Don't know what to do with my life.

[Milkman Norm]

Also math is mentioned seemingly out of nowhere. There are plenty of decent jobs that don't involve a lot of math.

[castletonsnob]

Jun 5, 2016 20:37:28 GMT -5 Milkman Norm said:

Also math is mentioned seemingly out of nowhere. There are plenty of decent jobs that don't involve a lot of math.

But all the well-paying jobs require math.

[Milkman Norm]

Jun 5, 2016 20:46:35 GMT -5 castletonsnob said:

Jun 5, 2016 20:37:28 GMT -5 Milkman Norm said:

Also math is mentioned seemingly out of nowhere. There are plenty of decent jobs that don't involve a lot of math.

But all the well-paying jobs require math.

I really think you should talk to a professional. I'm not a trained professional and I'm not going to give advice out but between this and the driving thread it seems like it could be beneficial to you. The idea that all good jobs require math seems like a negative thought loop you've gotten yourself into.

[edgestar]

A well-paying job doesn't always equal happiness.
Not everyone is good in math, and that's okay. Whatever job you get, you will have training in, so you can better yourself.

[Red Impact]

I went back to school at 28 when the industyr I was in (print journalism) went down a tailspin. I had classmates who were older than me in my career path. You don't have to know what you're going to do at 23, 25, or even 30. You have time to figure it out, or just get a good job that pays the bills. You're not required to be in love with your job, and even people that do love their career tend to have a love-hate relationship with their jobs.

A few things in particular I noticed.

- Plenty of people dont' get a job in their degree field. In fact, many employers just care that you have a degree and don't really care which, because in the vast majority of fields, college teaches the basics but not really how to do a job. At this point you're young enough to try different things. Do that.

- Unless you're an engineer or an architect or statistician or some field similar to that, base level math is just fine. There are plenty of well paying jobs that don't require you to be a math whiz and truthfully, most people don't use anything beyond basic math at their job. I'm in the medical field, the most advanced math I use on a daily basis is division. People in trades can make a lot of money with minimal math. And there are just plenty of people with seemingly random josb who make a lot more than you would expect, while many people with "good" sounding jobs that don't make nearly as much as you'd think. And you said you got better in math as you went on, well, a lot of people just need to see problems in a more practical setting before they really get it. Not everyone is a worksheet learner.

- You're 23, you have time. You don't have to have your entire life figured out, and the vast majority of people don't. It's natural to be anxious because, quite frankly, no one really offers a realistic explanation of what to expect in the working world. But know that there are many paths to stability, and no one is going to drill you on what times trains cross each other if one leaves from one coast at 45 kph and the other leaves the other coast at 17 mph. You'll learn more about whatever job you had out of school than you ever learned in school.

[Deleted]

I'm 29, my job pays like dirt and my finances are a constant struggle.

I have never been happier. My job is immensely satisfying, I like the city I live in, the girl I'm with is a delight. A great paying job isn't always the key to success. I eventually figured out that I just was never going to get the middle class, white picket fence dream and I'm happier for it.

Maybe you'll be the same, maybe you won't.

[Citizen Snips]

I earned a degree in Comparative Literature from Penn State in 2002. I'm a supervisor in a metal services warehouse (basically a middle man between the mills and the shops). My degree couldn't have less to do with my career. I live by myself, but make more than the household average in my county (suburban Philadelphia). The highest level of math we use is basic arithmetic that even a couple high school drop-outs have no problem with. I didn't go into or leave college with any plan or idea what I wanted to do. I've turned out fine.

You're young and worried, but you'll most likely be fine. At that age, it seems like you have to get going and have everything figured out RIGHT NOW, but the working life is long. You'll figure something out.

[Stu]

Teenagers think they know everything, but they know jack shit.

Early-20s think they're supposed to know everything, but they don't need to know all shit.

Mid-30s thought they figured out all the shit, but realize they'd rather deal with other shit.

The 40s finally got together their shit

The 50s barely give a shit.

