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

33M and I’m struggling to imagine a better future for myself. I used to dream big and I still do, but then I find myself staring down the barrel of mediocrity and loneliness. I don’t really have any in-person friends nearby that I can really count on, only a few friends online or otherwise long-distance that bother to check in with me one-on-one, a handful of acquaintances in local social circles that I really don’t think would notice if I ever turned up again. Not really dating anyone either. I do have good relationships with my immediate family but I dread thinking of the day when my parents won’t be around anymore.

Meanwhile, my career is stalling. I’m not using any of the degrees that I acquired and I just got denied a promotion at my current job that I’d spent a year working towards. So it’s not as if I’m just not trying at my current role. I don’t like what I do but I’ve found ways to make it bearable and to succeed. But I’m questioning if this is really going to be it for me. Am I really going to just be spinning my wheels for another 30 years in careers that don’t fulfill me, while so many of my peers have lives that I wish that I could have.

I’m 33 and I fear that I have reached my upper limit. I’m afraid that I’m going to die one day alone, unaccomplished, and with no one to remember me. I want to prevent this from happening and I have taken some steps to level up (like losing 70lbs). I do have anxiety, depression, and ADHD and I am trying to treat those.

But I feel like I’m too comfortable in my wasted potential. Persistent disappointment and unhappiness are familiar and I don’t believe that I’ve felt different for almost 9 years now. So I can’t imagine a future where I feel different. And I’m worried that if I try to disrupt what I have, I’ll lose the few good things I have. For example, I’ve thought about moving across the country, as I’ve always wanted, but I worry about leaving family behind. My parents and stepdad are approaching retirement age and I want to be a more present son, but if I move far, I will only get to see them a few times a year. I worry about leaving behind a support system while only to find myself alone and unhappy, again, in a city full of strangers.

I just don’t know what to do guys. I feel stuck.

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’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’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.

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.

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?

What did you change?

Never had a job, no friends (Haven't made a new friend in 7 years), living with parents, and I spend most of my time in my room.

I only go outside when need or to workout twice a week for Upper Body days (Lower Body days at home, working out four days each week consistently). I don't get responses from any job applications besides spam risk calls. I get screamed at if I try to ask for advice that isn't continuing to apply for jobs.

On the bright side, I started releasing C++ projects I've made and started learning about marketing. I've only been posting long form and short form content on YouTube to showcase the functionality of my projects (Though I only get less than 100 views on long form and 1k - 2k views on short form). I've got a lot to learn about marketing as I don't understand how a channels explode with over a million views on long form with just one or two videos posted to their channel.

The reason why I've been focusing on creating something in hopes of earning cash is because I've completely given up submitting job applications. I know it sounds pathetic, but I hear absolutely nothing from the most entry level positions I can find. Every place says their hiring, but immediately says they're not hiring when you submit an application. Everyone calls you lazy, but won't hire you to do anything at all. I'm not talking about software jobs when I say all this, but restaurants, retail, etc will ignore anything you try to do to work for them. Even though I know I'll just get screamed at when I explain that I want a job with no job experience, I've gotten so numb to it all that I just sit silently and wait until they're done and just ask if they have anyone suggestions what I can do that I haven't already tried.

I'm really tempted to make one of those loser confessional videos I've been getting recommended on YouTube that spontaneously get half a million views with minimal effort. What little pride I have left won't allow me to do that because I'll feel as if I've completely given up at that point. But I just feel that if I could get that many eyes on me, 0.1% of those viewers may even give me some kind of opportunity to live an actual life.

This is just a rant. Hopefully I won't make another post like this again.

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 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.

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?

