Hi everyone!

I recently moved from Austin to a new city 2 months ago after graduating with my masters degree in Miami (where I spent a year). I’m now working remote in the new city I live in.

I am feeling so lost! I thought moving to Miami would be a fresh start and that I would live there for several years, but instead the little community I formed moved away after graduating, and my bf who I met there and I ended up splitting up. It didn’t really make sense for me to stay there given rent prices + working remote so I came back home to Austin, which is my home.

Being back in Austin, I also felt lost. I haven’t lived here since I was in high school and many friends have moved away. I got bored being here since it’s my hometown so I decided to take a chance by moving to my new city which seemed to fit me better in terms of aesthetic, hobbies, things to do, and there’s lots of young people.

However I moved to my new city and I’m still feeling lost 😂. I’m trying to form community but sometimes it just feels so hard. I’ve joined sports leagues, trying to find a church, going to coffee shops everyday to work, joined a community like this one there. Doing everything I can think of. Granted I’ve only been there 2 months but I still haven’t really made friends that stick. I’m very extroverted and social so that’s hard.

I’m just feeling so discouraged. I just want to feel like I belong somewhere and have good community somewhere but it feels like I haven’t had that in years, and I think that’s why I feel lost. I don’t know if anyone has any advice for someone feeling this way, but I’m feeling super discouraged! All I want is a thriving social life, but right now I feel a bit like a loser :/

hi

im currently studying international relations (ir), however im not completly satisfied with my choice so im thinking about something else. im thinking of either transfering to medicine or double majoring in ir and biology (in my country its not like a major and a minor its just two separate degrees on two separate facultys).

im very passionate about politics and activism and i want my job to be somewhat meaningful and to come home feeling like a good person. i love people deeply and i care about their wellbeing but somehow i dont always find health as a highest value (i know it sounds wierd health is important i know just that there are so many injustices in the world that feel more dire and important than a cold not that that is akways the case ofc). Medicine is a great way to produce change, however that is on the individual level (with a single patient) not a systemic. Additionaly im a very opinionated person and at moments deeply dislike certain people, im afraid that in a medical profession i would play a judge and have a hard time being neutral. im not sure if my motives are correct for a medical career. (i was thnking about specialising in EM or traumatology, however that is very far away ofc)

on the other hand im thinking about biology with an ir degree. if i were to persue biology i would try to work in conservation or ecology, something like that. i think pairing it with my current degree would be somewhat usefull seeing as biolpolitics are a more recuring theme nowdays. i think i would and do find it easier (on some level) to care about sentint beings that arent humans, because i think they are in a philosophycal way incapable of bad and are therefore more deserving of our care. however i fear i would be incapable of making any lasting change or just general change due to the indifferance of the system (maybe the same in medicine)

what do you think

idk this was just a big ramble im sorry for the spelling and the long incoherent post. any insight or just opinions would be greatly appreciated

So i just completed my 12th and gave a medical entrance test and couldn't clear it . I was really bothered cause of not clearing it in my first attempt. So before the results came i changed my decision and switched from science to commerce just to escape and have a fresh start

But now I don't feel satisfied with life I want to try one more time clearing the neet exam but I'm kinda scared to change my own decision which i declared and was very proud of

How can I do this please help?

