life choices

[Miss Peks]

life choices

Just wondering who here doesn't know what the hell they want to do with their lives?????
I'm 19 yrs old and pretty much all of my friends have their lives planned already such as with their schooling and travelling and all of that stuff. As for me I have absolutely no idea what I want to do, except for that I want to travel, but I can't even decide where I want to go first anymore.
The fields of work I'm intrested in are so diverse too. Like for example I'm intrested in Arts, Law, Politics, IT. It's just so complicated. I have no idea which one I'll eventually go ahead with.
At the moment I'm working in a crap job that I really don't like and I'm contemplating going back to school next yr as well as working full time. I get told a lot that there are a lot of people around that are like me, but I never seem to meet them.
Please tell me I'm not the only one. Oh yeah and if anyone has overcome this problem, please share your story.
BTW this is not a bullshit thread.
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I have been liberated into the light

 

[KompleX]

WOW!
Thats just like me, seriously!
It sux ass being multi-talented and shit like that and its too hard to decide how ure gonna make a living.
I'd write more but im so sleepy and my ears are sore cus my headphones are too big and the bass is too high and when those 2 factors combine, they make my ears hurt.
but i guess my ears dont have anything to do with typin so i'll finish this off by saying that......
this sux, im too sleepy to think of anythin.
Well i know what youre goin through and if u wanna talk about it u can if u see me runnin around sumwhere. Or as an alternative you can use this thread

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reporter - "i'm sorry we're gonna have to leave it there becasue your nipples are errect"

 

[Its Chaos]

ahh pekkie you know how old i am!
i still dont know what i want to do!
uhm..JUST RIDE!
i left school and become a cabinet maker and then a chipy!
and ive done so much more!!!
try do what your hart tells you!
yes thats hard to figure out sometimes especially the way human emotions play with ya!
youll find/figure out in dew(sp?)time!
just make shore it makes/keeps you happy!
im very tired as you might know

work tommorow!

 

[rc1n]

Since I can remember I've wanted to be a lawyer for various reasons but mainly because it's wat I think i'd be good at and cos my mum and dad and most of their friends are lawyers as well which was a major influence on my choice. My mum + dad have NEVER pressured me into doing law or any other course. But I've changed my mind heaps and heaps and heaps about what I want to do. I've come up with some really retarded ideas like from a mechanic to being a dentist to becoming a carpenter, but I've always come back to being a lawyer.
I started uni last year and i'm in second year now, doing law. But I look at how hard and long the lawyers i know work and i'm not sure if i want to do law anymore. BUT i don't know what I'm good at and what i'd love to do which is another major problem. I guess a career's advisor could help or something.
The thing is, society places so much and so many expectations on people and at such a young age (Im 19) I feel like i HAVE to choose the job that I'm going to have for the rest of my life NOW. I don't think many people leaving school are capable of doing that and i KNOW i'm not capable of doing it, I guess its a case of "lucky dip" where some people get lucky and choose a job that they LOVE while others don't get lucky and get a job that they absolutely hate.
Right now I'm thinking that I'd like to work in retail for a while in a small clothes store or something and take a year off or do uni part time next year and see what happens. I feel that I'm too young to be taking life full on seriously and i just want to go with the flow. THe exams i've got now have just emphasised the point even more.
I haven't found something that I love doing so much that I could do it for the rest of my life, It'll come to you one day (so I've been told to people who've found out exactly what they want to do)
Pekkie : A careers advisor could really help out and look around to see what courses there are at uni and see what interests you and stuff. I know ALOT of people who don't know exactly what they want to do, I know I don't and alot of my friends from uni are like this as well, so you're not alone!!

The stories I've heard from people who've found exactly what they want to do are very funny. A friend of mine said she was inspired my lego to do architecture and another mate of mine wants to be a cop for all the wrong reasons

.
Peace
rc1n

 

[Decimal Dan]

I guess I'm lucky coz I found my fortè at a young age. Ever since I was about 12 I've wanted to be a nerdy computer programmer, so I finished high school, and I am nearly finished my 5 year Software Engineering degree.
About a year ago however, I discovered a new love: DJ'ing. So my priorities have shifted somewhat. Now, computer programming will be something I can fall back onto if my DJ career doesn't take me where I want it to.
I wouldn't stress about not knowing what you want to do. Like Chaos said, follow your heart. My sister is 28, and she has only recently discovered her new love: Make-up.
Travel, work in shitty jobs, work in good jobs - it's all good. As long as you are happy. And if you hate your job, try and get another one. My girlfriend told me that she has finally found a job she loves after 3 years of hating all her jobs, and she now wants to take her job all the way up to getting her MBA! (Masters in Business).
Good luck pekkie - we all love ya!

