I sit here at 34, at a crossroad that is painful. It is necessary now, but was easily avoidable.

Escaping into partying, partners, and gaming to cover a hole that was never going to be filled by anything but self-actualization; I never truly sat long enough through those uncomfortable moments with my feelings and desires.

It would be easy to blame my self-centered parents, of which I had three (divorce, I have more of a family bush than a tree). Or the coaches in my life that only knew how to inspire through fear.

All the perceived wrongdoing in my life should have lit an insatiable fire. Instead, I used it like a pilot light that I would only turn up when I was over-satiated on my hedonism.

You and only you, know what is truly worth pursuing.

Sure, I got very good at what I am doing for a career. I've had multiple lives, including an opportunity to play football at a high level. I pursued women recklessly. And in between those fleeting experiences, instead of asking myself the right questions, acknowledging the fear, and choosing my passion, I numbed myself with the partying, gaming, and doing what I thought was a good compromise between the stability my father wanted for me and my creative instincts.

I've now lost touch with a majority of those so-called friends I made along the way. Never truly reached the potential I saw within me.

It is only my timid fears that is truly to blame.

My life, and your life, is not done. But, try to fail faster before it becomes a arduous, mid-life saga of finding what is YOUR purpose and meaning to life.

I majored in IT because I enjoyed tinkering with code, solving problems, and (if I'm being honest) I wanted a job where I didn't have to deal with people too much.

Now after 10 years working in tech I'm burnt out and I don't like the direction the industry is headed in.

Looking back a big part of me wishes that I majored something that I can actually talk about for hours: history, sociology, or psychology. I steered clear because the first two are seen as "useless" with zero job prospects outside of teaching. I also cannot see myself being someone's psychologist.

Now I'm thinking maybe that was a mistake. Maybe teaching or a career in academia wouldn't be so bad.

For context I am in my 30s. I don't have a family, a mortgage, or any debt.

Thoughts?

I (30F) feel uncertain and unmotivated. I graduated with a BA in chemistry and a minor in math. Then I took a few years to have fun jobs, mostly did seasonal work like ski resorts, golf courses, food service. Then that got old, so I had always been interested in teaching (I was a tutor all through college and loved it) and decided to get my MA in educations. I taught high school math for two years and both years were terrible. It wreaked havoc on my mental and physical health. I do really love teaching but so much of the job wasn't teaching, it was managing behaviors. So now, I substitute teach part time, and still work at a golf course as the snack bar attendant. I just feel like I have so much more to give, I love math and science, I feel like I'm very bright and I like learning. I also love art and do all kinds of crafts: embroidery, painting, needle felting, macrame. I also really love nature and animals. I just don't know what to do, I have so many careers I'm pondering: actuary (worried I'll never find an entry level job as its so competitive), mental health counselor (worried about the emotional toll because I'm an empathetic), vet tech (love animals but again worried about having to see the bad outcomes, plus a low pay ceiling). I'm interested in healthcare and sciences too, but all of my resume is either education or service jobs and I feel like no one will give me a chance, I've applied to a bunch of lab tech jobs and reception jobs in healthcare and no one will even give me an interview. I feel like teaching shoehorned me into this role and no other employers can see my potential. What should I pursue?

I envy passionate people so fucking much. I am someone who likes doing things, I have multiple hobbies and multiple things I like. I am a creative at heart, I enjoy painting and I've recently started reading(though I've always been a reader), I want to learn pottery someday when I can afford it, and I have multiple things that intrigue me that I want to experience or learn. In fact I'm good at studies as well fairly enjoy it. But I don't particularly feel very passionate about any of these things.

As a child I had things that I really liked, and natural inclinations towards certain stuff but i'm also someone who is heavily influenced by other people's opinions and ideas. so what I did in my growing years in trying to mould and fit myself in the most popular and widely accepted idea of a person.

For example- I loved art and painting since childhood for as long as I could remember, in my 9th grade I made few good friends (that I am friends with till today), like real friends for the very first time(my family kept moving places so never had any childhood friends), So this crowd was what you'd call "cool kids" in school and I felt so honoured to be friends with them and also very scared that they'd find me very boring and uncool and break up the friendship. So we had art classes that I religiously attended and actively participated in. This was the time when art was becoming too boring and uncool for most of my classmates and only few of them who were genuinely interested stuck around and other being part of the former group started bunking or missing classes and just hanging out. I obviously wanted to attend all the classes and enjoyed it but I guess what I chose to do- I bunked almost all my classes with my friends because I was scared they'd leave me(I didn't know any better, I was a kid). I slowly drifted away from art and completely stopped it.(I eventually found my way back to it)

I've had few academic and professional failures that make question my worth and I just know where to go in life. I don't have that one calling and that one thing i'm passionate about and to which I can dedicate my energy and efforts and life. Even if I do find things I really like I am too scared to commit myself completely to it because what if I fail. I don't myself anymore.