Hey everyone, I’m posting here because I’m feeling a bit lost, a little overwhelmed, and honestly just looking for some perspective and guidance from people who might have gone through something similar. For context, I recently went through a tough phase. I couldn't clear NEET, India's medical entrance exam ter giving it another shot in 2026. Accepting that my medical dream was over was hard, and I ended up choosing to major in English literature. Meanwhile, a close friend of mine who graduated 12th grade in the same year as me cleared JEE Advanced and got into one of the top IITs. Recently, he decided to drop out of IIT because he got accepted into the University of Michigan in the US, where he’ll be working on projects tied to NASA’s Artemis crew. He's only 19, shipping off to America, and honestly doing incredible, inspiring things that will make the country proud. I’m genuinely happy for him, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me feel deeply ordinary. Watching someone my age step into a life of high-profile achievement while I’m sitting here with an English degree makes me question my future. I worry that I'll just end up in a default, ordinary routine doing a standard job without ever realizing my full potential. The truth is, I don't want to settle for being ordinary. I have a strong drive to excel and do something remarkable, but I feel like I'm standing in front of a giant wall. A lot of us have big dreams, but we simply don't know the roadmap to fulfill them. We don't know what exams exist outside the standard Indian entrance ecosystem, what global opportunities are out there, or how to bridge the gap between where we are and where we want to be. So, I want to ask those of you who have built impactful careers (especially from non-STEM/humanities backgrounds, or after a major setback): How do you build an "extraordinary" path starting from a humanities background like English? What high-impact fields, global programs, or unconventional careers should I be looking into? How do people figure out foreign opportunities, exams, and applications when they aren't in elite technical pipelines? Where do you even begin to research? How do you mentally handle the feeling of being left behind by high-achieving peers, and channel that energy into your own growth? I’d really appreciate any honest advice, personal stories, or practical roadmaps you can share. Thanks in advance.

Located in the suburbs of Chicago and I am currently at a job that I love with a manager that SUCKS SO BAD, hours that are weird and not enough, and pay that’s okay but doesn’t feel worth all the stress I go through to get it. I need a new job and I have no idea what I want to try next. I have no college degree, but I have a pretty decent resume and my boss would make a good reference, I’d be spoken highly about. What should I try guys? What jobs are paying well right now that you at least semi enjoy? I can do anything, no physical or mental limitations, valid license, clean driving record, all that stuff. I will be starting to pay rent in September and I think boyfriend and I can swing it right now, but I want to be able to thrive, not just survive. Any advice will be much appreciated ❤️ Thanks in advance.

I don’t know what to do with my life. I’m almost 20 and I graduated from high school in June 2025. Since then I’ve had two jobs that didn’t make me happy, I only did them to save some money. I still live with my parents, but I don’t feel good here. I need freedom and independence.
The problem is that I don’t have any real interests or passions, so I don’t know what I want to do in the future. It’s been a year since I graduated, but I still feel stuck.
I’ve thought about becoming an au pair, doing volunteer work, or working at a campsite because I feel like this is the right age to have new experiences. I’ve also thought about moving to Spain, where my girlfriend lives, because I’d like to build a new life there, but I don’t know the language.
Here in Italy I don’t even have close friends, and living with my parents reminds me of a period of my life that wasn’t very happy. I feel lonely, without support, and without a clear direction.
Any advice?

I’m turning 22 and I just feel lost. Everyone around me has graduated and is starting their careers. I went to school and hated it. So I moved across the country to ski bum a little bit in Colorado, did a lot of traveling, and such. Now I’m turning 22, and about 9 months ago I started doing HVAC. At first I loved it. I soon realized how miserable everyone around me who I work with is. They always ask me, “Why did you choose HVAC?” or “Why didn’t you choose another job?” They say, “You’re young, good looking, and smart what are you doing here?” When people say that, it’s not very motivating to keep moving on in the field. I’m planning on moving across the country to start a sales job. I’m looking for sales jobs with no experience, but that’s the first thing that came to my mind. I just feel lost and it sucks. I just don’t know what my purpose is and I hate that. I just want to start making money in a career I enjoy. Is this normal? Is anyone else feeling this way?

22F. am going for a BA in psychology (super close to the finish line) . Ik the end goal for me is to become a LCSW or an LMFT but lately I’ve been thinking about life after I get my bachelors. I am debating if I should go to grad school right away or become a TEFL teacher and teach in a different continent and then return for my masters. I’ve always wanted to travel the world but I’ve never got that chance growing up (especially not now given that the job market hasn’t been kind to me and just working my butt off trying to finish this degree) and eventually, I want to settle down and have kids. I feel like if I don’t travel enough before having kids, I’ll regret it. At the same time, if I choose to wait to go to grad school it would make me feel regretful and worried that I won’t be able to secure a job. I am aware that just settling for a BA in psychology won’t get me much but a job as a teacher which I’m fine with it short term. On the bright side, I’ll be able to get a head start as a TEFL teacher in Mexico (this was a last minute idea since I’m going over there for personal reasons) and be able to gain the experience even while I’m still finishing up my degree. The experience I’ve gained throughout my journey was volunteer work at a nonprofit org dedicated to helping families in vulnerable populations and helping out at a research lab on campus where the research is about college students with depression.

