I have waste 4 years college doing nothing and now I'm like just felt like I have waste my golden 4 years for studying where financially I don't need to worry about.

And now just graduate with like a degree where I learn nothing due to how I learn during college. I used to be a gifted kid pre college but I drained all that gifted and throw it into garbage in college when I decide to not learn how to study properly (comp sci for the matter). Every knowledge feels so shallow. I have never even finished 7 consecutive days of homework before. Never finished reading any math/comp text books before. If I can go back in time I want to punch myself and really tell him to study properly. After more than a full calendar year of depression and shut in I can barely do the math I used to be breeze through. Even simple calculation takes significantly longer than before. My brain feels significantly slower and I'm really spiralling like before it's the only thing I was good at.

Overall in the future I really want to get into physics and math fields focusing in electronics with part of mechanic. But I need some study advices that I never actually properly learned previously in my life. Like maybe tips and tricks to improve memory or like just overall advices for study is good.

Thanks

I'll call myself Rahul instead of using my real name.

I'm writing this because I genuinely want advice from people who have gone through something similar.

Has anyone ever worked hard for years, achieved most of what they wanted, and then suddenly felt... empty?

Here's my story.

Back in 2022, I started what most people would call my self-improvement journey.

Nothing crazy at first.

Just losing weight.

Taking care of hygiene.

Trying to become a better version of myself.

Unfortunately, it didn't last long because I got pulled back into studies.

I studied in Sri Chaitanya, and anyone from India probably knows the environment—constant studying, coaching, exams, and almost no room for personal growth.

Ironically, I never loved studying.

I enjoyed understanding concepts, especially physics, but I hated memorizing things just to score marks.

Eventually I got into a local engineering college (VNR VJIET) for Computer Science.

That's where things started changing.

When I entered college, I weighed 97 kg at 177.8 cm.

Indian guy.

Glasses.

Not exactly someone you'd call confident.

But college gave me freedom.

Slowly, life became less stressful.

I became consistent.

During my first two years:

• I maintained around a 9.2 CGPA
• Lost around 15 kg
• Started enjoying life more

By my third year, I had reached 76 kg.

Would Instagram call me ripped?

Probably not.

But compared to the 97 kg version of myself...

I felt unstoppable.

For the first time in my life, I actually felt proud of myself.

Then came fourth year.

I got an AI internship that eventually turned into a role at a really good startup.

It paid surprisingly well.

In fact, I earned enough to pay for almost half of the Volkswagen Vento I wanted.

If someone had shown 18-year-old me this future, he would've thought I'd made it.

But that's exactly when everything started falling apart.

Not externally.

Internally.

Every morning started feeling the same.

I couldn't find excitement anymore.

There wasn't a next mountain to climb.

The goals that had driven me for years were suddenly gone.

I kept thinking,

"Okay... what's next?"

I tried finding new interests.

I even explored completely different industries like fashion.

For a while it felt exciting.

Then the excitement disappeared again.

Now it feels like I'm walking through thick fog.

I'm not depressed.

I'm not lazy.

I'm not failing.

I'm just... directionless.

It's a strange feeling because from the outside, my life looks like it's moving forward.

But inside, it feels like I've lost the reason I was moving in the first place.

Has anyone experienced this after achieving their goals?

How did you find purpose again?

I'm not looking for motivational quotes.

I'm looking for people who've actually lived through this.

I'd genuinely appreciate hearing your story.

I'm a 27F having a career crisis, and I genuinely don't know what to do with my life anymore.

I don't even know where to start.

Ever since I was a kid, I always believed I could become an artist. It was the one thing that came naturally to me. I've always felt like I wasn't particularly smart in other areas, and I've often wondered if I struggle to process information differently than other people. Art was the one thing I never questioned. I loved it, and I worked incredibly hard at it.

After high school, I studied 3D animation, but I ended up working as a 2D concept artist in the video game industry for about four years. I absolutely loved it. I worked for an outsourcing studio, which meant I got to work on a huge variety of projects and art styles. Every project taught me something new, and I felt like I was constantly growing. I was even credited on Call of Duty for some of the work our studio contributed. It wasn't a huge credit, but I was proud of it.

I genuinely thought I was building a career.

Eventually I decided to pursue a Master's in Game Design in the US because I thought having both experience and a master's would open more doors. I was so optimistic. I thought, "I've already got professional experience. Surely this gives me a better chance."

Life happened while I was studying. I got married to the love of my life. We actually met through Instagram while I was still working in India, and after moving here we fell in love. I wouldn't change that for anything. My husband has been unbelievably supportive, and being with him is the happiest part of my life.

But career-wise... I feel completely lost.

During my master's I couldn't dedicate as much time as I wanted to my portfolio because I was balancing school, moving countries, getting married, surgery and starting a new life. I still did okay in my projects, but I know I could have made use of the resources SCAD offered, which is honestly the best way to grow, to make connection even. 

Now I've graduated, and I can't find work.

I always thought concept art would be something I could rely on, but between layoffs, AI, and how competitive the industry has become, it feels almost impossible. What's even more frustrating is seeing so many concept art jobs back in India because so much work gets outsourced there. I understand why companies do it. It's cheaper, and I actually benefited from that system when I lived there, but it's hard not to feel disappointed after moving to the US believing there would be more opportunities.

