Did you know what to do with your life? (26 soon)

almostnever

I'm eighteen and at the moment very set on becoming a barrister. Things change though, who knows what I'll want in eight years!

Andolino

Thought I knew exactly where my life was going at 23 and that changed big time when I was 26 then I regrouped and decided that I was going to sort things out to suit myself this time. All was fine until last may 2010 when I lost my job after 30 years and do you know what it shook me to the core,but now I am starting to realize that I wasn't living at all just existing. Ok no one wants to be out of work but I was tied to that crowd and now I am retraining and HOPING to move on to some type of work I will really enjoy, oh yea I'm 51 now.

Koshea

27 in April,
up until a year ago I'd it all planned out until the eye specialist said no, your eyes aren't up to scratch for a career you've based your degree and the past 12 years around.

Life's not about the destination though, it's in the journey. I'd be the black sheep of the family aswell having other siblings doing well, plotting out and succeeding in their careers. I'm not where I planned to be but I've good job after working basicaly slave labour jobs since turning 13 and to be honest, if I could go back I wouldn't change a thing, gained a lot of friends, memories and an absurd reputation for being quietly insane
I can look around the office and see all the people who have, as another poster mentioned "settled" for the job. Me? I'd just see what comes around the corner, you might be pleasantly surprised.

(Tee hee "sheep")

Nemanja91

19 and all I want to do is get my degree and get out of this country.

4zn76tysfajdxp

Ali Babba wrote: »

That's your problem right there, that sh!t frys your brains and the younger you use it the worse it makes you. My nephew was taking that sh!te when he was a teenager and now he's pretty much a waste of space who doesn't give a fcuk about anything or anyone, has no interest in anything and has fcuked up his future. He got ever chance and blew each and everyone of them. The sad thing is he had the brains to do anything he wanted and was helped all the way, went to college, got a degree. Now he just a hopeless case.

Uncle Billy?

bobbytables

I am doing the best I can with what I have right now.

Some may laugh, but my greatest achievement to date was getting the girl that I fell in love with many years ago. Whatever I'm working toward today, money, travel, etc, etc, is peripheral to that. I'm not saying I'm going to spend the rest of my life standing still because we're happily together several years now. I know when I'm on my death bed and I look back over my life, it will be things like the time I spent with her (even when financially broke) that will constitute "living".

--LOS--

22, have always had 2 things I wanted to do in college, two very different things, one I had a talent and passion for but not much career prospects and a lot of discouragement from parents, the other I also had a big interest in, its seen more as an intellectual thing, good career prospects and was always encouraged more. The later is the one I have pursued, if I could have prevented any outside influence, not been so young finishing school and taken some time off first I probably would have done the first one or at least not still be in the process of ****in up the other one years later.

df1985

25 and not working, did accounting and finance in college but looking back I was pushed/encouraged down that line not knowing what I really wanted to do. Im applying for jobs in that sector but in reality its not something I want long term. Going to asia/oz for 2 years in september, when I come back I hope to do teaching.

I just wish it hadnt took this long for me to figure it all out!

I'm 26, had some plans which never turned out as hoped so am fairly aimless right now. I have a job but no social life.

starbelgrade

bobbytables wrote: »

I am doing the best I can with what I have right now.

Some may laugh, but my greatest achievement to date was getting the girl that I fell in love with many years ago. Whatever I'm working toward today, money, travel, etc, etc, is peripheral to that. I'm not saying I'm going to spend the rest of my life standing still because we're happily together several years now. I know when I'm on my death bed and I look back over my life, it will be things like the time I spent with her (even when financially broke) that will constitute "living".

Tell the truth.. your bird was sitting beside you when you typed that.

Smooth way to get the hole though, I have to say.. kudos.

strokemyclover

31, have a steady career path but have yet to work in a place that I've been happy with using those skills learned at college. I haven't been jumping from job to job (2 in the last 5 years) so I reckon if the next job I get in this field doesn't work out it's time to try something new.

The rest of my life is pretty much f*cked btw hence spending time in After Hours.