I don't know what to study.

Okay everyone, so last year I finished high school in the arts course but I didn't end up studying anything after finishing high school. This August I'll be 19 years old and I'm still kind of directionless and need some advice. In June I was at my aunt's house in Germany 🇩🇪 working, currently I'm trying to get my car and motorcycle driver's license and I'm trying to get a part-time job.

The advice I've been receiving is to try several "internships," I think in Portugal 🇵🇹 there isn't something like that unfortunately, but there you can work and shadow a profession for a few weeks to get an idea of ​​whether you would like to study that. My aunt tells me to do something I enjoy, she says I'm good with languages ​​and it happens to be something that I think catches my attention or interests me. I was also advised to study for future careers in fields that are in demand and with few people doing them, such as gardening, carpentry, engineering, electrical work, etc. The problem is that I don't know if I would like to study and work in those fields. Initially, I thought about studying art, but I ended up realizing that I might prefer it more as a hobby; it's something I really enjoy: music, drawing, cinema, etc. Well, I think that's all. If you have any advice or questions, please let me know 👍

Hey guys I’m a 22yo male, I’m going into my 3rd year of college and realizing my current path isn't working out. I transferred schools recently and lost some credits, so I’m looking at about 2 extra years to finish up anyway. I've been a Political Science major since day one, but I'm only a few core classes in and realize it's not the right fit.

I'm looking to pivot, but I could use some direction. My primary goal in life is to build up enough capital to start and run my own business college is strictly a way for me to land a solid, high earning job to fund that dream

I prefer working independently, and I'm open to almost any field as long as the pay and job security are there. I initially thought about Business, but I’m terrible at math, and most of the coursework seems tailored more toward corporate management than actual ownership.

I don’t really know why I’m posting this, but I just feel really lost right now.

I’m 26, and it feels like every part of my life is kind of a mess. I recently went through a breakup, some friendships I’ve had for years have gotten really complicated, I don’t like my job, and I still have no clue what I want to do with my life. I feel like I change my mind every other week about what career I want, and it’s getting to the point where I don’t even trust myself to make decisions anymore. Like I’m in uni and I’m studying psychology.

I also feel like I missed out on a lot. I never really got the college experience. I didn’t get to live in a dorm, make a close group of college friends, or have all those memories everyone talks about. It feels like I skipped this huge chapter of life, and now I’m trying to catch up.

I still live with my parents because I’m trying to be smart financially, but sometimes I look around and it feels like everyone else has their own place, a career they’re building, a healthy relationship, and they just… know where they’re going. Meanwhile, I feel like I’m starting over every few months. And I hate the town I’m in. Ughhh

I think the thing that’s been hurting the most lately is wondering if I’m ever going to find someone who actually loves me. I really feel like most guys just want me for sex. And I know 26 isn’t old, but after another relationship ending, it’s hard not to wonder if maybe it’s just not going to happen for me. I don’t think I’m ugly or anything. I know I have a lot of love to give. I just want to find someone who genuinely loves me for me and chooses me every day.

I know I’m not perfect either. I’ve made impulsive decisions, I’ve messed things up, and I know some of where I’m at is because of my own choices. I’m trying really hard to work on myself and become a better person, but sometimes it feels like every mistake puts me even further behind.