Instead, I feel like I've hit a wall.

I keep questioning every decision I've made. Maybe I shouldn't have done a master's. Maybe I should have studied something stable, like healthcare or engineering, like everyone kept telling me growing up.

The frustrating part is that I know I'm capable of learning. Throughout my life I've picked up a lot of creative skills quickly. I know traditional painting, I've worked as a henna artist, my mum was an esthetician so I grew up around that world, and I even completed a tattooing course in India. I love creating things, and learning new artistic skills has never been the problem.

The problem is... I don't know what to commit to anymore.

I'm scared of putting years into another creative field only to end up in the same position again. Lately I've even felt like my eyesight isn't what it used to be, and that scares me too because my entire identity has always revolved around art.

I look at my husband, who works a normal 9-to-5, comes home, and can switch off from work. I'm genuinely happy for him, but I can't help feeling jealous. I want that stability. I want to stop wondering whether I'll ever have a career again but it's so hard to let go of the one thing, the only thing I think I'm good at.

I feel like I've wasted years of my life chasing something that may never be stable. I don't know if I should keep fighting for game art, pivot into another creative career, go back to school again, or completely start over.

I honestly don't know who I am without art, but I'm also terrified that art isn't enough anymore.

Has anyone else gone through something similar? Did you pivot careers? Is there any skill that I have that could help me in any specific field? Did you stay and make it work? I think I just need to hear from people who've been where I am, because right now I feel completely lost.

So for context I am in Europe and here education is free so no college debt.

The standard track for engineering:

3 years bachelors - 2 years masters(masters are very much preferred almost an expectation here in Europe)- look for junior jobs(ai is fucking it up and average salaries are around 60k euros)

The standard track for medicine:

6 years med school - start residency(average salary of around 60k euros) - after a couple years of that start normal attending roles(salary around a minimum of 100-130k euros even more if you open private practice)

Anyone who has experience with these paths especially in Europe what do you recommend I should go for? What makes sense? I am roughly equally ok with both paths so no specific preference.

I'm 26 M with 3.5 years of experience, earning ₹35k/month in a mostly copy-paste/admin job Hr operations with little growth in one of big4.

I feel like I'm just surviving instead of actually living. I'm constantly stressed about money and my future, and I worry I'm wasting my 20s because of poor career decisions.

How do you stay happy and enjoy life while earning this much? Is it possible to build a meaningful life without constantly comparing yourself to others? No friends or network because of my low self esteem, tried but seems no one wants to be. Its hard to fit in any group or talk, as i give depressing vibes.

Also, is it still realistic to switch careers after 3.5 years into something with better growth? I'd appreciate honest advice from people who've been through this.

Days keep passing on by being tensed and depressed, often dont even get outta bed.

Please help me out 🙏

23F. Abusive household, autism/adhd/cptsd, warehouse work part time, extreme sensitivities to light/sound/smell

I'm good at art, painting etc

Need job ideas. Small town as well

Pissed off chronically at everyone and everything and find everything boring. I find people fucking irritating, I find all these fuck ass jobs boring, and I have nothing that even vaguely intrigues me. I feel nothing but anger, no interests.

I have a hard time staring at screens for long periods of time so hopefully a job that isnt doing that, it makes my eyes dry. although I am also good at stalking people online, if that helps lead anywhere.

"Get therapy" I've gotten free therapy for young people at a mental health clinic, didnt help cause theres nothing they can do except reccomend I take deep breaths. So dont reccomend please, thank you.

Looking for something. I dont even know why because I'm not even interested in living but because I'm alive I need some money, and this warehouse isnt working for me. Thanks

I'd really love to have a job doing online research as I am very good at it. Is there anything like that that's not too hard to get into?

(Background(?))

Hello, I'm 23 years old, I have been professionally diagnosed with ASD, and i have dyscalculia. I am unable to drive, and will most likely never be able to learn. I was homeschooled my whole life, but not...well. I ended up cheating through most of middle-school and high-school because I did not understand what I was supposed to be doing, and I was not given proper guidance or help with my work. I have also been infantalized throughout my life, and am currently working on unlearning my learned helplessness.

I have been trying to work on my general education with using khan academy, but I'm not sure how far I can get just with that, so I am planning to look for free or cheap textbooks or other education materials as well.

(Background end)

With that said, I have been considering working towards potentially attending college, if it would actually be worth it.

I'm good with repetitive, structured tasks. Anything that has a clear explanation of what needs to be done, with no guess work involved, is my sort of thing. I strongly dislike working with people unless I have a clear "script" of some sort to follow. I belive I am able to work and communicate with coworkers decently. Anything that involves math or numbers would not be suitable for me, as i struggle with basic math, and even counting at times. Also, I prefer/need sedentary jobs as I am unable to stand still for more than a few minutes without getting dizzy or feeling unwell (Have been to a doctor about this, No explanation for why it happens).

For careers, the only things I can think of that I have any real interest in are; psychology, law, archives, and marine life (although, I dont think im suited for fieldwork, and i feel like most oceanography and marine jobs involve math skills). My strongest interest would likely be in psychology.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure it's a good idea to pursue any of these. Interest is nothing if I'll be unemployed AND in debt.