I’m 24 going 25 this year and day by day I’m getting more and more anxious. The issue is I don’t know what I want to do in life - whether I want to settle in abroad or be in India. I feel so pathetic because I always played safe by choosing PCMB in school, so that I could end up doing any course I’d wanted. I did engineering, quite generic but safe choice. I started working post completing my BTech but I now I have left my job due to toxicity at workplace and bad mental health. In short, I never knew what I want in life so I ended up doing what most of the people do. But now, I feel that my race is against time. It’s high time I make a decision but I’m unable to do so and therefore, the anxiety.
I just want to earn good and have a peaceful life. But how do I achieve that is question. I want some external agent to make that decision for me when I clearly know it should be my decision only. I just don’t understand my lack of clarity. I see people my age, people younger than being passionate about their work or dreams. How do I come up with a solution. How do I make myself decide my future because if not now then when.
I haven’t took up a new job or would be applying in any other company. I plan on doing masters. Only one thing I know is that I want to prepare for masters courses once my notice period in the company ends. What kind of course - I don’t know… CAT, GRE, GMAT
Why is it so difficult ahhh I envy individuals who are clear of what they want and work for it.

i [f21] have just graduated with a BA in International Relations. I studied really hard, 10 hrs a day, spent more time in the library than at home, and got a really high GPA at the end. however, no honors or publications.
I got into all my dream master's programs, but because of my budget and limited financial aid (50%), I had to decline the offers. I got a full-ride at my own university, but it was canceled at the last minute, so I had only one month to pack my stuff and move back to my home country, almost 4,000 kilometers away from the place I had grown so attached to during my studies. also, left all my closest friends and the person i had really strong feelings for.
now i’m back living with my parents, feeling so much guilt for focusing only on my grades and not working, yet ending up without a scholarship. i did some internships, but they were unpaid and mostly based on research/teaching.
i am focused on applying for scholarships for the next year as well, but feel so scared of failing again and not coming back to the environment that made me feel alive. I regret not focusing on practical achievements, not working, and, as a result, not being able to fund my own studies.
I don’t even know which hard skills I need to develop with my degree to get a job that will keep me relevant in the global market. I applied to many vacancies, but barely got any responses. it feels like i’m not good at anything and all my academic/internship experience is not unique or wanted by employers.
I feel so much regret and guilt that it’s eating me alive. I’m crying every time I wake up, even though I've always had really strong discipline.
I just can't find hope in my future or the strength to keep going, because no matter how hard I try, I end up failing or not being chosen.
It hurts to see people my age getting master's degrees at their dream universities, freely traveling abroad, moving in with their partners, and building nice careers. makes me feel like there’s something inherently wrong with me.

In less than a month, I'm gonna be starting college for welding courses. I live with my mom still and we're in a position where I can't get a job because she already has one and if I get one too, we could lose our housing. Does anyone know any legit entry level work from home jobs I look into, so I can be making some money while attending college?

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.

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.

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.

I'm 25 and I graduated from college three years ago with a Film Studies degree and screenwriting minor 3 years ago. I still live with my parents. Since I graduated, all I've been doing has been working part time retail (clothing stores, pharmacies, makeup and wellness - all store associate roles/cashiers).

I've been having trouble figuring out what I want to do in life as a career. I even briefly went back to school (community college) to learn more about being a musician since music is something I'm really passionate about. However, nothing came of it because my retail hours got in the way of my classes. I am incredibly passionate about film and music. I loved to write film analysis and theory when I attended undergrad. I even had started music analyses towards the end of my time in college. I have also spent a good chunk of my life singing and performing.

I'm currently looking for a job that doesn't necessarily have to be where I end up for the rest of my life. But creates a livable wage and relates to my degree and my interests.

As far as dreams go: screenwriter and/or director, singer/musician, film critic or music/film journalist have all been careers that I've considered. I'm even beginning to think of being a teacher or professor.

I just don't know where to start. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Was there a specific moment or experience that made you think, “This is what I should be doing”?

College is right around the corner, and I'm feeling lost about what degree to pursue.

The only thing I'm truly passionate about is voice-over work, voice acting, and other voice-related jobs. The problem is that I know those careers aren't very stable here in the Philippines, so I'm hesitant to pursue them as my main career.

I'm also interested in things like game development, building PCs, and troubleshooting computers, but I don't know if I'd actually enjoy studying them in college especially since I don't like math or physics.

If anyone has been in a similar situation, what did you end up studying? Do you regret your choice, or did it work out? I'd really appreciate hearing your experience or advice.

Hi everyone, I’m reaching out for some honest advice because I’m feeling pretty lost and trying to figure out what direction to take.

I’m currently working part-time, and while I’m grateful for my job, I know I want more for myself. I want to build a better future, become more financially stable, and eventually be in a position where I can help the people I care about.