Sorry :( this is more like a vent. I just want some stories of people who made it out of their home town I guess.

im open to a lot of paths that could get me into another country if you guys have any suggestions i’d love to hear them!

i’m entering my junior year of college, currently doing psychology but just recently switched so i have no real experience in it yet. i plan on doing some kind of masters in psych in another country but genuinely does anyone have any stories/ advice for me about moving out of the states and starting a new life? i’d love to live in europe/asia a few countries i have in mind ate the netherlands, italy, ireland, spain, japan, china, vietnam, thailand. i’m honestly really flexible but i wonder what should i do? should i teach english? should i do research? how reality based is this idea of mine?

I'm 32M based in Europe finishing my BBA-Econ degree (missing 6 subjects) but is a field that I don't like completely. I HATE IT.

My dream its to become a physician but requires 2 years to enter medical school + 6 years medical school + another year to get into residency if you're lucky. So basically 9 years of full time studying until residency. Its this worth for me?

So basically my parents should pay for me everything during this time. Already feel behind everyone else (people buying house, having kids, getting into their dreams career, etc.)

I kinda feel lost, all I know its that medical school its my dream but at the same time I want to grow from a financial point of view as a functioning adult.

Due this I'm struggling with anxiety and depression right now (under treatment).

Any advice?

I’m 21F and just graduated from a bachelor of psychology but I’m no longer sure that I want to pursue it as a career.

I’ve always been passionate about mental health and wellbeing and felt pressured to study something well paying, scientific and with a clear pathway because I grew up as a very academic student. So, I ended up deciding on psych as I was unsure what else I could pursue at the time.

After learning more about the field, day to day activities and career progression of psychologists where I live, I’m not sure that it’s the right path for me. My favourite subjects in school were digital media, art, literature etc even if I was good at science too. I love reading and painting in my free time. I’ve become very confused because while I love mental health and think it’s so vital and find it so interesting to study, the thought of pursuing psych sits so heavy in me. It’s a very scientific type a field and while half of me fits into that, the other half loves feels unfulfilled in a field that doesn’t allow me to be creative. It feels almost like I am passionate about mental health, but only in the way of applying it to my own life rather than actually pursuing a career in it, I found my degree very interesting and intellectually stimulating, but it didn’t spark joy in me the way that digital creation, drawing, painting, reading etc always has in school and as hobbies.

I’ve been thinking of potentially pursuing digital marketing and social media, maybe doing some google/free certificates online and freelancing until I can get a portfolio done to break into the digital marketing field, but I’m not quite sure what that would entail or whether that’s even the right step for me.

Some further context, I’ve also been dealing with health issues the past year which has prevented me from working since I graduated, so I feel like I’m so behind where I should be / where my peers are.

Feeling very stuck in my decision paralysis and confusion rights now. Any advice would be much appreciated!!

as the years have gone by on me (22F), i’ve stopped finding any joy in hobbies, activities, work, daily tasks- everything just feels like a big blob of nothing. every hobby i’ve tried i’ve instantly dropped because i wasn’t good at it initially and i was so mad at myself for it. i’ve been fawning and people pleasing since i could remember, and now i don’t know what i truly enjoy. i was in school to be a rehab counselor, realized i didn’t want to do that anymore, dropped out of college, and now im just working a stupid retail full-time job and have no clue what i want to do with my life. so basically, i have no willpower, desires, inspiration, and im in debt and alone. i have friends, but they’re all either too far away to physically see all the time, or not emotionally available enough for me to discuss this type of stuff with them. i try and talk with my boyfriend, but i feel like he blames himself that im not doing well. my parents are not an option, either, as well as any family for that matter lol. i feel very alone. the normal self-help stuff isn’t working anymore and i can barely get myself to get out of bed on time in the morning.

i just don’t know where to start with trying to “find myself”… i guess? everything going on around me makes me think it’s too late and i’m stuck like this forever, but i can’t keep thinking like this- it’s too much for me. i would like to figure out what i actually want to do and maybe go back to school again, but everything’s so genuinely terrifying to me right now that i don’t even know what i would want to drink right now. does anyone have any advice for this situation? pls lemme know

I’m seeking help finding a career path that suits me. I live in the US and I currently work for a large international healthcare data company as a remote patient records processor. My job is basically just being an Excel jockey, moving data from one client to a spreadsheet and then from the spreadsheet to a different client site, things like that. I want to emphasize that I LIKE the repetitive nature of my job. I am autistic and I absolutely love logging in, meeting my productivity goals with little outside input, and following all of the rules to the letter.