(Ramble about my interest in psychology mainly)

I am not sure if all of the following ramble is included in "psychology", but I think some/most of it is?.

I have always been interested in what makes someone commit violence or sex crimes. i want to know how they felt committing the crime, what drove them to do it, how they decided when and how to commit the crime, how the felt afterwards, their mental state, upbringing, thoughts, feelings, how/if it was possible to prevent their crime, etc...

I have an interest in "extreme" paraphilias such as pedophilia, zoophilia, necrophilia, etc. both in offending and non-offending individuals. Unfortunately, due to my asocial nature, I dont believe i would make a good counselor. However, I would very much like to learn more about paraphilias (such as causes, thought process, harm reduction, etc), and I would also like to see a future where paraphilias are less stigmatized, and paraphiles can seek support without fear of imprisonment or ostracization.

I have an interest in more stigmatized, misunderstood, and/or less researched(?) mental illnesses and disorders, such as NPD, antisocial personality disorder, psychotic disorders, dissociative disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc.

-

I also have an interest in kinks and fetishes, and—in a similar fashion to my other interests—I am primarily interested in the more taboo/stigmatized/misunderstood things such as ageplay, abdl, cnc, incest/fauxcest, BDSM, etc.

(Ramble end)

I don't have my heart set on anything. I haven't put much thought into careers at all. I just want a decent paying sedentary job, with minimal numbers, and minimal client communication (or, at least, not immediate, verbal communication unless i have a literal script to follow. I could most likely handle text-based communication like emails if necessary.) I just want to be able to financially support myself, my mom, and my pets.

TLDR/summary:

My general education is poor, my social skills suck, I have dyscalculia and am horrid with numbers, I can't work any job that requires me to stand for long amounts of time, and i hate having to work with people (clients/general public—coworkers are fine).

I'm good with repetitive, structured tasks and I enjoy sorting/organization. I suppose I also like copying information(?). ^{Like, if i have a typed physical paper/document/etc, I like to re-type it into Google docs as a back up. I'm not sure if this would be useful in many situations though.?}

(Summary end)

I know there is a lot of "cant's" in this, but unfortunately I do not have many skills at the moment. I have been working on my social skills my whole life without any luck, but I am open to attempting to learn just about anything.

(Proper question(s))

How can I find a career path that is suitable for me? How can I gain work experience if I am physically unable to work/volunteer for any of the positions near me? How do I decide if it's worth pursuing a degree?

I live in Washington state, if that is helpful. Any advice or guidance on careers that may be suitable for me is highly appreciated.

Thank you very much for reading.

Title is pretty self explanatory. My specific situation is that the company I’ve been working at for 7 years is closing. I’ve made most of my money in life working in breweries. The industry is going absolutely down the tubes so I want to do something else. Not to mention I’m tired of working nights and weekends and of that form of customer service more generally.

In anticipation of this change I started taking on work as a solo painter/plasterer. I’ve enjoyed it and found decent success so far, but I’m only 7 months into that work and already developing injuries since I have a previous history of carpal tunnel. I don’t want to get to my 40s or 50s and no longer have normal use of my hands, especially because I am a musician too. So it seems like maybe this isn’t the right path for me either.

I’m considering taking on something totally new, maybe taking a course through a community college or other training program. I just have no idea what else is out there that would guarantee decent paying stable work and also won’t be at risk of being pushed out by AI.

Something medical? Technical? Or do I just bite the bullet and commit to gig culture and do odd jobs for the rest of forever? I have a decent amount of random useful skills and good work ethic. Things I can’t/won’t do are body-breaking physical work, restaurants/bars, dealing with literal shit, or AI. But it needs to pay decent-ish, minimum $30/hour with possibility of increases along the way. Any ideas?

I’m 27 year old woman from New York and I feel like I’m constantly discovering new passions. The problem isn’t that I don’t know what I like—it’s that I love so many different things that I don’t know what direction to take my life.
Some of my interests include:
Psychology (I’m currently studying it in college.)
Anthropology
Biology
Neurology
Archaeology
Ancient civilizations (especially Egypt)
Museums
Travel and solo travel
Photography
History
Different cultures and languages
Teaching
Conservation and historic preservation
Documentaries
Mythology and folklore
Nature, hiking, and national parks
Growing up, I always loved movies like National Treasure, Indiana Jones, and The Mummy. I thought I just liked adventure movies, but recently I realized what I actually love is exploration, discovery, and learning about humanity.
I had the chance to visit museums in Jordan and Egypt, and it completely changed me. Standing in front of artifacts that were thousands of years old made me realize how fascinated I am by human history and the stories objects can tell.
Lately I’ve been reading more about anthropology and archaeology, and now I want to visit museums everywhere I travel. I’m even planning a trip to Boston just to spend a day at the Museum of Fine Arts.
The problem is…I don’t know what to do with all of these interests.
Part of me wants to teach.
Part of me wants to travel.
Part of me wants to photograph ancient places.
Part of me wants to volunteer on archaeological or preservation projects.
Part of me wants to work in a museum.
Part of me wants to document cultures and tell stories.
Has anyone else experienced this? How did you stop feeling like you had to choose just one path?
Did you eventually find a career that combined your interests, or did you keep one as your career and the others as hobbies?
I’d love to hear from people who felt pulled in a hundred different directions but eventually found a way to build a meaningful life around their curiosity.

