I'm 25 and i don't know what to do with my life

lisajane

I'l be 25 next month and i honestly have no idea what i want to do with my life - career wise. Last year, and the year before that i kept giving myself a year to figure out what i want to do with my life. I'l be 25 soon and i dont want to be giving myself another year to figure out what i want to do. I feel as if i should know by now but i dont.
I have already spent 3 years in college but the course wasn't for me. I feel as if i have wasted my oppurtunity in college with my choice of course.

I am so lost i dont know where to even start to figure out what i want to do.

Does anyone else feel the same as me?

Zascar

Loads of people take a lomg time to work out what they want to do

I know it's cliche but what do you love, what are you passionate about? Cause try to do something that you have an interest in, really helps to enjoy what you do. Far too many people spend their lives in jobs they hate...

am i bovvered?

I'am 36 and i still don't know what i want to do with my life, but you figure out bits of it as you go along.It all slots together after a while.Don't worry about it.

comongethappy

I've been trying to figure out the same - it's tough alright! I suppose - if you don't have major financial commitments like a mortgage, you could try temping? You could work in a variety of sectors for a few months at a time, and maybe find something that way?

Unfortunately I have a mortgage, so full time college or temping isn't an option for me. I'm thinking of trying to do a few evening courses with animal / pet care to work with animals and help with behaviour training. I'm going to volunteer at one of the animal shelters to see if I can do the work and not become too emotionally attached. Then, if all goes well, I'll do the courses and look into carrer opprotunities. Maybe something like this would help?

lisajane

Im mad about animals myself and its something i would definately consider. I would love to get some experience. An animal shelter would be great but its 40 miles away from me. Its a bit of a travel. Iv looked into animal care but most course are full time and i cant study full time. I dont know what to do.

jd83

I felt the same as you last year, i went back to college only just finished first year and feel it was the best decison i ever made. There is lots of course and things you can do if you look. If you cant find part time course to animal care that are part time think of other things you are interested in. You will be a lot happier once oyu are doing something that you enjoy. Its hard making the change and i know cause i was stuck in a job that i hated and i spent 3 years saying yeah ill do it next year until i finally got out and did something about it. Good lcuk with whatever you do

skelliser

im not sure where im going with this but here goes:)

if your interested in animals, maybe horses, have a look at this
http://jobbank.fas.ie/servlet/Watis?SESS=29084_7&SERVICE=CRITERIUMBROWSE&COURSE_CODE=S60&TEMPLATE=WWW_JS_TRAIN_CRITERIUM_BROWSE.HTM&ROW=2&BACK=TEMPLATE%3DWWW_JS_TRAIN_CRITERIUM_OVERVIEW.HTM

you could also try your local vec or technical college to see what courses they have, and who cares if it takes ya longer to find out what you want to do, its your life, live it the way you want;)

lisajane

Thanks for the link. But im more interested in cats, dogs, anything small with 4 legs and fur.

constellation

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your
life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they
wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don’t.

I am in the same position as you, OP. You will find your way. It appears you may already have.

the whole year inn

dole baby!!

confuzed

i m 31 and still confuzed... check my name..

i also tried career coach but they proved nothing 4 me
coz it is too late 4 me to try some thing else.

write down some QA-

1) think a moment when u like someting doing
2) discover ur natural abilities
3) think in which environement u feel comfortable like office, workshop, ware house, hospital, pharmacy, supermarket etc.
4) than think a person whom u know working in that environment and explore shaddy aspect of that job.
5) some career look lurative but may not suit evryone...like lots of people just do MBAs and later can not cop with stress.
6) don;t make money/ earning as ur primary goal while choosing career.. u can earn money in virtually any prof..if u do with dedication.

stop worrying.. all of us are confuzed at some point in our lives...
and best of luck.

the whole year inn

x box pro so

Zascar

Try doing some aptitide testing to at least fine out what sort of careers you are more suited to or are more liely to do well at. Often there things don't tell you anything you didn't already know, but its a start.

okmqaz42

LisaJane, 25 is not old. If you can figure out a way to do something that you enjoy you will never have to work a day in your life.
Dont get caught up in the notion that you have to earn stacks of money. if you have a mortage sell the house. Flat share, lower you standard of living and strive for the things that make you happy.