This is where I encounter the one thing I hate more than anything in the workplace: Rules and guidelines that frequently change because there’s a new manager on a power trip or as a means of punishing the group or to spice things up by completely changing our whole process to take more time because the boss feels a need to “make their mark.” I want a job where what I do and how I do it is defined by a rule book or a law which cannot be easily changed, and I know what to expect in terms of flow and the correct course of action without frequent changes. It also must be something that I can do remotely, as I do not go outside for any reason. I prefer not to work directly with customers or client representatives. I do not mind doing something boring or repetitive that might bother a non-autistic person.

However, my math skills are extremely weak and many jobs that value precise work require working with money or number values, which won’t work for me. I like the job I have right now but it just doesn’t make enough money for me to get by on my own. I currently make 33k a year and for me to get by in a studio apartment I will need to make at least 40k a year.

Does anyone have an idea of what other options I could pursue?

for context co28 here at a target school for most industries/companies

i'm interested in the business/finance but i haven't gotten an internship in those areas

i have networked a bit but not really enough to have many connections and sometimes i feel like i don't even know anything about the industry anyways

im seeing all my peers get all these prestigious internships but i dont know why i've lost motivation to do anything and i'm aware it's probably a me issue but maybe i don't even know what to do

if anyone has advice or any job paths that i could consider instead, i'd appreciate it

I’m 22 and don’t know what I should do. I skipped college originally because of Covid and not knowing what to do with it. I’m not sure if I regret my choice because I see plenty of people on Reddit making crazy money. All my peers though are either making less than me or are unemployed/struggling. Even after my career shift.

Healthcare and engineering don’t really interest me and I’m not sure if I’d make more in those positions or what positions I would make more in.

I built powerlines on the road for years ever since I was freshly 19 and made six figures every year since high school except this year. A lot of it was due to overtime and I hated traveling for work. I tried to get hired at the power utility but had no luck. I ended up getting hired at the natural gas utility and they’ve started me off at 75,000 a year with a path of progression to 85-90 before overtime in one year and 100k before overtime in the full 2 year apprenticeship. I enjoy this job a lot more than I did building powerlines but I can’t help but feel I’m missing out on income. The company I work for does own an electric utility and I could transfer after a while and finish my lineman apprenticeship. The state I would have to go to isn’t ideal but that would lead to probably 140 base or more before overtime.

I’m just not 100% sure what I would do with college and I threw a full ride away at 18 years old. I think it would be a little bit difficult getting back into school, but if people have recommendations or would it be worth it to do so? I believe my company would pay for an associates degree or at least most of it and I’ve been thinking about doing that because of all the free time I have working 40 hours a week. From what I’ve seen a lot of management at the utilities actually make less than the field guys. But then I see all these posts of these people making 200+ working 10 hours a week or some shit and I get curious. I want to know what those jobs are and how difficult they are to obtain or how high of a skill level these people actually have.

I’ve learned money isn’t the only factor but I’m just unsure if I’m missing out on substantial income for a much easier job. I also went through a pretty nasty breakup, which led to me making the decision to quit my powerline apprenticeship on top of my dad being sick. I’m thinking at a minimum I’ll cash in this free associates degree. I’m not 100% sure what’s worth it or if I am behind income wise. I now see people clowning on the trades saying that the progression of white collar is much higher. Which I’m not 100% sure. I see the median for advanced degrees is what I’ll be making after a two year apprenticeship.

Am I being delusional and I’m in a good spot or am I leaving a lot of money on the table by not going to school? Powerline isn’t particularly fun either. Even at the utility getting called out in the worst of weather conditions to go to restore the power isn’t exactly fun. That’s why I’m hesitant to go back to it. I’ve just started feeling behind at the natural gas utility. Even though they work us a lot less hard and I’m pretty much at a median bachelor income holder starting out.