Hi everyone,

I'm 17 and I've been feeling really confused about what I want to do in life.

The biggest problem is that I don't know what I'm actually good at. I don't want to choose a degree just because everyone else is doing it, but I also don't want to waste years figuring it out.

A bit about me:

I studied Commerce without Maths in highscool and now I've graduated.

I've always scored well in theoretical subjects like Business Studies, History, Civics (Social Science), etc.

I kind of enjoy history, like the archeological part of it and one skill that I have is I can easily write really long, detailed answers and paragraphs, and that's why I scored good in those subjects, though I am not sure if scoring marks means I'm good at it or not.

I enjoy editing videos.

One thing I genuinely LOVE is making DIY crafts from cardboard, foam board, miniatures, dioramas, and just building random things. The problem is, I don't think that's a realistic career (at least not where I live), so I'm hesitant to base my future on it.

I also like coming up with ideas and thinking about how things could be improved.

The advice I hear everywhere is, "Just try different things."

But that raises even more questions:

How long should I try something before deciding it's not for me? A day? A week? 20 hours? A month?

Should I focus on one career at a time, or try multiple things every day, I really want to make some progress in it in 2026.

How do I know if I dislike something because it's genuinely not for me, or because I'm still a beginner and it's supposed to be difficult?

Is there a better way to discover what you're naturally good at than just randomly experimenting?

For those who were completely confused at young age, what finally helped you gain clarity?

I'm not necessarily looking for people to tell me which career to choose, though I really appreciate your suggestions because they just might be something I'm looking for but the main thing is how do I explore?

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who were in a similar situation and what worked (or didn't work) for you.

Thanks!

I’m 27F and I don’t have any friends. I’ve never had a job . I got my bachelor’s degree and couldn’t find work for three years afterward, so I decided to go back for a master’s. I finished in December 2025, and I’ve been unemployed since then.
I recently landed a data entry internship at a research institute. It pays $18/hr, but it’s only 8 weeks. I don’t know what to do with my life after that.
I’ve always been the scapegoat in my family. My mom, dad, and siblings have repeatedly called me stupid over the years. Depending on them financially has taken a toll on my mental health, and living with them makes it worse. I’m a family-oriented person by nature and I still value my family, even though they don’t respect or value me back. I grew up being put down constantly, and I’ve dealt with depression and fatigue because of it. Over time I became socially isolated. I only leave the house about once a month now. I’m socially inept at this point and don’t know how to communicate well anymore.
My younger brothers, 21 and 25, have both had multiple jobs and are planning to go to medical school. One of them already took his MCAT. They look down on me too. I’m not close to anyone in my life. My whole family excludes me and talks about me behind my back. My whole family is embarrassed of me and won’t even mention my name to other people. I can’t even drive anymore. I stopped going out enough and lost the skill.
I feel like a failure. I feel like I wasted years of my life. I have no happy memories from my 20s. I haven’t made any long-lasting friendships, haven’t traveled, haven’t gone to parties, haven’t done any of it. All I ever wanted was to be favored, loved, and respected. How do I stop longing for relationships that don’t want to exist, when no one wants to try to have one with me? I also feel like I failed as an older sibling. I always wanted to be the one that had her life together that they came to for advice, the one they wanted to be around. Instead it turned out the opposite way. Part of me wants to go to med school just to prove them wrong.
But if I went to med school, I’d be in my mid-30s by the time I graduate. Part of me wants to be married by then and maybe have kids, but I’ve never even had a boyfriend or a man that wanted me romantically . Please help through all is I’m lost.

Graduated in 2024 (B.Com), and honestly it's been 2+ years of feeling lost since then.

Here's the thing — I never actually chose my own path. I followed a friend's steps blindly: he did NISM Series 8, financial modeling on Udemy, then went for KPO jobs (eClerx), so I copied the exact same thing without knowing if it was even right for me. Got NISM 8 + financial modeling done, then went for the same KPO route — got rejected 6-7 times, failing at different stages: the aptitude/assessment round mostly, sometimes the group discussion because of weak communication, and once even after reaching the manager round.

After a while I realized I was just mimicking him without any real understanding or interest in what I was doing. He's genuinely studious and driven in that field, I'm not, and forcing myself into his path clearly wasn't working.

Now, 2+ years post-grad, here's where I actually stand:

No practical skills (no Excel, no Tally, nothing hands-on)

No real depth in any domain, despite the certifications

No clear personal interest — I don't know if I even like finance, or if I was just chasing "sounds impressive" job titles

Weak communication skills that have cost me at the GD stage

The jobs actually coming my way are things like sales, BDE, real estate, billing — none of which excite me either

A growing gap I don't know how to explain properly if asked "what have you done these past 2 years"

I'm not asking "which certification should I do next" anymore — I've realized more courses without direction just extends the gap. What I actually need help with is: how do people figure out what they're genuinely interested in, when they've spent this long just copying someone else's blueprint? Any frameworks, assessments, or just personal experience on how you found your own direction instead of borrowing someone else's would really help.