Moral of the story: career isn't everything but it helps you stay alive long enough to find something you do like

From the age of 5 to 13 I wanted to be a writer. Then I discovered physics and decided theoretical physics was for me. All went swimmingly until I didn't get phd funding. Now I'm doing something different. I'm actually happy with it, I enjoy it, even the studying.
I might go back to physics one day...
I don't plan very long term though, I'll do this until I qualify (if ever) and then see what I feel like doing.

Ali Babba

Ali Babba wrote: »

That's your problem right there, that sh!t frys your brains and the younger you use it the worse it makes you. My nephew was taking that sh!te when he was a teenager and now he's pretty much a waste of space who doesn't give a fcuk about anything or anyone, has no interest in anything and has fcuked up his future. He got ever chance and blew each and everyone of them. The sad thing is he had the brains to do anything he wanted and was helped all the way, went to college, got a degree. Now he just a hopeless case.

I think he's talking about anti depressants, are you?

baldymac

wasnt sure what i wanted to be, def ddint end up doing now what i went for college for, im still immature, since i was 18 im nearly 30 an havent matured, my gf likes it like that, :pac:

--LOS--

bluewolf wrote: »

From the age of 5 to 13 I wanted to be a writer. Then I discovered physics and decided theoretical physics was for me. All went swimmingly until I didn't get phd funding. Now I'm doing something different. I'm actually happy with it, I enjoy it, even the studying.
I might go back to physics one day...
I don't plan very long term though, I'll do this until I qualify (if ever) and then see what I feel like doing.

you went back to study something different? just curious as to why since you said TP was for you and you clearly did well enough to be applying for phds in the first place, that another phd would crop up if you were set on sticking with academia.

fedor.2.

whatsamsn wrote: »

Just curious to see what most peoples thoughts are. Did you know what to do with your life by a certain age (say mid 20s in this case)? or do you still have no clue?

Im 26 in two weeks. Don't know what to do with my life. In fact, never did anything with my life. Feel like I have no life experiences. Feel like im in one big rut. Social life has taken a hit big time. Not working... bah. Stupid rut :P


Wouldnt mind hearing from other people
enlighten me boards!

Get a job hippy;)

--LOS--

--LOS-- wrote: »

you went back to study something different? just curious as to why since you said TP was for you and you clearly did well enough to be applying for phds in the first place, that another phd would crop up if you were set on sticking with academia.

No I'm working full time and studying on the side, professional exams.
Looking back I was too young to commit to the phd anyway, I might do it one day in the future
I wanted to work in quantum info and a lot of phds at the time were quantum computing. I know, probably a bit too fussy, but I had my heart set on that one!

yeahimhere

Floated through the beginning of my life as we should do - not giving the thought of what I wanted to do with the rest of my life a second thought. Just enjoyed it day by day. Then came the time of the bloody CAO form and all of a sudden my whole life path was trust in front of me for the first time, picked a course that all my friends said would suit me cause I hadn't a clue. Ended up copping on to myself before I started and deferred the place for a year.....never ended up going back to do that degree.

Since then I've floated with different jobs some of which I've loved, some I've hated, all of which I were never really my "ideal" job or really in a plan. The odd time I will get paniced that I don't have a clear direction. Then it's funny when you chat to other people who you think have everything figured out - they're in the same boat too.

No one really has it all figured out as to what they want to do with their lives all the time. You might do for a period and then something always pops up to screw it up or change that plan!

EverEvolving

Yeah, delighted so many people don't know what they want to do as it makes me feel better for not knowing. I've never known or had any idea of what I wanted to be and I'll be 30 this year.

For me its been work to live not live to work. I've never been particularly unhappy or over the moon in any job, I just tend to get on with it and try to make it as bearable as possible.

4zn76tysfajdxp

bluewolf wrote: »

From the age of 5 to 13 I wanted to be a writer. Then I discovered physics and decided theoretical physics was for me. All went swimmingly until I didn't get phd funding. Now I'm doing something different. I'm actually happy with it, I enjoy it, even the studying.
I might go back to physics one day...

Theoretically.

Oranage2

I basically just make 6 month plans

Quit job
finish college
emigrate to Korea
???
Profit

Daniel S

17 now, I've known I want to be a Mechanical Engineer since I was 10. I also want to live in Switzerland, or at least Munich/Southern Germany.