This quote by murakami made me feel very seen

“When you are used to the kind of life -of never getting anything you want- you stop knowing what it is you want.”

I can't afford to further my education. I got a degree in animation and while I enjoy what I do, it doesn't provide the life I was imagining. I desperately want to have a stable career and live a simple life. More so because I've experienced living in poverty all my life.

I've heard the United States Military pays for your education. Though, since I already have a degree and student loans, I'm less certain they'll pay for it. It seems like a good opportunity, though I'm a little less optimistic about joining a cause for a war I won't ever fully understand. I've tried to find a job for ages. I probably can't even qualify because I have had surgery on my wrist and can't do pushups and I have very low vision.

I've tried agencies. I've tried emailing recruiters. Ive never heard back from any, or they divert me to a job board with 4 listings. I've tried freelancing. Internships. But, it doesn't provide enough income for my goals and it hasn't led me anywhere. I don't want to be stuck working in retail and fast food for the rest of my life. But, these are the jobs I currently qualify for. My parents are getting older, and I don't want to depend on them in those years. I want to be able to support them.

These are excuses, I've heard. I'm not disciplined enough. That I should settle for any job. Be grateful. Tide myself over. Suck it up.

I'm tired, I think, of everything. I've been tired for a while. It feels like I'm in high school again, choosing what to do next and having no idea what happens. Though, I'm a lot less enthusiastic that anything will come of any of it. I wanted a lot more for myself.

I'm not sure what to do next. I could go into debt pursuing another degree that isn't promised to employ me. Or, try to get a job somewhere anywhere and hope contracts are enough. I'd prefer the latter only with more solid income.

I'm sorry if these were a lot of words. Thank you for taking the time and reading.

I’m a 26yo busy mom. My youngest is 1yo. Not sure if that’s important info but I feel it might help get best advice to be realistic.

I haven’t had a lot of work experience in my life. Last 3 years have been the most active in work. I have mainly worked food manufacturing warehouse as a packager or currently machine operator. I’ve had brief training in quality assurance at my former job.

I want so badly a career that will one day be great for myself and kids. Something that will cover our wants and needs, in demand, and a schedule as my warehouse jobs of 2-2-3. I love that because it allows so plenty of time with family still.

My current company is great! They have started me at $21/hour. In April I may be due for a raise.

Healthcare has always been a career I’ve had in mind. Starting with Medical Assistant, seeing if it’s a good fit for me then go to LPN/RN.

I know you’re not suppose to really know everything about nursing before nursing school, but I feel so silly as if I absolutely do need to 😆 and it makes me pull back from the idea.

Another idea I had was cybersecurity.

And lastly something like paralegal.

I love paperwork, I enjoy working with people, I think I do well in intense situations.

Would I be able to get onto some type of certification or degree in the very near future while also being a mom?

I’m also interested in something highly remote. I know for health stuff a lot is online but clinicals are obviously required in person.

I just feel like wasted potential and I want to be something I can be proud of and for my kids to have someone to look up to as they grow up.

I use to do super well in school. I actually loved it so thinking of going back to school makes me excited.

Thanks for any help, and if there’s more info I can provide for better advice let me know. !!

I'm 19. I love strategic thinking. I love reading about massive military campaigns and learning about the strategies of past generals. Next to strategy, I love the tactics that are used such as deception, clever tricks, precise timing, concentration of force, etc. I love having a long term goal to work towards and feeling like I have a purpose. I love playing chess. I love strategy games. I'm good at math (I'm a mathematics major). I hate coding. I don't really want to join the military. Are there any jobs that fit these skills or is officer corps the only route.

Been doing hair for about 3 years including school and it just ain't working out for me money wise and I don't see that changing. Only school I've done is highschool and barber school and I can't really afford ( timewise) to spend more than 2 years in a school . Any ideas of things I should look into

37yo Female- was an inpatient/hospital registered nurse for 8 years, travel nurse 1 year, and now 4 years as a nurse case manager for a health insurance company. I'm looking for a way to get out of healthcare completely, just unsure how. Currently renting an apartment, no car, no drivers license (working on it, got my learners permit). Goal is to homestead someday, however lived in cities most of my life. Maybe something that will help me pivot more into that future lifestyle? How to get into that, what fields to look into, and how to get in (certifications, apprenticeships). Hoping for at least 100k salary if even possible.

BSN, MSN in nursing informatics.

23M. 2025 CompSci grad/national guard infantry officer. No internships/work experience in the field. Unemployed May 2025-Jan 2026. Army basic training and officer candidate school from jan-june this year. Currently working at walmart and living at my parents. I do not care what field of work, but I need to leave my parents house. I would actually like to go active duty Army, but from my understanding I can't switch right now. ready to give up. suggestions?