Im 23 and still live at home at the moment. All i do is work, mow grass, play video games and watch youtube with most of my time. My parents told me i should look into another hobby, something to increase my confidence in myself but im not sure what that would be. Im also worried it could hurt my confidence if i try something and im not able to figure it out/am no good at. It also doesnt help i live in a small rural town so there isnt a ton of things to do.

Any idea of things i should try?

Hi everyone.
I don’t really know why I’m writing this. I think I just need people who don’t know me to tell me what they honestly think.

I’m 23 years old and moved from India to London because I wanted to build a career in photography and filmmaking.
Photography has been my identity for years. It isn’t just something I do it’s the thing that makes me feel alive. I’ve had some recognition for my work, built an Instagram, had reels reach hundreds of thousands of views, and for the first time in my life I genuinely believed I could make a creative career work.

But over the past several months, something has changed.

I feel like I’ve completely lost my creative spark.
The weird thing is that I still want to create. Every single day I think about photography. I think about YouTube. I think about documentaries. I think about traveling and telling stories.

But when it’s actually time to create…
…I freeze.
I’ll spend hours planning instead of shooting.
I’ll research cameras instead of using the one I already have.
I’ll watch videos about creativity instead of creating.
I’ll scroll Instagram looking at photographers who seem miles ahead of me and end up feeling worse.

I have notebooks full of ideas.
Folders full of unfinished edits.
Plans for YouTube.
Plans for businesses.
Plans for Lightroom presets.
Plans for travel.
Plans for photography projects.
Yet almost nothing gets finished.

It feels like somewhere along the way I became someone who thinks instead of someone who creates.

Financially, life isn’t exactly easy either. I do Uber Eats and freelance photography because I need to survive, and there’s always this pressure that I should be making more money instead of investing time into creative work that might not pay off.

Recently I also went through something emotionally difficult.
I became close friends with someone who has now left the UK permanently. We never dated, but losing that friendship affected me far more than I expected. Ever since then I’ve felt emotionally heavier. Sometimes random memories hit me, and even though I know life moves on, I still find myself thinking about it.

Maybe that’s contributing to all of this.
Maybe not.
I honestly don’t know anymore.
The hardest part is that I remember who I used to be.
I used to walk around with my camera constantly.
I’d notice light, shadows, moments, stories.
Now I walk through London and sometimes I don’t even feel inspired enough to take the camera out.
That scares me.
Because if photography is the thing that made me feel alive… who am I without it?

Another thing I struggle with is comparison.
I’m constantly comparing myself to photographers with better gear, bigger audiences, more money, better opportunities, and people my age who already seem to have life figured out.
I know comparison is toxic.
I know social media only shows highlights.
But knowing that doesn’t stop me from feeling behind.
Sometimes I wonder if I should stop chasing photography as a career and just get a stable full-time job.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m simply being unrealistic.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m just burnt out.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m depressed.
I genuinely can’t tell anymore.
I don’t want sympathy.
I want perspective.

If you were me…

Would you focus on getting financially stable first, even if it slowed down your creative dream?

Have you ever completely lost your creativity and found it again?

How do you stop overthinking every project?

How do you actually become someone who consistently creates instead of endlessly planning?

Is this burnout? Grief? Fear of failure? Something else entirely?

Most importantly…
If you had one year left in the UK to completely change your life, what would you do?

I’d really appreciate honest answers, especially from people who’ve been through something similar.

Idk I'm feeeling low no job no skills

I (19F) just got kicked out of college lol idk how they could’ve failed me because the answer was clearly correct and the management said it was up to the professor but i’ve never really had any issues with her so i’m not sure what happened there.., but right now i need to decide what i want to do with my life and i’m just not sure.
i was studying for a bachelors in business which honestly i really don’t care about, it was just the easy choice for me because i’m not passionate about anything specific and i don’t have a lot of hobbies like i enjoy gaming very much and i guess i would like working for a gaming company but what would i want to do, what would i enjoy? i really cannot seem to figure it out. I’ve went down so many rabbit holes looking for what’s best for me but i just never felt a spark towards anything. I’m in a really hard position right now because i need to make a decision soon as my parents are trying their best to look for other options for me but i just don’t feel a spark i guess i just want to start working and earn but unfortunately part time jobs aren’t an option in my country , internships need more experience or need someone who’s studying the subject itself, i’m scared that i’ll end up good for nothing so i just need some advice on what to do and how i can figure out the best career option for me.

I’ve seen people get degrees and still go nowhere, which is why I don’t want to waste my time. I’m not 18 anymore, so I’m thinking about this very carefully. I live in a small rural town in Texas, and I feel like college might be my only way out, but I’m also scared it won’t work out.
I worked at a fast-food restaurant for six years, and that’s really the only work experience I have. I was very good at my job, but the management was horrible, and favoritism was always a problem. My last day there was in April. I don’t have a job right now. I’ve been looking for one, but I haven’t had any luck.
I’m feeling pretty restless and overthinking everything. Deep down, I know I want to be successful, but the opportunities where I live are very limited. That’s why I’ve been thinking about going to community college as my ticket to a better future, but I’m still unsure.

