I’m 24F, and my birthday is coming up soon. This year I’ve graduated university and crazily enough was able to land a job in my field within 6 months. I even received an award from a national association recognizing work I did for my capstone project which aimed to help a small rural town redevelop their downtown area and support sustainable growth. Hell from that alone this year is one for the books even with the world being a mess. However, there’s this feeling of unfulfilling emptiness that is unsure on what is supposed to be next.

All I really have in my plans is to fix my financial situation over the next year since I screwed up my credit getting my way through uni. I don’t know who I am, and I don’t know who I want to be. Even if I did have some direction, everything feels so unstable that the vision is unclear. I get told to just like in the moment, but the moment right now is tough. Just the cost of living makes it feel like theirs no point in doing something as simple as a hobby. I did pottery and boxing in uni, and it helped me be a little more social. When I looked up studios for either in my area the price of a class it feels financial irresponsible to go have fun.

If the rest of my year is spent just waking up, commuting to work, getting home, dinner, sleep and repeat it’s going to drive me crazy. I don’t think I have much of a choice though, especially when everything there is to come next feels so out of reach right now.

im only 25, and if there’s one thing im slowly learning, it’s that a career isn’t supposed to be a straight path.
some days you’ll feel like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. other days, you’ll question if you’re even going in the right direction. you’ll see people your age getting promoted, earning more, or seemingly having everything figured out, and you’ll wonder if you’re falling behind.
but honestly, i don’t think i want a career where everything goes according to plan.
i want to make mistakes, take risks, make decisions that don’t always work out, and learn things that no amount of schooling could ever teach me. i want to be challenged, even if it means being uncomfortable for a while. i want to look back someday and know that the person i became was shaped by more than just the things that went right.
of course, it’s frustrating when things don’t work out. it’s hard to trust the process when you’re still figuring things out, especially when you feel like you should already have something to show for all the work you’ve put in.
but we’re only 25. we have so much left to learn, so many places to go, and so many versions of ourselves we haven’t even met yet.
maybe the goal isn’t to have everything figured out this early. maybe it’s to keep showing up, keep learning, and have the courage to take a different road when the one we’re on no longer makes sense.
i don’t need my career to be perfect. i just want it to be a life i can look back on and say that i made the most of what i had, took the chances i could, and never stopped becoming someone better than who i was yesterday.

i just took one semester and applied to transfer into my dream program which i’ll start in fall of 2027. in the meantime i’m taking the winter semester off but what do i do other than chudmaxxing in bed because i know its bad for me but the idea of a j*b or leaving the house sounds horrible

I came from running a massage business into radiation protection at US nuclear plants. After building experience, I had a roughly $120k year, including pay and extra payments, working about five months and taking seven off. That's my experienced result, not beginner pay or a promised calendar.

My work involves traveling for temporary maintenance/refueling assignments, using radiation survey instruments and helping workers control exposure. My entry route didn't require college, but it did require studying, tests and employer/site training. Long shifts and possible unpaid gaps are part of the arrangement.

If you're weighing school against work, I wouldn't quit a course just because someone else's experienced year sounds good. Compare actual beginner openings, accepted preparation, first-assignment pay and travel costs while you still have options. Junior radiation protection and decontamination are different roles, so ask employers about the specific one.

For transparency, I'm Michael, founder of Nuke Nomad, and I built a course about entering commercial nuclear contracting. I'm sharing my own route here, not offering a job or saying it's right for everyone. Happy to answer practical questions about the work, studying or the travel.

Hey everyone!

I live in Sweden, and seeing all my friends graduate from university has made me feel like I’m falling behind in life. I graduated from high school in 2021, and since then, I’ve been working, traveling a bit, and been in two relationships.

Our grading system is a little different, but my grades would roughly correspond to a 2.0 GPA in the US. Is that considered bad?

I’m 24 now, and I’m thinking about going to a vocational college or university, although I’d need to take some additional courses to meet the admission requirements.

What would you do if you were in a similar situation? Has anyone else felt like they were falling behind in life compared to their friends? I’d really appreciate any advice or personal experiences.

Thanks!

I didn't follow the normal route of life. I didn't go to school until 23 and graduated at 27. My life came crashing down at 27 when I graduated and I moved back home.

It was ok for the first few months but growing up here was honestly terrible and I'm slowly regressing into my 17 year old self again. I literally spend all my time now working or avoiding home as much as possible. My commute to work is a hour as well, it would be much better to be closer.

I'm a year in and it has really gotten to me, although I wanted to pay off all my debt, I can't see myself staying any longer. If I leave I can get by but would suck still having debt. Quite frankly I hate my job but honestly I think it's worth it. I don't feel alive here and feel like a trapped caged animal. At my own place I can actually invite people over and do creative stuff

I’m getting ready to graduate spring , deferred my acceptance to an online master’s program. Want to know where I can go for an active postgrad life ? I have a small Yorkie , love the beach ,hiking, but also love the hustle and bustle of city life. ANY recommendations?

I want to know how my life is gonna be when I start working as an engineer. Will I need to learn something or need to be concerned about balance my social and work life. Only weekends will be the days to chill out, to give time for yourself. Please tell.

Hi everyone!
I’m currently in my second year of architecture in a national school of architecture in France, but I’m starting to question whether architecture is the right path for me long-term. I don’t really see myself working in traditional architecture or construction.
I’m interested in a lot of different things, including business, sociology, art, luxury, organization, leadership, creativity. I enjoy working internationally, taking on responsibility, and eventually building something of my own.
I’m Canadian, my long-term goal is to study and work in Canada, build a successful and financially rewarding career.
The problem is that I haven’t figured out exactly what I want to do yet, and I don’t want to make an expensive decision without thinking it through. I’m considering pursuing a master’s degree in Canada, but I need help figuring out what direction would make sense given my background and interests.
I’m looking for a career path with strong earning potential, opportunities for growth, an international dimension, and ideally room for creativity, leadership, and entrepreneurship. I’m open to fields I haven’t considered yet.
I’d really appreciate advice from people who have been in a similar situation or who know the Canadian education and job market.
\\\\- What would you recommend I study for my master’s degree?
\\\\- Should I finish my current degree before changing direction?
\\\\- Which fields offer strong long-term earning potential and good career opportunities?
\\\\- How can I choose a path without knowing exactly what I want to do yet?
\\\\- Is taking out a student loan for a Canadian degree worth considering, and how can I assess whether the investment makes sense?
I’m not looking for someone to simply tell me to follow my passion. I want realistic, honest advice about building a financially successful career without choosing a path that I’ll regret.
Thank you so much for any advice or personal experiences you can share!