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...the currency man.

 

[TiggerChic]

Yes, pekkie... Since year 10 everyone kept telling me that i needed to know what i wanted to be when i grew up - that way i could plan my electives to follow the right path... I didn't believe them then and i believe them even less now... I did drama and chemistry in year 12 - (does that tell you how much my mind was made up?) Since then i have decided that i don't want to grow up!!

My mum often says to me - "you are 24 and look at you!! - you are acting like a kid... when are you going to grow up?"
My belief is to follow what you like - and remember that life is full of doors waiting to be opened - you chose which ones you want to open. If you don't like what is behind door number 2 then try door number 6 - that is the beauty of life - we a free to chose as we please and to change our minds...
One piece of advice i do have though... don't be in a rush to grow up and settle down... I tried that a while back and am soooo glad i got to enjoy my youth for a few more years yet!!

If there ever was a female peter pan - I would be it!!!

 

[*meth*]

i would definately advise you to continue school if you don't know what to do..or travel if you have money!!!
i got kicked out of school at the age of 14, did an textile designer apprenticeship at my parent's business, stayed there for 7 years, really had no other choice. left home to travel and ended up working as a catering assistant/cook in england and new zealand, then when i came to australia i decided to do a chef apprenticehsip at the age of 25, did that for about 10 years, and then came up with the idea to study full time at uni! at the age of 35.
what i am trying to say is, education is NEVER wasted. i missed out initially and am trying to make up for it! it took me all these years to figure out and find what i really want to do.
so , if you decide to study, do something that interests you , don't go for the money jobs, and don't EVER listen to your parents!!!!!

 

[leumas]

im kinda in the same boat. im almost 24 and just finishing my second degree(one is finance the other is marketing) about a year ago i started to get the feeling that i would get far greater satisfaction from doing architecture or design, being able to create something that would bring me pleasure as well as other people, not just pushing around numbers on a computer. so now i do not know what to do. mmm... i think its time to go travelling again.
on a lighter note this post has led to the achievement of one of my life goals. Yes after lurking on bluelight since the mdma clearing house and being a registered user for almost a year i have graduated to become an official bluelighter. i am no longer green.
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lurker
[This message has been edited by leumas (edited 14 November 2000).]

 

[rockee]

an interesting thread...
you see, I am now 35..sheesh....just....and if someone came up to me now and asked me what i want to be when i grow up...i'd still say...i don't know.
i feel like i have been in midlife crisis since 32, i think everyone, around that age, suddenly goes...well, shit, there must be more to life than this...get up, go to work, come home, dinner, dishes, bed, start all over again.
is it worth it?
i toyed with the idea of being a lawyer, since i worked as a para legal for many years, but..i don't fit the mould, i'm not into going to the opera and being all materialistic, drive the right car, do the right social things...the lawyer i was assisting rarely saw his family - he'd sometimes still be in meetings until 3am (and that was new years eve...doing deals)..then i was offered my current position (after being accepted to study law), as a marketing co-ordinator for a travel organisation.
i've been here for 3 years...i'd rather be out massaging horses or something...but..will that pay the mortgage?
.....SUGAR DADDY......SET ME FREEEEEE..... oh damn, that's right, i married for love...

 

[BayCityRolla]

Travel Travel Travel Travel Travel Travel Travel Travel and when your finished ....Travel some more
There is so much culture out there in the world to explore..Your too young too worry about what you want to do in life..
Unlike myself..going on 29 .. I was lucky enuf to backpack overseas for some time..And I can honestly say there were the greatest times of my life thus far.. Warning though ..Stay clear of London.Why?.Too many cheap E's and way many Aussie and Kiwis.. I spent alot of time in Eastern Europe ( amazing place )..
Oh yeah I've in IT work for 7 years and its bores the fucking crap out me... I still don't know what I want..But I would love to own a farm of soughts..maybe a winery..
Cheers
BayCityRolla - See yah at earthcore nov 25

 

[Voodoo Chile]

I am in the same situation - I am 20 and have no idea what I want to do with my life. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to study law. I got the marks at school, got in, and hated it. So I quit.
Now I am working in a shit job as a receptionist, and I hate it even more than I hated uni.
What I am trying to say is, really think things over. I regret every day that I quit uni, but I cant change it now. I am getting married in a couple of months, so now I cant afford to quit full time work.
I may go back one day, but at the moment, I dont see it happening.
If you do make an important decision like I did, just make sure it is the right one, and that you wont regret it. Also make sure you give everything a good chance - I only gave uni one semester, and I see now that it really isnt enough.
Luv Voodoo