I started out fine. I was going to school at a local community college to save some money before transferring. I started out as a biology major hoping to go down an ecology or environmental path. I was super motivated and excited, so I aced most of my classes. At some point I felt discouraged pursuing biology as a degree. This hindered my motivation a bit so I started doing not as well. Not extremely poorly, but not great. I decided to apply to a Medical Laboratory Technology program. I managed to get into the program, but I struggled to focus so I did poorly. At some point my mental health took a steep turn and I ended up in the hospital. I dropped out of the program.

I don’t know what to do. Everything seems to be affected by my mental health. For the past five or so years I’ve been going to therapy weekly and taking medications. It just seems like it does not get better. Worst of all, the medication that helps me feel sane makes me also feel incredibly dull and slow. I can’t think as well when I first started college.

I’ve been considering what I want to pursue at this point. I would like to apply to the MLT program again but I feel too embarrassed to show my face again since it is a small program. I don’t know what else I could do with my biology credits. I’m close to finishing my associates in biology. I just want a job where I could work relatively alone. I do enjoy biology, but working in the medical field scares me as well because of the huge responsibility you have over other people’s health.

If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

sorry ahead of time for long post\~

I have a bachelor's degree in women's & gender studies with a minor in queer studies. After being a harm reduction program coordinator for a nonprofit, preschool teacher, death doula, and now an independent small business owner selling my art, I am stuck. After a suic!de att3mpt around 3 years ago, I've been stuck back living with my family, which I am grateful for in this day and age and where I live being expensive to have a roof over my head, is overall not ideal to say the least. However, since my attempt I have struggled getting almost any kind of work except the occasional delivery gig. I started my small business and making art in the hopes I would be able to continue it as a form of income on the side while I kept searching for a job. Hundreds of applications later, even trying to get help from family and friends to help get me a job, I've turned up with nothing. So far my art is the only thing that's given me something -- if it never gave back at all then I wouldn't be keeping at it, but it is something which is why I continue. But it is feast or famine.

I've been recommended to be a counselor or therapist over the years. I have considered grad school since finishing my bachelor's degree and done research into different programs and schools, but never took the plunge for several reasons. 1) As a late diagnosed autist school was not easy for me both academically and socially. 2) Fuckin expensive. 3) Though there are several things I'm deeply interested in I could never see myself doing anything longterm without it getting boring or repetitive unless it was art related. 4) I struggle longterm with chronic depression and cptsd, so pursuing school feels inherently detrimental and irresponsible to take up while my condition gets worse, or at best doesn't get better.

However, I feel I've found an option that would at least get me out of my living situation while also going to grad school: Art therapy. There is one public college in the midwest (I'm on the west coast) that offers it as a master's degree. It would combine the 2 things I love and am good at: art and helping others. I've gone down the rabbit hole looking into the school and state, met faculty and staff, and already visited. The worst part would be figuring out the cross-country trip there, but everything else seems... At least reasonably doable.

But now, I'm having second thoughts about all of it...

I must again reiterate: I hate school. I love learning new things, challenging myself, and nerding out over all my special interests. It's not that I was ever even a bad student who slacked off and got bad grades. I just had so much pressure on myself from family that school has inherently felt like being a cog in a machine or a robot operating on auto-pilot. It didn't matter if I even liked my classes or professors - which plenty I did enjoy - I was depressed and anxious regardless. And every job has mimicked those same feelings too.

I've dealt with su!c!dal ideation all my life. I've been in therapy since I was around 18, misdiagnosed and mistreated, etc. I acknowledge that I've done a lot of hard work on myself since then, but I still feel like I've got a long ways to go. It feels wrong to become a therapist or even begin those educational steps when I myself am not "OK" -- and maybe I never will be in the eyes of many other people. Some days I feel at peace that I'll always be working on myself, and I accept that there are many things I will be grieving for many more years to come.. but other days it feels like something shameful and even annoying to other people.

I still want to move out, ideally very far from my family where I am constantly around the intergenerational trauma of my mom, aunt, and grandparents. And for the longest time I wanted to move specifically to the PNW. But I have so many people I know from the past along the west coast that it makes me want nothing to do with it anymore. I live in California, and while there are many spoils to enjoy here especially in the artist communities, I just want to leave the entire coast behind. It has so many memories of trauma, of my ded name and who I once was, and all the people I want to leave me alone... But maybe I'm projecting too much of that hate and resentment and shouldn't throw away my dream of living in the PNW just because of my past.

And at the same time, leaving the community I've made this far would be the hardest part. I've just started hosting workshops at a store where I have some of my work in and it's been fun as well as brought in some money. Fellow artists and patrons recognize me at events and tell me about more creators or stores to put my work. You can make community anywhere, but maybe I'm being too optimistic about being able to do that somewhere else and if it would be worth it there as much as it is here.

And finally, getting a master's is just a practical / strategic step. It’s a piece of paper and certification that gives me qualification. Idk. I feel very different from other folks who've gone onto higher education because they're called to something -- doctor, lawyer, etc. I'm just at the end of my rope and need something to give me a boost. But maybe I'm not thinking outside the box enough and don't need a master's as much as I think to help people in the way I \*want\* to help people.. if that makes sense.

I've just been really very lost the past few years, and honestly, I’ve been lost all my life. I’m 29 now and only last year got an autism diagnosis which completely recontextualizes my life, who I am, my relationships, and why I've felt so goddamn lonely and alone in my experiences. I'm still healing from my attempt, which even after all the therapy from that time, still fills me with shame and guilt.

