old and still not know what to do with your life. Finding yourself back at your parents house, jobless and without a purpose. Its so hard to try and find any type of job that I could get based on my interests. Horticultury, Herbology, nature, and rhythm.. I wonder if their is a market for a 21st century shaman. I just thought about this the other day. I really think it would be neat to be some sort of shaman. Are these people self proclaimed, or is their some sort of right of passage? Either way, I still think it would be neat.