 

[j_swift]

i find it so difficult to stay focused in one area for a period of time. i tend to pick up interests intensely for a year or so.....then get distracted by something else entirely.....needless to say that this attitude doesn't lend itself to completing uni degrees
so yeah after five years of abortively trying to finish my degree i find myself working in retail...again. i kinda just fell into uni, i got a really good ter and thought, well i can pretty much do anything + i have no inclination to work so i'll go to uni. in hindsight this may not have been the best attitude, but i don't regret making this decision.....i learnt alot about myself in this time, and i had to deal with serious emotional issues which were holding me back.
but as ppl keep on saying it's all good, i still don't really know what i want to do.....finish my degree and start a second one, travel, get the fuck out of sydney......all viable options.
all i know is that i don't want to stagnate, as long as i can find new experiences in my life thats all i'm asking for atm. long term goals don't exist in my mind.

 

[pulse]

"what do you want to do when you grow up?" is a highly misleading question. it implies that you have to do SOMETHING, and that something becomes part of who you are. heres a tip, it doesnt.
career is not everything, and at the end of the day, it is just something you do 40 hours a week to fuel the rest of your life. sure 40 hours is a while, so you dont want to be in a shithole shovelling shit, but by the same token, it doesnt have to be an all consuming goal at the expense of other (good, fun) things.
im 20, always wanted to be a programmer. duxxed computing in school and went to uni to do software engineering. hey, it sucked, so i got out. now i work in the IT dept of an engineering company (irony or what?

). its not like i love coming to work each morning, but i dont hate it either. for me work is a means to an end, and "career" well, i once read that the "average"(loaded word if ever i heard one) australian will move houses every four years and change careers at least twice.
i dont want to be defined by my job. there are few things worse than meeting people and the first question they ask is "so what do you do?". i loathe it. my job has nothing to do with who i am as a person, its just something i get paid to do on weekdays.
consequently, not knowing what you want to, i think, is cool. and also, quite frankly, i reckon that most people who "know" have doubts as well.
i like the advice already given, follow your heart, do what seems right. a long term, step-by-step plan will only end up restricting choices in the long run.
pulse
disclaimer: ahh, forget it

[This message has been edited by pulse (edited 15 November 2000).]

 

[Yoda]

i'm 21 and always through my life i wanted to be an actor. i performed in plays television, film. went to a performing arts high school. knew everything i wanted to know by the age of 16. Then it all came apart. i was still doing it at 18 and enjoying it but i wanted something different so i went traveling... changed my life... fantastic, and yet fucked it up totally. suddenly didn't really want to do acting anymore, so i went to uni and started software eng. now this is a degree that i can do with the minimal of effort and i love uni life but is it really want i want to do?? No not really, but i am interested and its a good back up if i ever go back into acting. Sound familiar?? everyone goes through this, and i have to believe that when people stop going through this uncertainty and change that they stop growing as a human being. sure sometimes it sux but then sometimes the choice that u make out of boredom and uncertainty turns out to be one of the brightest times of your life... but only for a while

you ask what to do???
do it all!!
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It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

 

[Soma]

Things are very up in the air for me at the moment.
Sitting in a crap crap contract that I'm just waiting to end.
Am in the middle of:

• Looking for a new job which means deciding:
  • Who to work for (looking for a large multi national company pref)
  • What type of role (integration work,consulting, pure networking (yummy cisco routers), sys admin/helpdesk/breakfix(not if I can help it))
  • Whether or not I want to 'start afresh' and move into programming (one of my uni majors was software development)
  • Contract or permanant (Although I have plenty of qualifications, I still want perm work so I can get in on the training)
• Looking for a new place to stay meaning I have to look at
  • Whether I want to stay in Melbourne or not (yeah baby!)
  • Where my next job is located (travel time! - living close to work rocks so seriously hard
  • Whether I want to go OS or not (I'd love to work in the US (drool, exchange rate) but I don't quite have the experience to jump over there yet (although I do have the formal qualifications)
  • How long this job here is going to last (Another meeting about that this Fri)
• And whether I want a bit more stability including:
  • Landing a long term job so I can do some asset building like buying a place to live
  • Landing a job where I can get equity in a company so I don't have to worry about finding the money to buy a place to live
    
  • The whole white picket fence thing
  • Exercise
• My next lot of training that I'd like to do which depends on
  • which type of job I get next
  • have housemates with computers so we can set up a full scale lab so I/we can learn stuff (have desire to set up such things as a router lab, NT lab (various multi domain lab exercises, SMS exercises etc), Citrix Win/Metaframe (I *love* this computing paradigm),Win2000). Can multi boot computers for this.