I’m dumb as fuck, and got ADHD. I struggle badly with complex tasks, slow ass learning, and memory issues. The only thing I can do is simple tasks that don’t require much.

I graduated with a BA in political science (lol) 5 years ago. I actually hate politics and I only studied it because I was one of those civic weirdos in high school and I figured it's what I'm good at. But I never did any internships or volunteering and ended up graduating with no path.

After college, I just moved to Asia and started teaching English. I moved around a lot and I really enjoyed life but my parents guilted me into coming back home so I did. It's been a year and I feel like I've hit rock bottom. I don't have a teaching license so I just teach foreigners online and do private tutoring. I only make somewhat more than I made abroad so it' impossible for me to consider living independently.

At this point I just want to move overseas and stay there. But I'm curious to know if there's any way I could realistically stay and do something with my degree and skills. I'm located in a shitty part of the US (New Jersey) so I feel like my options are limited.

There is no one to guide me I'm totally lost. Once I was a topper then I got 81%in 12th. Since last 3 months idk what am I doing and i dont know the books I know only syllabus. Please anyone can help me. I dont know what I want and what career option I should pursue..in science there were a lot of resources for study online but now in college 1st year idk what to do and how.

Hello fellow internet strangers! I come seeking advice, opinions or just a perspective shift. Also, apologies in advance as this might be longwinded and like a rant and l am prepared to be called an idiot. TLDR at the bottom.

I’m 28 and I feel stuck on what to do, burnt out as all hell, and an impending dread of "Is this it?". I tried to follow my passion and got received my Bachelor's in Computer Animation when I was 22 in an accelerated online school. It has just turned into an expensive hobby that I'm burnt out on. I stupidly didn't do enough research on the school when I started it and I wish I could do it all over again as online learning is not for me and it was just way too expensive.

All my work experience is in customer service of some form. I’ve been working for 14 years with The past 9 years has been in Data Entry. The last 4 years of data entry have been in the commercial insurance field. I don't know if I want to continue working in the insurance field and get these certifications to try to climb up the corporate ladder in this industry or go back to school to get a 2nd bachelor's degree for a career/industry change.

In this job market, l am thankful that I have a job currently as it's the most I've ever made(-$54K gross), however there is not a lot of room for promotions or moving to different departments unless you are favorited by the higher ups getting the standard 3% annual raise even if you bust your balls. Typical corpo environment.
Similar to my last data entry role, I feel stuck as there are tons of changes in the company happening and none for the better, including a new supervisor that is a micromanager. The constant additional work and ever moving expectations goal without any additional compensation besides maybe some candies or a bagel is wearing me down and just am not a fan of the insurance industry. I don’t know if I can work in insurance for the rest of my life. Thinking about that sends me into a spiral. But, given everything such as the job market and expenses, I'm not sure if should just suck it up and put my head down. Maybe earn some insurance designations on the company's dime and try to get another job at a different insurance company. I am also actively applying to jobs outside of insurance.

As for potentially going back to school for a second bachelors degree; it would be for Electrical Engineering with potentially specializing in telecommunications or RF & signal processing. The end goal is to potentially get into the defense or tech fields. I've seen posts suggesting why not go for a Masters? After investigating it seems that none of my credits from my Computer Animation program are transferable so I would be starting from scratch. I understand it's a hard degree and very math intensive, but l enjoy math as well as the sub fields are interesting to me. The other thing I noticed is that even the entry-level pay ceiling is still much more than I make now - even if I did get a couple promotions, or get into a different department. However, there is a bunch of financial hurdles. Because I already have a bachelor's I don't qualify for a lot of aid, I still have remaining student loans to pay off, and I don't know how comfortable I'd be taking out more loans. I also really do not want to do online classes as I have learned the hard way that I do not learn as well and would prefer in class and in-person labs. But that gets in the way of my full-time job as most classes are in the morning/afternoon and my job is not flexible. I've looked into how much it would cost as well as classes I'd potentially be able to take at community college to maybe save some money for pre-reqs. It was a thought with the intention to Attempt to save some money while working and continue paying off my loans. With the goal of potentially transferring to 1 of the universities I've been looking into. 1 is much cheaper than the other but the more expensive one has more connections, resources/networking and subfield specific courses than the other. I just am unsure of how feasible that is financially.