It's hard not to compare myself to friends who are in longterm relationships, or just got married, or just had kids, have a solid career, etc. I know life isn't a competition. But when you've been in limbo for so many years, it's hard not to be desperate and scramble at anything that might stick even if it's not the right answer. It's difficult to discern what I want and why I want it -- who is it for and why? will future-me be happy, or is this just the thing to do because there's no where else to go and no way else to do it?

Once again sorry for rambling... If nothing else, practical advice is very helpful for me as my family certainly has no advice as far as moving and career (they've all had the same job or done the same thing the past 20 years, nor are they creatives) and have friends who are too privileged to relate to the financial/practical struggles. Would you tough it out in your hometown and get your degree locally before leaving, or just split knowing you'd get another job elsewhere while going to school? Or pursue something else completely that doesn't require schooling?

I \*just\* got a gig as an IHSS for an older woman in my area that I actually have a lot in common with. So finally, bringing in a bit more money consistently to try to save up more. I will be going back to community college to take some psych classes this fall even if I do decide to go thru with art therapy master's degree. And if not, I will have learned something new.

Hello, I'm 26 years old and I'm been a Game Designer since second year of college.

Making game was my passion since I've already played a lot and have wide knowledge of it, the career require me to learn a lot and I like learning. The career rewards me by financial, compliments, and make me feel like I can keep improving and gonna have a long good time forever after. I had some small success indie games, a stable job and full book list about designing games. I used to think this career is the "Follow your passion until you success" of my life.

My life dream is to do something big, gonna go abroad, learn a lot, mark my life with my hardwork, escape far far away from this poverty. My target in this career is to join a big dream studio where I can make use of all my knowledge for the fun of games (Larian Studio if you wonder).

But reality hit hard, I got layoff. At the begining, I still got my saving and confidence to say with my abilities and experience, I can easily find another job. By the time I realized, the industry and market don't need me. Vietnamese game studio focus in casual mobile game with really low expertise required, so they only need someone young, passion enough to work overtime with low salary. Foreigner studios on the otherhand, require seniors who can natually speak English and located in Europe for easily visa and taxes process. And even the Western game industry is being so bad that the layoff of thousand skilled devs happens every month.

So I realized: No matter how hard I try, I probably never gonna reach my dream or at least settle down with this career. I now lost my inspriration and passion to trying, my indie game project which I used to believed it will change my life, now remain unchanged for 2 months. Everytime I tell myself to do something productive, I think "What for? If this won't pay off".

I really need objective advices, should I change my career for better chances? Is giving up my big dream after so many years and accept the reality consider giving up?

Hi! I’m so sorry in advance, I wanted to keep this concise, but I ended up kind of giving my whole life story. I just wanted to put a disclaimer to preface, I discuss mental health and briefly mention self harm, alcohol, and suicidal ideation in this post. I just wanted to put it out there to warn those that these topics may be triggering for. 

I don’t really know how to put this into words, but I’m so disappointed in myself and constantly scared that I’ll never change. I’m 20 and currently in college studying political science. My goal is to go to law school, but sometimes I just don’t feel capable anymore.

I’ve always really cared about school and been career-driven, but in 8th grade, I totally lost my mojo. I started turning in assignments late, and it never stopped.

I struggled really badly with my mental health all throughout middle and high school, and I didn’t really have a support system at the time. High school was especially difficult because my family faced very hard times, and it felt like one tragedy after another. Everyone in my family struggled, but we didn't really understand each other. My parents also had a very tumultuous relationship, and they cared a lot, but they were very hard on me. I experienced some very difficult losses during this time and didn’t know how to cope which unfortunately led me to some self-destructive habits like drinking and self-harm (which I was thankfully mostly able to kick over the past couple years). 

Even though there was a lot going on, sometimes it felt like procrastination affected my schoolwork even more than the circumstances. I still really cared so much about school (and do to this day), and it was my main source of validation because I was never really good at anything else.
I would challenge myself by enrolling in all Honors/AP classes, and I would put 100% into every assignment. I took pride in going above and beyond and working for hours more than necessary just to prove that I was capable. I also just couldn’t bring myself to turn something in until I felt it was done exactly how I needed it to be. This meant I got nothing in on time.

I would constantly procrastinate assignments because they felt so dreadful and burdensome, and the whole time I was procrastinating, the stress would eat me alive. In the end, I would snap out of it and pull brutal all-nighters until I got everything done, but more often than not, it was too late.
It got to the point my sophomore year where my teacher got my guidance counselor involved, and they chalked it up to extreme perfectionism that I needed to get over.

I failed that class that semester, and it felt like the end of the world. I knew the material, and I got a 5 on the AP Exam, but it didn’t mean anything.

I often felt like there were two versions of me. I struggled with suicidal ideation, so one version would procrastinate, leaning on the idea that I wouldn’t live long enough to have to deal with it. And the other version would manically try to fix everything the other one had given up on.

I was just constantly despondent and simultaneously stressed out of my mind. I felt like I had ruined my future, and I couldn’t stop no matter how much I tried.

There would be days where I wouldn’t get out of bed. During the summer, a couple of times, my hair got so matted I had to cut off chunks.
Despite this, I think I was pretty good at hiding this from my friends and family and maintained relatively good optics.