And of course I'm 24, meaning I'm young and impatient and all of this needs to be decided now!

 

[delroy]

Well, as much as it irks me, i have to agree with yoda. Do everything that you possibly can - experience it all and try to live life to the fullest.
I'm 22 and currently doing a year of work experience for a chemical engineering degree. This was not what i wanted to do but not getting the ter for medicine meant that i had to reconsider my options. Doing this degree has, if nothing else, meant that while i wait to try get into med i can learn and keep learning. That, i think, is the most important thing in life - to keep learning new things whether it be at uni, in the workforce or back-packing the world. Otherwise your brain stagnates and without new challenges you sink into the banal existence of a 9-5er (not saying that 9-5 is bad but that most people who do it see work as a toil not as a challenge (ie no variety))
Also, as long as you put yourself first then that is what counts. If you don't enjoy a job then it isn't worth doing unless it is a means to a forseeable end. I guess what i am trying to say is that your enjoyment of life and your health are far more important than money.
What i did is ask myself what i really enjoy and am interested in and then i made sure i could incoporate it into as much of my life as possible (ie my job). If i keep this belief throughout my life then at the end of it all i will be satisfied that i enjoyed as much of my time here as possible.
[This message has been edited by delroy (edited 15 November 2000).]

 

[Decimal Dan]

Soma: You are SUCH a computer nerd...

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...the currency man.

 

[KompleX]

I agree with Soma on finding housemates that have computers.
In my case it would be completely mad to have housemates that are also into producing music and have a load of gear as well. We'd rock the place sily

I've always been into producing music since i was really short,
but now that im a bit taller i need to find a carrer/job path that can support my expensive hobby.
My ideas involve doing something that isnt related directly to music cus i want to keep music away from work.

 

[br(e)tt]

Well I don't think I can say anything that hasn't been posted yet, so I'll say nothing.

I guess I was kind of in the same boat as Decimal Dan, I found computers at a young age and pretty much decided they were for me and I've been a total nerd ever since (I'm not saying you are Dan!). I don't have any formal qualifications which in the IT industry, means pretty much stuff all anyway. If you are looking at getting into IT (as I think you mentioned) then getting a degree is not the "be all and end all". Most prospective employers look for hands on experience, so if you have any of that then you are in a pretty good position. I've been working with Wide Area Networks and networking in general for the past 4 years (I did mention I am a super nerd!) and I'm absolutely loving it. Sure it can be boring at times, but you are always learning about new things/technologies, etc. I scored a new job a few weeks ago and it's the ultimate position I could have ever asked for, a position that involes working with networks and also overseas travel for training/working at the same time. It's the best of both worlds, and I'm absolutely loving it.
I don't really have any idea what I am trying to say pekkie, other than best of luck to you.

And I hope it all works out for you.
P.S Soma did you work for a place called Infinity in an earlier life by any chance? As I think I may have met you before when I was working for an ISP, perhaps not though.

 

[tacticale]

I've been looking seriously into this so-called career thing lately, mainly because the IT path i have chosen to follow is boring as shit.
Although it does have it's advantages where if i study or get experience in a few different areas it makes it fairly easy to move into different streams of IT related jobs.
The scariest thing that I see is that we are all going to live a lot longer than what our parents and grandparents have. My grandparents are about 80 and one has passed away. but looking at the lives they have lived, fairly stressful and unhealthy in comparison to todays standards, medicine in their time wasn't as good as ours, and all the other luxuries that we have grown up with and they hadn't. And they lived till their 80ish.
Well how long are we going to live for?
Sure most of us will probably last till we are about 40 from the large ammount of drugs passed through our systems... but still if we can all get a tradein on most of our vital organs we should live for a lot longer.
So what has this got to do with careers. Well, if we are going to live till we are 100-120, we are going to probably be working till we are 70-80 or more, just to support ourselves, maybe even more, so we will probably end up having 3 different major careers in our lifes.
So the only real advice that i can give someone is: a) choose a job that you enjoy.
and b) choose a job that is dynamic and you can move into different jobs with, don't get railroaded into a set stream that leads no-where.
Remember we WORK so we can LIVE not LIVE so we can WORK.