No passion for career

LegacyUser

I'm in a science based career path, currently half way through a Phd. I've just slowly come to terms over the course of the phd that I actually really dont want to stay in this sort of career.

I never wanted to go to college. I got pressured into it by my mother because I excelled at school. So I sort of stumbled into science because I was good at it before. Then I excelled at college and got offered a funded phd. I was delighted at the time but it quickly became apparent that I just don't have any passion for the course or for research in general, which is what a phd leads into. I'm still doing quite well at the phd. But I find it so dull. I could do so much better if I was just actually interested properly.

I've discovered lately that I'm actually much more interested in language and literature. But of course I can never pursue that in my career because I have no qualifications. I feel completely lost. Trapped in a career that I don't want. I am so lucky to have a funded phd so I also feel ungrateful. I can never leave my phd because it would let down my family in a huge way. I will also then be expected to move into a good job in that area straight away once I'm done. I feel like my life is already mapped out and I have no freedom of choice anymore. I'm only 24 and I don't know what I'm lookin for here, somebody to tell me its ok?

Lorna123

Could you not just finish the PHD and at least have that under your belt, something you actually finished. Then work in that field for a little while to earn some money and just to give it a chance. If after that you don't like it you can then do some other course funded by yourself. You could do language and literature in your spare time. Unfortunately you need a good job in order to do other things that you want to do in life and you are on the right track to a good job so don't even think of giving it up. You are just fed up at the moment and want to branch out into something new as you are feeling bored with life. If you stick with the good job you will have lots of options later on to relieve your boredom. Best of Luck.

username123

If you can, finish the phd. It's a rare opportunity. Then you have a lifelong base from which you always have earning potential.

Then do whatever you wanna do in your spare time and if that leads to a different career path, great! I'm 39 now and just waiting on my results of a philosophy degree having taken science to post grad level in my early 20s. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up but I can always earn money off my first set of qualifications.

You're also probably suffering some level of burn out since you've been studying so many years, that's only natural too.

You are in a great position right now and if you can just stick it out til the phd is done you won't regret that.

Merkin

Finish your PhD. You've been in a very fortunate position to get funding for this so see it out as you will honestly regret it if you don't.

You then, my dear, need to realise that in your 20s you are no longer beholden to your parents. All this talk of doing what your parents want and expect is absolute rubbish. If you want to run off with the circus do just that. This is your life so stop following the path chosen for you by your mother and follow your own dreams. If you think she is trying to fulfill her own ambitions vicariously tell her to stop. This is your life and you need to do what you want in order to make YOU happy.

Finish the PhD and then go and pursue your love of languages and literature if that's what you want to do.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

ivytwine

Also would like to add as an English grad, there's nothing to stop you doing an online or part time course with English lit. I love English but four years of it did kill my ardour a bit. Also, apart from teaching, there isn't much you can do with it.

LegacyUser

I wouldn't be so quick to say 'finish the PhD' like everyone else. If it's making you miserable, why wait? I was in a similar situation and ended up 'finishing the PhD' and it's still a source a regret. I knew I wasn't sticking with it for the long haul and I just ended up moving into something else after wasting a further 3 years of my life.

But you are far luckier than you realize - you are only 24! Some people are only starting college at 24y. Imagine if you were a 30y old PhD graduate having to start over:)

Now, I'm not sure about career prospects in literature (I suspect not much!) but why not treat the next few months as if you were simply in a badly-paying job and pretend to look for jobs, opportunities, courses... except don't actually be pretending. And if you find something and get an offer.. take it! Enjoying life is more important than getting 3 miserable letters after your name.