6th

End it.

--LOS--

bluewolf wrote: »

No I'm working full time and studying on the side, professional exams.
Looking back I was too young to commit to the phd anyway, I might do it one day in the future
I wanted to work in quantum info and a lot of phds at the time were quantum computing. I know, probably a bit too fussy, but I had my heart set on that one!

better than drifting into a phd for security which I think a lot more people are doing, a huge proportion of physics people stayed on in my college this year to pursue postgraduate study, I think it's almost a lazy trend, they are people that have done well and would def have better options other places, seems to me they've jumped at the first thing they've been offered.

/nosy neighbour

yeahimhere wrote: »

Floated through the beginning of my life as we should do - not giving the thought of what I wanted to do with the rest of my life a second thought. Just enjoyed it day by day. Then came the time of the bloody CAO form and all of a sudden my whole life path was trust in front of me for the first time, picked a course that all my friends said would suit me cause I hadn't a clue. Ended up copping on to myself before I started and deferred the place for a year.....never ended up going back to do that degree.

Since then I've floated with different jobs some of which I've loved, some I've hated, all of which I were never really my "ideal" job or really in a plan. The odd time I will get paniced that I don't have a clear direction. Then it's funny when you chat to other people who you think have everything figured out - they're in the same boat too.

No one really has it all figured out as to what they want to do with their lives all the time. You might do for a period and then something always pops up to screw it up or change that plan!

Indeed, once you hit LC everything is a deadline, its too easy to be pressured into something that you might later regret in order to meet it.

--LOS--

--LOS-- wrote: »

better than drifting into a phd for security which I think a lot more people are doing, a huge proportion of physics people stayed on in my college this year to pursue postgraduate study, I think it's almost a lazy trend, they are people that have done well and would def have better options other places, seems to me they've jumped at the first thing they've been offered.
.

Nothing lazy about a PhD in physics *shudder*

I'm 25 and still don't have a clear idea. I suppose I've done well so far but I'm such an overachiever that I don't really acknowledge that. I just think of what I still have to do. Realised I'm definitely 100% not cut out for 9-5 desk jobs though, which is useful!

--LOS--

Laila Ripe Bellboy wrote: »

Nothing lazy about a PhD in physics *shudder*

I'm 25 and still don't have a clear idea. I suppose I've done well so far but I'm such an overachiever that I don't really acknowledge that. I just think of what I still have to do. Realised I'm definitely 100% not cut out for 9-5 desk jobs though, which is useful!

was hardly saying that! Was pointing out that these are good people who can do a lot better for themselves but are probably being influenced my the current climate and are opting to stay on in the same place.

bobbytables

starbelgrade wrote: »

Tell the truth.. your bird was sitting beside you when you typed that.

Smooth way to get the hole though, I have to say.. kudos.

No where near me at the time of writing buddy . If all we had was a romantic vocabulary, then I'd definitely have written about something else to be honest.

I think we all go through life chasing after what society, culture, family, peers hold in high regard, which tends to fashionable and/or material and often not really the be all and end all that it's hyped up to be when it comes down to it. Threads like "Advice for your 16 year old self" are a testament to this fact because as time passes we soon realize that the thing we spent so much time chasing after or worrying about wasn't really worth all the hassle after all. All we seem to do as we get older is look around, react and redefine our goals/change course over and over again. I'll whinge and moan about having little or no money just like the next person. Then I'll have one of those days like I did in 2009 when I suddenly lost the man that raised me and didn't get a chance to say goodbye or a great day like in 2003 when I met my girlfriend or the day when I realized she felt the same way about me as I did about her.

I put in a lot of hard work and effort around those times chasing after degrees, money, material items, etc, etc, and none of those things could have made a bit of difference during the most memorable times in my life so far.

"Do you know what you want to do with your life"....the reality is you're already doing it. Just because you think you have less focus than the guy who thinks he's on the right path for him right now, doesn't mean ye're right.

Do your best and enjoy yourself because nobody starts their life knowing where they'll end up.