You can be surprised by how little money you can live on if you are doing something you enjoy.

AngryBadger

Have spent a lot of the last few years trying to figure this kind of thing out. If you have some kind of job to tide you over for now I'd stop worrying. It's not like there's a deadline for deciding what you want to do with your life. As to college, most of my friends have quit degrees, started different degrees, and some of them (8 years on) still haven't finished the degree they first started.

I thik there's a tendency to look around and feel that everyone else is getting on with life and being mega-successful, but it's really just a case of "the grass is always greener...", most people spend a year, or a few years just toiling away, making and spending money, maybe going travelling, maybe not, before they finally decide the direction they want to go in.

Don't be so hard on yourself, certainly don't put pressure on yourself to make a decision because you're guaranteed t make the wrong one under those circumstances.

CathyMoran

I am 33 and I still do not have a clue what I want to do, I know that I have to do SOMETHING, I had a big kick up the ass recently having cancer and all of my priorities have changed now, about the only thing that I would not change is my husband! I think that we all go through phases of wanting to change our lives, you just have to have the courage to do it.

SarahSassy

Do you want to work in the business world or are you thinking of a more alternative area e.g. arts ???

stolenwine

I think being well informed of whats on offer to you is the key. Can you still contact your college guidance counsellors? maybe send them a quick email. This is a good site for bouncing ideas http://www.nightcourses.com/forum/

hupyago

lisajane wrote:

Im mad about animals myself and its something i would definately consider. I would love to get some experience. An animal shelter would be great but its 40 miles away from me. Its a bit of a travel. Iv looked into animal care but most course are full time and i cant study full time. I dont know what to do.

This might help
http://www.irishanimals.com/
I presume there would be some possibility of volunteering in that area ie:animals
if you research into different area's you might get onto something interesting enough for you
personally I'd say do what you love to do/enjoy and it might lead onto better things.

Froot

I'm 21 and I don't know what to do with my life.

Don;t worry about it :P

littlesurfer

Hi! i'm in the same position, 25 (and have the same name as you too...wierd). I have a job and its not what i want but i studied for four years to get me here....So i've decided to jack it all in and go travelling for the year...i figure i'll find inspiration somewhere along the way.


I wouldn't feel pressured by your age....in my career we have lots of students coming in and i have to help teach them...and a lot of them are in their thirties and older and just taking a change in career. Whats worse? spending four years learning a new trade...or spending the next forty regretting you didn't !?!/

LegacyUser

'Feck it,
This is a depressing post.
I too am in the same boat, my career plan, as it was, was destroyed by a medical condition 2 1/2 years ago, since then ive pi$$ed my time away in a job i hate.
Im going back to college this year and even though my chances of passing are slim due to my memory and concentration going to $hit (amongst other things) im still going to give it my best out of fear of ending up in a $hitty job again.
I think the trick is just to keep trying to improve your lot, no matter how futile and pointless it seems.
Once you let things stagnate you start to lose interest and apathy takes over, its much more difficult then.'

LegacyUser

'I came to this website by accident, this thread is exactly what i need today. am so depressed right now, i am going to be 31 in 3 weeks, i been in job where i can't learn much for 4 long years, but pays the bill (mortgage most reason) i really hate the people and the politics at work (not everyone mostly managers, the unfairness) i don't know what i should be or really like to do except opening my own business in long run, at the moment i have no spare money at all, & i have personal problem (family) lots and lots of them, i am fed up with it.

My job is rally boring i need to be in PR or Marketing which i have no experience but have communication degree & currently studying MA Public Relations which is going to end in Dec. its been impossible to get through PR jobs, I’m looking for this kind of jobs without experience ( i had to get pay same or little more to pay my bills) every job i search asking for experience which i don't have (PR & Marketing exp) i am questioning my self now - i am suppose to study business?