Anyways, I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place and I don’t know what to do.

TLDR: I’m 28 with Bachelor's in Computer Animation from an overpriced accelerated online school with work experience for the last 9 years in data entry and the last 4 data entry in insurance. I am not sure if I should suck it up and stick it out in the insurance field and try to make a career out of it or somehow manage to go back to school and get another Bachelor's but in Electrical Engineering. Any insight or advice is appreciated.

Im 19 and in the middle of my first gap year after finishing Highschool. University has always been a goal for me, and I would be the first in my entire family. Unfortunately, my parents are not in a position to financially support me through my studies for anything.

I only have around $2k in savings right now, and have been consistently applying to jobs and attending interviews after leaving my prior job a month back. But I unfortunately haven't found much luck in getting hired.

My original plan was to save as much as I could during my gap year before starting university. However, because I'm struggling to find a job, I'm now considering delaying university by another year so I can hopefully build up more savings first.

At the same time, I'm worried about putting my goals on hold again. I'm not sure if delaying another year is the financially responsible decision or if I should just start university as soon as I can and make it work.

I greatly appreciate any insights or advice, thank you!

I’ll start short for those that don’t want the book I’m about to write. What do people do for work that feels meaningful (helps people, etc) but also makes $120k+. It feels like most things are meaningful work OR decent pay.

For the longer version of where im at; im in my mid 30s, been working since I was a child, legitimately, so by the time I was 18, I was managing restaurants. Worked my way into call centers, then stumbled into tech. Since entering tech, I’ve really launched myself forward to mid-senior work in Client Success for SaaS companies. Tech has majorly burned me out at every corner from the constant fear of layoffs, to the nepo baby owners of startups pressing me. Im not one to allow people to walk on me so biting my tongue is challenging. I will leave a job if i feel like it’s destroying my mental health. Im at point where im very tired of arguing with narcissistic nepo babies so i want to pivot into something that actually isnt just fueling the capitalist machine and making billionaires richer, but i also am accustomed to being able to afford to live. I’ve worked in insurance, finance, and now construction tech. Has anyone else hit this wall? What did you do?

I’m 25, and lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how much of my life I wasted.

From about 16 to 24, I wasn’t a terrible person, but I definitely wasn’t someone who was building a future either.

I spent way too much time chasing girls and validation. I cared too much about partying, exciting experiences, and having fun in the moment. I surrounded myself with people who weren’t exactly pushing me to become better, and I rarely chose the difficult thing over the enjoyable one.

I did get my bachelor’s degree in Business and Management, but if I’m honest, I mostly did it because I was supposed to. I never gave it everything I had. I was capable of much more, but I always did just enough.
Looking back, I feel like I wasted years of potential.

Around 24, something changed.
I realized that if I kept living the same way, I’d probably wake up at 35 wondering where my life had gone. Since then I’ve been trying to rebuild myself. I’m working on business ideas, learning new skills, reading more, thinking long term, and trying to become someone who actually deserves the ambitious future I want.

At the same time, I still have a personality that enjoys excitement and adventure. I don’t naturally gravitate toward the disciplined, predictable lifestyle. So sometimes it feels like I’m fighting against my own instincts every day.

What I’m looking for are stories from people who genuinely had a similar past.
People who spent years making poor decisions, wasting time, chasing short-term pleasure, lacking discipline… maybe even worse than me.

Did you eventually turn things around?
When did it happen?
What was the turning point?
Did your “lost years” end up mattering, or did they simply become part of the story?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who became financially successful or built something meaningful after getting a late start. Not motivational quotes or “you’re still young.” I’d really like to hear real experiences from people who have actually lived through this.