--LOS--

--LOS-- wrote: »

was hardly saying that! Was pointing out that these are good people who can do a lot better for themselves but are probably being influenced my the current climate and are opting to stay on in the same place.

Oh, indeed. I just meant that they'll soon realise it's not such a handy option once they're a year into it and tearing their head out! I'm trying to resist the temptation myself.

del88

Travel....go life in oz or canada for a year or two....try lots of diffrent things when there...snowboarding,scuba diving,...learn to play guitar...hike ...go camping..
I didn't go traveling till i was 28 and i can honestly say it was the best thing I've ever did...gave me tons of confidence...

beanyb

--LOS-- wrote: »

was hardly saying that! Was pointing out that these are good people who can do a lot better for themselves but are probably being influenced my the current climate and are opting to stay on in the same place.

I think there's a lot of that going around, not just in terms of staying in college. There are lots of people staying in jobs that they hate because they're afraid they won't get another one. It's fair enough, security and money are totally necessary, but sometimes I feel sad for people that could be so much happier if they took the risk that they probably would have a few years ago.

I'm nearly 25 and have a general idea of what I'd like to do, but I'd in no way call it a life plan. I'm pretty happy to go with wherever life takes me at the moment, and who the f*ck knows what I'll be doing or where I'll be in five years time.

Tchaikovsky

Oranage2 wrote: »

I basically just make 6 month plans

Quit job
finish college
emigrate to Korea
???
Profit

North? May lead to world domination benefits

Tchaikovsky

Mid twenties and don't have a clue what I'll do either. I have a real passion for art, although what I studied in college was the polar opposite of that, so it's a hobby at the moment which may lead to something more substantial.

I'm off to South America in a few weeks for the year and really haven't a clue what I'll do after that; probably move on to another interesting country.
Essentially I just want to try loads of new things, meet great people, make a difference, fall in love a few times; I don't want to be defined by how much money I make, but by my decency as a person.

Life's too short to be stuck at home worrying about arsehole politicians who haven't a clue what they're doing and continuously spout ****e that makes things worse. I've been stuck in a rut before and it ain't happening again.

Tar.Aldarion

I don't know

I-Shot-Jr

Im not too sure what I'll do in life, I'm only twenty but I speak a decent amount of languages and am almost certain I'll end up moving abroad. Not because of the recession and jobs market bla bla bla but because I want to see everything I possibly can. I suppose I'll find a girlfriend but until the right girl comes along that I know is right for me I'm not to pushed and pornhub will do the job. I've already travelled a bit over the past couple of years and my degree is the kind that will let me travel abroad for jobs which is perfect seeing as I seem to have an overdeveloped sense of adventure and just want to experience as much as I can. Wouldn't surprise me if I end up never owning a house, I probably would never stay in one place long enough.

--LOS--

chillax, you've done loads

rest now young one

Tar.Aldarion

--LOS-- wrote: »

chillax, you've done loads

rest now young one

Dunno, coulda had a few phds in me by now :pac:

--LOS--

your dressing gown is as good a robe as any yano

Tar.Aldarion

but i dun look like im from starwars. solution 4 years study or go to smiths >_>

LambsEye

I love how I attempt to plan things and then old lady life comes along and kicks me ass.

A year ago it was very, very relationship-centric. Now that relationship is over.

I did the college thing.
Travelled a fair bit.
Moved to New York and got a bitchin' job
Planning on living in New York for the foreseeable future.

I must admit, I'm having minor heart palpitations at the prospect of being in a grown-up job for a long time. I always envisioned myself taking off for a few years and travelling. I like myself so much better when I'm travelling.

Lesson learned? Make as many plans as you want, and then **** on them. Because they more than likely won't work out!

Agricola

Can't say that I do. Ive never had any burning ambition to do anything with my life. Since I was a kid, my focus has always been on counting down the days until the next holiday came along so that I could chill out and relax. Now at the age of 29, Im still more or less the same!

Got a good degree 5 years ago which for various reasons I havent managed to use. Its now largely obsolete so for the last couple of years Ive been toying with the idea of organizing myself, leaving my comfortable but tedious job and going back to do a Masters. Of course in the current climate Im fully aware that theres loads of people with more experience and more specific qualifications than me who would walk into any position before I would. I also think maybe Im just taking the safe option and going back into education which I always loved, probably more for the fact that it was a safe haven from the real world rather than how it was specifically going to benefit me.