The 60s don't give a shit.

The 70s can't shit.

[StuntGranny®]

I just turned 30 and I STILL don't know what the hell I want to do. I'm teaching right now, I enjoy it, but the pay is terrible. I just want to watch wrestling and play video games all day, but that shit doesn't pay well.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

I wish I was 23.

[Society of the Spectacle]

I think there are some damn good responses in here. And I mean, no one, unless they are lucky and scored their dream job out of college or before they hit thirty, is ever going to say they are 100% happy where they work.

My degree is in English, and I initially wanted to be a teacher. I worked as a TA for five years and loved working with students, but I started to feel like the educational system wasn't going to allow me to be teacher I wanted to be/ the kind of teacher I loved as a student. Also, I made terrible money as a TA, even though I was happy.

Now I'm at a job with the county of Los Angeles making more money than I've ever made at a job (still, not too much), but am often unhappy there. However, there are opportunities within the whole department to do stuff that would use my English degree, and I could see myself happy enough in those situations, so that's what I'm pushing for right now.

Consider these suggestions:

-If there is a dream job in your head, no matter how silly or unrealistic it is to others, or how little it has to do with your schooling, go for it. However, to give yourself the best chance to succeed in it, you have to make BIG sacrifices, and constantly work at whatever it is. Working hard is the only way to give yourself the best chance at your dream career. You're still very young and have the energy to do it. Research your goals, study those that have succeeded at it, and use their success as a guide. But most importantly, do whatever it is as much as you can.

-Get an unpaid internship/low totem pole position in an industry you like. People might look down on you and think you have nothing to offer, but by learning every day, you can navigate yourself into a place where you interact with the people that can help propel you upward. Again, you're young and can afford to get some experience in a chosen field without good pay, so make use of that time. You can work your way up and usually get yourself on a path to attaining a position or career you want.

-Get a "square" job that you can tolerate that allows you to live a lifestyle you want. I have friends that work for UPS (package delivery service) or textbook companies that don't love the work, but love the fact that it allows them to live comfortable enough and engage their interests (video games, building their cars, etc) without stressing them out after they clock out. You can move up in these instances as well, but that becomes a bonus.

With the first two options, I would suggest doing that now, because as you get older and have more and more stuff happening around you, it's harder to give the effort needed. Option three will always be there. It's really up to what you want in life.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

Jun 5, 2016 21:58:32 GMT -5 Stu said:

Teenagers think they know everything, but they know jack shit.

Early-20s think they're supposed to know everything, but they don't need to know all shit.

Mid-30s thought they figured out all the shit, but realize they'd rather deal with other shit.

The 40s finally got together their shit

The 50s barely give a shit.

The 60s don't give a shit.

The 70s can't shit.

The 80s hope they don't shit.

The 90s can't stop shitting.

[CM Parish]

I'm 29 and only just got the job I know I'm going to be doing from now on, plus the girl I know I want to spend my life with. Don't worry man, I'm probably an exception with the job part; the relationship thing can happen any time soon or in 5 years. Don't sweat it, you'll get there.

[Hit Girl]

Have you considered WWE superstar?

["Gentleman" AJ Powell]

Jun 5, 2016 19:24:40 GMT -5 YAKMAN is ICHIBAN said:

DONT. GO. TO. LAW. SCHOOL.


If you do you'll still not know what to do with your life but also have 200,000 in student loan debt.

As someone in the second year of his law degree...

Yeah, this seems about right.

[Deleted]

You're not supposed to.

[The Heartbreak TWERK]

Have you considered joining the Red Lantern Corps?

[Banjo Is Broken]

Be like Cousin Eddie's kids and go work for the carnival. You could end up barking for the Yak-woman.

[ICBM]

I can weigh in as the cranky old man if you'd like? I won't tell any lies and won't blow sunshine up your rear. If you want honesty without spin just ask.

[Evil Homer]

* language *

m.youtube.com/watch?v=6aGGdZEcsds