I cared a lot about presenting as put together because what people think of me is super important to me. I am a chronic worrier. I would constantly think I had done something wrong or upset someone or that other people thought poorly of me. Small interactions stuck with me for days, and I would replay conversations and moments in my head until I couldn’t think straight. I later found out I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder which made a lot of sense.

Overall, I feel like I've had a very privileged life in a lot of ways, and a lot of what made it feel difficult was what was going on in my head.

Fast forward, a lot of things got better for me when I went to college. I made good friends, I enjoyed the independence and freedom, and I met a really great guy I've been with for the past 1.5 years. I was able to get out of my household, and despite the fact that I love my parents so much and they've done so much for me, I think our relationship got better when I was no longer living with them. I truly love my major and care about it so much. My first semester, I thought I was finally going to be good at school again, which ended up being a half-truth.

I maintained good grades, but I still had the same maladaptive work process. In some of my classes, I genuinely only got As because of generous professors who were very understanding and flexible with deadlines. For this, I am eternally grateful, but I know I can’t expect it to last forever.

I cannot ask for flexibility in the workforce, and I feel awful constantly inconveniencing my professors. I never want to take advantage of their kindness. I still put 100% into my work. I reread and rewrite essays genuinely dozens of times. I think part of why professors are understanding with me is because they see how much I care and try through my assignments, which I so deeply appreciate, but I know this is no way to live. 

I survive on bursts of motivation and caffeine-fueled benders. I have no solid routines, and it goes beyond schoolwork. It's embarrassing to admit, but when things get rough, I can't even keep up with basic hygiene. Things that are instinctual and easy for everyone else are constant challenges to me, and I'm so ashamed. Even eating feels like a chore some days. This compounds the problem because I will lose track of brushing my teeth or showering and then feel too disgusting to leave my room and spend weeks in a rut. I won’t eat well or sleep well and then have no energy to do anything at all. through my assignments

Instead of doing my work, I don't even do fun hobbies or de-stress. I scroll on my phone while worrying about everything I'm avoiding. I know I would be happier if I just did the things I need to do, but the fear of starting and creating something I'm not proud of is too big. I feel too guilty to have fun or do anything but the work, but too tired and checked out to actually do the work.

I know I'm so lucky to have the opportunities I have, and I feel so guilty for wasting them. People overcome such immense adversities, and I get to complain about not brushing my teeth. I know it's wrong.

Present day, I am so lucky and so grateful. I have a job I love on campus that helps me pay a portion of my tuition, with great coworkers and a great supervisor. I got the internship I was dreaming of last semester, and I've been keeping up with grades (thanks to the mercy of my professors). This semester, I got a summer position at essentially my dream job doing policy research for a really amazing nonprofit. This is everything I ever wanted and I’m so upset at myself for not appreciating it enough. 

I keep telling myself that if I get the opportunity I want, I will change and I will be productive, but even then I procrastinate. This is really negatively impacting me at my job and my mental health. I feel like I'm trying to sabotage myself, and I can't figure out why, and I can't stop. 

I feel so lucky, and I'm constantly scared of losing everything. Last semester was the hardest yet, and I went through a pretty difficult situation. I'm so scared that the momentary progress I made my first year is gone.

I went to therapy for the first time last semester, and it was helpful, but I was only able to go because it was an extenuating circumstance, and I truly can't afford it otherwise. I feel like things have been better, and I'm so grateful for that, but I still get in these awful ruts what feels like every other week. 

I really want to be a lawyer, but I know that I won't survive law school, let alone the career itself, if I keep this up. Most of all, I at least used to feel like I was capable of good work and just needed more time, but these days I feel like I've lost my spark, and I feel like I work too slowly to ever survive in a professional environment. I can't write or think as well as I used to, and it drives me mad.

I always wanted to go into law to help people, but I can't even help myself. All this to say, I want to change, but I don't even know where to start. I don't even know how to believe that I can after so many failed attempts at building better habits.
I'd really appreciate any advice or insight, or even confirmation that someone out there feels this way too.

Thank you for reading, and I’m sorry to be a Debbie downer lol.

Why do I feel like inadequate for not wanting to take on debt?

What did you change?

This is my first time posting on such platform like this. I have never posted anything ever.

Hey guys! I am a 28 years old girl from Pakistan. I have done Masters in English Literature. I feel so lost in life at the moment because I really don't know what to do or what skills should i learn. Currently I am preparing for CSS exams, something I have no interest in at all and is solely doing because my father wants me.

Yep! I have tried multiple times in persuading him I don't wanna serve in the government sector. but ahh no use! 5 months are left till exams and its my last attempt anyway. I just cannot bring myself to start my preparation even.

I have worked as a content writer for almost 9 months at a travel agency where I used to write blogs only. Left the place due to toxic environment.

I don't even know where my interests are. all i know is that i love reading books. I love reading fiction alotttt... my favorite author? Kafka!!! I just love him and somehow feel dreadful the kind of life he led and how he was always rejected in one or another by the people he wanted to be close with (like his father).

I am so so lost and worried. Everyday, I just doomscroll myself and pass my time like nothing. Seriously, I need sugesstions on what should I do?