College student with no drive/motivation

LegacyUser

I am a 1st year college student studying arts. Now I know that saying I'm an arts student, I will be the subject of much prejudice and stereotyping but here's my story.

I came out of school, with an idea what I wanted to do but my problem is a lack of drive/motivation. For the Leaving Cert I wasn't the most studious type of person. I only did the amount of work that was required to do well and I did doss a lot, however I got 400 points in the end so obviously I didn't waste any time going to school all those years.

I was always more of an English(ey) student than one who endulges in lots of practical work in subjects like construction and engineering. Its probably for this reason, I've never had a job (in my life). I like to write essays and write whatever I can but its only when I have the drive to do it. I don't wake up in the morning telling myself I should write about my emotions but when it really hits me that I have an assignment to do and its due the next day, I just get my head down and work on it.

Right now I feel the only thing keeping me sane is my social life, which is alright. I'm getting along well with the people I met in college so far but I haven't spoken to any of them during this past week off, barr one of them who I talked to briefly on facebook. Were from different parts of the country so it was kind of like we talked about getting together on wednesday but one of the lads said he mightn't as he had study to do. He was the one I spoke to on facebook asking if he could make it. I know the others haven't been in contact as you really need to have all of us on a night out.

I also feel the fact I seem to be too lazy to go out looking for jobs is also due to my regret I didn't go to discos/pubs/clubs in secondary school, places most teenagers go. Its just the feeling that so many people were going out and I was missing out that makes me lack motivation for studying/writing/looking for jobs/learning to drive etc.

So I'm hoping to have a few more good nights out with this group when I do see them again on monday. Do you guys/gals think this might give me the confidence to do more writing and to actually have a passion for what I'm doing? I never really had a social life in secondary school, I hung out with the same group all the time who didn't go to nightclubs.

Generally I can start working better if I had a good night out with my current group and know that I am one of them.

Curry Addict

sounds like a touch of apprehention. totally understandable in your position just starting college. transitioning to a new life with lots of challenges is always daunting. just go for it. dont put conditions on things before you even experiment. dont wait for other people get out there and do it yourself. 1 step at a time, plenty of time for jobs discos driving etc.
you really dont need social acceptance to produce good work, just make sure you are keeping on top of the achademic side of things.

LegacyUser

Curry Addict wrote: »

1 step at a time, plenty of time for jobs discos driving etc.

I guess, it just doesn't stop the regret I didn't look for jobs/go out in secondary school.

Curry Addict wrote: »

you really dont need social acceptance to produce good work, just make sure you are keeping on top of the achademic side of things.

I did a fair bit of work today so I'll try and realise this.

Overheal

I don't see any work ethic. Why didn't you look for work when you were younger? What is it 15 or 16 in the EU? Not to mention just cash in hand jobs for people like mowing lawns or anything of the sort. Regardless, don't let this stop you from looking for work Now.

An Arts Degree will get you nowhere. You need to switch into a specialization of some kind. There are few if any jobs for people with Arts degrees unless you wanted to be a teacher or something - but they have teaching degrees for that.

You should speak with your college guidance counselor and see what they can help you with.

I also feel the fact I seem to be too lazy to go out looking for jobs is also due to my regret I didn't go to discos/pubs/clubs in secondary school, places most teenagers go.

This is the most fallible logic I've seen in quite some time. If you have a job you have money. If you have money you have a degree of disposable income. With disposable income, you can go do whatever the hell you want with it. "All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy" but he still needs to work.

Raspberries

no_motivation wrote: »

I am a 1st year college student studying arts. Now I know that saying I'm an arts student, I will be the subject of much prejudice and stereotyping but here's my story.

I came out of school, with an idea what I wanted to do but my problem is a lack of drive/motivation. For the Leaving Cert I wasn't the most studious type of person. I only did the amount of work that was required to do well and I did doss a lot, however I got 400 points in the end so obviously I didn't waste any time going to school all those years.

I was always more of an English(ey) student than one who endulges in lots of practical work in subjects like construction and engineering. Its probably for this reason, I've never had a job (in my life). I like to write essays and write whatever I can but its only when I have the drive to do it. I don't wake up in the morning telling myself I should write about my emotions but when it really hits me that I have an assignment to do and its due the next day, I just get my head down and work on it.

Right now I feel the only thing keeping me sane is my social life, which is alright. I'm getting along well with the people I met in college so far but I haven't spoken to any of them during this past week off, barr one of them who I talked to briefly on facebook. Were from different parts of the country so it was kind of like we talked about getting together on wednesday but one of the lads said he mightn't as he had study to do. He was the one I spoke to on facebook asking if he could make it. I know the others haven't been in contact as you really need to have all of us on a night out.

I also feel the fact I seem to be too lazy to go out looking for jobs is also due to my regret I didn't go to discos/pubs/clubs in secondary school, places most teenagers go. Its just the feeling that so many people were going out and I was missing out that makes me lack motivation for studying/writing/looking for jobs/learning to drive etc.

So I'm hoping to have a few more good nights out with this group when I do see them again on monday. Do you guys/gals think this might give me the confidence to do more writing and to actually have a passion for what I'm doing? I never really had a social life in secondary school, I hung out with the same group all the time who didn't go to nightclubs.

Generally I can start working better if I had a good night out with my current group and know that I am one of them.

I studied Arts. It is an interesting degree, but if you are looking for a proper job out of it I would switch if at all possible. Having said that I learned a huge amount from my arts degree and the skills I learned do help me day to day.

From the interviews I have read with authors, they tend to have a steady work ethic. Getting up early, writing whatever comes to them and working on it even if it is crap. Colm Toibin works like that and as far as I can recall, Kazuo Ishiguro does too. So I think if you want to become an author or a writer you have to develop a work ethic of some sort with your writing. Remember, it is a skill that has to be developed.

I think a part-time job would give you solid life experience. I think you should try to put yourself out there. At the very least you might see some interesting characters for your writing. I think being an english-y type person is a cop out, you don't have to do hard physical labour. Book shops are a great place to work for people who know their stuff about literature/books in general.

Don't wait for people to contact you. Make the effort to contact them and get the ball rolling with making a solid group of mates.