Anyways, i don't have a clue what i should do with my life, i been there for other people all my life i have great responsibility looking after my family (financially) i have one brother who is ill - he need my complete attention which existed me now, (not that I’m complaining if I can help him to make him feel better I could but I can’t he is very depress its getting worst), but he dose not listen to me to get the right help.
And i feel like i needed to settle down (marriage family stuff, its been so hard to even have stable relationship) i am not sure if i ever meet someone who will take me with this kind of emotional and financial problems - i just mate some one who is really nice but I don’t think he is ready to share life with me, its not making me happy too. SO what do i want other than better job??

i feel like i wasted 5 years studying something i can't not be able to do, i feel that i can't study anymore (take new course) its too late and i feel like staying at home doing netting or be house wife, i don't know what i am suppose to be doing at 31.
In general i am not happy, lots of people say i done a lot coming from the background i have but it's not making me happy, the things I have done was necessary for the family which I don’t regrets but don’t want to do no more (I want to think of my self for a change) price me, have nice things for me.

Sorry for the long thread, i just found it when i needed to moan.

Anybody in the same situation??? I must say I have my good health, thank god for that.
help'

Pyjamarama

I think everyone goes through this, everyone I know is going through this! I'm stuck between tow vastly different careers: one is a safe bet (money wise), that seems like something I'd enjoy a lot the other is an impossible industry to get into and would most likely mean I'd be broke for a good part of my career, working for free to gain experience for god knows how long. I'm pushing and pulling between the two constantly wondering if I chose one will I regret it.

Sometimes you just feel like you want to pull your hair out OP i think definately look into work experience/volunteering in the evening/weekends. That way you would really know if its an area you would like to commit to before you do any courses etc. as the reality of the work may not be what you expect.

The website www.prospects.ac.uk might help as you can create a skills and interests profiles and it comes up with suitable job areas and gives a breakdown of what different jobs involve. It's an English site so the courses they suggest may not be helpful but the detailed job descriptions are!

Good luck!

Micamaca

Hi there,

I had that same feeling for a long time. It does go away. But you have to work on it, even a little at a time. Love the words from Everybodys Free to Wear Sunscreen...I feel better everytime I hear that song...calming.

"Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't. "

Cool :D

CathyMoran

I think that the most important thing is that you have your health. I was very ill the past few months with oesophageal cancer and it makes you look at things differently. My biggest concern now is weather I will be able to have kids after the chemo (I did not have time to freeze my eggs before hand as my cancer was so aggressive). On the other hand I am dying just to get back to work so that I can save up for my dream trip on the Orient Express next year (a belated honeymoon). I also can not take eating for granted any more as my stomach has shrunk as a result of the livesaving surgery that I underwent. Mini-rant over.

I want to change my life radically after what I have been through and I intend to one step at a time, I suggest that the OP does the same.

LegacyUser

'

hupyago wrote:

This might help
http://www.irishanimals.com/
I presume there would be some possibility of volunteering in that area ie:animals
if you research into different area's you might get onto something interesting enough for you
personally I'd say do what you love to do/enjoy and it might lead onto better things.

A friend of my mum who was a stay at home wife started doing some volunteering at the animal sanctuary just outside of Kildare, after a few months she was getting paid part-time and then full-time.
She didn't go in to it for a job but it turned in to one!
Go with what you want to do (within reason), keep your eyes wide open you never know whats around the corner.
It reminds me of a pheonmanan that I used to get when I was younger.
If I heard a new word, I'd check a dictionary to see what it meant and then over the next few days I would notice it spoken/written when before I hadn't. Its almost like I was attuned to it and became more receptive to it!'

rainbow kirby

Same boat here - 23 and no idea what I want to do with my life. I made plans based on not having qualified for the honors year of my course - then found out 5 days ago that I had in fact qualified for it. So this year I'm a working bum, next year I go back to college for a year at 24... then no idea!