Aside from that, I want to see alot more of the world. I didnt get further afield than Britain until I was 24, which in modern Ireland is the equivilent of being a 40 year old virgin! Id like to expand my circle of friends. Im naturally an insular person and over the years Ive noticed Ive lost touch with people and havent bothered to change that. I suppose Im drifting along and just getting by. Sometimes it gets me down abit that Im not in the 100k a year job, with the flash car, and 100 party people on speedial but then I just think, these are first world problems. I have my health, (after finally biting the fitness bullet and knocking 2 stone of my arse last year) good food and drink (though alittle less of it!), I have a laugh with people whose company I enjoy on the wkend and Ive promised myself as long as I have the funds, to book at least one flight every year to go somewhere I havent been before.

It could be a lot worse I suppose.

LambsEye

Agricola wrote: »

I have my health, (after finally biting the fitness bullet and knocking 2 stone of my arse last year) good food and drink (though alittle less of it!), I have a laugh with people whose company I enjoy on the wkend and Ive promised myself as long as I have the funds, to book at least one flight every year to go somewhere I havent been before.

It could be a lot worse I suppose.

Hear Hear! Sometimes you need to shut the fcuk up and put your crap in perspective.

hatrickpatrick

mikom wrote: »

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.

In all honesty this is one of the wisest quotes ever.

Alter-Ego

Went from secondary school straight to college without thinking about what I wanted in life.

Did a year in an IT course there, dropped out, worked a crappy job for a year, deciding what I wanted to do with my life.

Decided to do a course based in Arts and Media. Enjoyed it. Partied a bit too much in college. Got the higher certificate after 2 years and left. I'll be out of college 2 years this June. And apart from one crappy minimum wage job that I got laid off from before Xmas, I haven't done much since, apart from a bit of travelling.

I wanted to travel for a while but with the way things are in Ireland I've decided its best to get a degree now before fees come in and the back to education allowance goes down.

I'm going to do an IT degree, but not because I have a great passion for it. I like technology but I'd rather work in the music industry.
Reality is, I lack the confidence and ambition to make that happen so I'm just gonna get the Degree and travel when I'm 27.

--LOS--

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

but i dun look like im from starwars. solution 4 years study or go to smiths >_>

pick me up one ye, cba :P

Columbia

I'm 22, went to college and did the wrong degree (Arts), but got top grades and I'm close to finishing my postgrad research now. I have two distinct paths for the next 5-8 years, where my plan is basically to earn as much money as possible to do as much travel as I can. After that one of the paths offers a definite long-term career if I want it, the other would necessitate a sideways movement in the industry before I'd be happy long-term.

Nothing is certain though, particularly in these times.

Trog

Way I sees it, most folks be just after status is all.

Hank Scorpio

24, got a degree and have worked the past 2-3 summer semesters in work placement companies. Decided to take a break in September and have been doing fcuk all since then.

I had aspirations to take a few months out and really give online poker a go, but in the past few weeks, months even I just havent really bothered to play. Decent profits but not enough volume.

No idea what I want to do, I realised office work isnt really for me, even though I love computing and IT. The politics in some of the places I'v seen really go against alot of the things I believe in.

david75

35 floating along in a limbo..cant find work doing *anything* but read this today and it scared me ****less...

"wish I could take my own advice but imagine meeting your 15 year old self, what would you say to them.
.
.
.
think about it
.
.
.
.
Now imagine meeting your 60 year old self, what would they say to you"
That shook me.

maninasia

They'd say 'Aren't you a handsome divil, use it before you lose it!'

--LOS--

--LOS-- wrote: »

better than drifting into a phd for security which I think a lot more people are doing, a huge proportion of physics people stayed on in my college this year to pursue postgraduate study, I think it's almost a lazy trend, they are people that have done well and would def have better options other places, seems to me they've jumped at the first thing they've been offered.

/nosy neighbour
.

Well I'm happy where I ended up The job is mathsy and interesting and challenging and pays well so it all worked out