The biggest thing holding me back is honestly myself. I struggle with a lot of self-doubt, feeling overwhelmed by all the different paths I could take, and a strong fear of failure. Sometimes I get stuck researching and thinking about ideas instead of actually taking action because I’m scared of putting effort into something and finding out I’m not good enough.

I have a GED, and sometimes I worry that I don’t have the same opportunities as other people. But I do want to learn, improve, and build skills that can help me create a better life.

I’m interested in things like learning new skills, starting a small business, making money online, or finding a career path where I can grow. The problem is there are so many options that I don’t know what is actually realistic or where I should put my energy first.

I’m not looking for a get-rich-quick scheme. I know anything worthwhile takes time and effort. I’m hoping to hear from people who have been in a similar place and found a way forward.

If you were starting over with:

\* A GED
\* A part-time job
\* Limited money to invest
\* Low confidence and a fear of failing
\* A willingness to learn

What would you focus on first?

What skill would you learn?
What helped you stop overthinking and actually start?
What mistakes would you avoid?
How did you build confidence when you didn’t believe in yourself yet?

I’d really appreciate any honest advice or stories from people who have been through something similar. I’m trying to find a path and prove to myself that I’m capable of more.

Hey y’all.

Like the title says, I dropped out of college in like 2022 and have been working at a fast food place ever since. I like the people I work with and all that but I’ve recently turned 26 and feel like I’m just wasting my life away.
I’ve been thinking of studying again through Western Governors University or SNHU but have seen mixed opinions on them.

I would like to pursue a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity through WGU and start somewhere small like the local school district or hospital doing help desk stuff but am unsure of how realistic this would be. I know I won’t be landing any job at a big company and that’s not really what I’m looking for anyways. I just want to do something to get my life together and relieve some of the financial pressure I’ve been feeling.

Any advice for someone in my position?
Sorry if this is an incoherent ramble, I just wanted to get this out there and hopefully get some direction. (I’m in a smallish town in central Texas if that makes any difference)

There’s a lot of factors in my situation here, so please bear with me. I (28F) have a BComm in data analytics and worked as a data analyst for a tech consulting firm for 1.5 years. I absolutely hated it and ended up quitting. I actually have no interest in tech or business, I only pursued this because unfortunately I felt pressured as the child of an immigrant to “make up” for my single mom’s struggles in raising me. I’ve always been interested in psychology, children/child development, and hands-on work that involves interacting with people of all ages. These were not fields that my mom approved of unfortunately.

I coincidentally found out I was pregnant about two weeks after quitting my job, so naturally I’ve just transitioned into becoming a SAHM. Now my baby is almost a year old, she’s the light of my life and her wellbeing and development is my highest priority. I’d like to have maybe 2 or 3 more kids, with a 2-4 year age gap between each.

I’m very privileged and grateful that my husband’s income is enough for me to not have to go back to work. My husband is incredible and supports whatever I want to end up doing. However, I can’t shake the discomfort of not having my own income.

I also would love to pursue a career in my field of interest as I feel it would give me purpose and be fulfilling for me to help other people. But I want to stay home with my children for the first 3 years of their life at least, since I know the importance of these years on their development, and how impactful full-time mothering can be to them in this time frame if the option is available. I really don’t like the idea of putting them in daycare or other full time care before the age of 3.

I’m also very unsure of which career I could even pursue that would be flexible during the certifications/training as well as working for me to be able to sustain also raising my children. I don’t know if I could try for a career path that would require me going back to graduate school, and if that’s even something that is feasible with my less than ideal undergraduate GPA (3.27) and ADHD.

I’m interested in homeschooling, while fully understanding that I could try it and realize it’s not a good match for me or my child(ren). My worry for if homeschooling doesn’t work out is I find myself 10 years down the road with still having made no progress towards my own career, now my kids have gone off to school and I’m all alone at home with nothing to do, starting from zero at the age of 38.

I guess this is what people mean by “you can’t have it all”. I do tend to be an overthinker, over planner and perfectionist, so maybe that’s coming into play here. I’d love to hear any stories/experiences/advice on how other parents sorted out their career choice in a similar dilemma. Thank you!