Hey so I'm turning 17 this dec

I've been depressed since I was in 7th grade, this year i feel like I'm finally back in my senses and now I feel I have a lot to catch up with,

Basically when I was in 11th I took pcb idek why then I was aimlessly preparing for neet i still dek why ,then last year during this time i got to know about iat and all the research paths i felt like this might be it as I loved researching ( i never loved actual sciences but actual research and analytical stuff) i thought maybe it was depression that's why I wasn't able to concentrate or smth but now after being fine and giving it some months I've seen I can do these subjects chemistry biology and with some efforts physics but ion enjoy any of the subject not even biology only thing I've enjoyed studying was evolution

This year i was even trying to do psychology or ba in philosophy online as it was my drop year ( i took that to heal from all the school and family abuse ) i didn't wanna waste it and when that didn't work out i tried bca that didn't work out too.

Now I was trying to do some research on some topics for a paper i was trying to write about like how humans are , how we all are affected mentally socially by evolution human psychology and philosophies loopholes that are actually worth trying to figure out ,like I'm not a flag bearer of sm philosophers but I feel like i could genuinely sit and do this work analyse their work and find loopholes and make it better or make my own stuff ,i really enjoy these topics , but I think philosophy and psychology are so mainstream and idk about the pays and all i think the market and opportunities are way too saturated, idk

i need genuine advices about clgs , jobs and phds

I’m 25 and really struggling to figure out what career path I want to take, so I’m hoping to get some advice from people who have been in a similar situation or have experience in these fields.

One career I’ve been considering is becoming an X-ray tech because I like the idea of having a stable career and making decent money. However, I have a pretty severe fear and anxiety around blood, needles, and seeing people who are sick in a hospital. I had childhood cancer, and I think a lot of this stems from PTSD from that experience. Every time I go into a hospital, I get borderline panic attacks, so I’m worried that working in healthcare might not be realistic for me.

My other option is getting a degree in communications. I’m interested in the creative side of things, social media, marketing, and potentially working for a company. The downside is that it would be another four years of school, and at 25, I feel like I’m already behind and don’t want to spend years getting a degree only to struggle to find a decent-paying job afterward.

I’m trying to find a career that offers:

• Good, stable income and room for growth
• A decent work-life balance, ideally no weekends
• A relatively low-stress work environment
• Opportunities to be creative or work in a business setting
• A career that I can realistically get into without spending a ton of money on school

Are there any healthcare careers that don’t involve much blood, needles, or direct exposure to sick patients? Or should I look into something completely different?

I’d especially love to hear from anyone who has a communications degree, works in marketing, or has experience in healthcare careers that are less hands-on with patients.

I know 25 isn’t old, but I’m feeling overwhelmed trying to make the right decision for my future. Any advice, career suggestions, or personal experiences would be appreciated.

I'm looking for a job that is a combination of desk work and even some physical work.

I have been working full time since I was 19. I have worked as an admin assistant for a dealership, corporate, worked as a legal processing specialist for almost a year, did sales and events at two hotels, and just recently got laid off from my job as a loan processor assistant. There was a mass layoff and I have never been more stressed knowing I have to start from scratch. I am so tired of getting rejecting and when I do apply to jobs that interest me I always get rejected. Every posting requires so many specific requirements even though my skills are transferable and I'm a quick learner. I do not want to years of schooling either as I learn better with experience and I don't plan on becoming a manager.

Any supportive and helpful advice would be great.. I have been feeling so defeated and my unemployment hasn't kicked in. I'm 26 and have no idea what to do for a career anymore. All I know is that I love learning constantly, always being busy, staying organized and making sure things run smoothly. I'm a great communicator as well and enjoy admin work but also like a mixture of physical work as well. I feel hopeless as to what career to break into and I'm so burnt out.

Im currently a 17-year-old senior in high school. I have absolutely no idea what I should do with my life when it comes to a career. The one thing I was somewhat interested in was archaeology, but it doesn't pay well and isn't stable. I'm open to doing trades and office jobs. Im not willing to do anything medical or coding-related.

Hello, I am writing this because I wanted to get ideas and things I need help on! I am 21 driving through college however I messed up and am about still a freshmen its a long story but I live in Maine and go to U Maine, I hate Maine though I have no friends, its cold, dark and people here are so rude and its isolated here! I am originally from nyc and go back every year but I mean I being here in Maine has just gotten me tired of winter and everytime I travel I noticed I wanted to be away from Maine and I hope to move to Texas but I am worried if I don't have a degree and worse now what can I do there?... Also is this the right choice??? to put what I want first or what others tell me for a short term un comffiness for me to achive my dreams which is to move away from cold to a warm big city and have friends and finally peace!

32 year old female here! For as long as I reminded I wanted to be a librarian. Now I’m thinking of applying to grad school, but I know I need a back up.

And I’m trying to decide between radiology or dental assistant, maybe sonography. Because honestly, at this point, I think I need to learn a skill. And the medical field will always be hiring.

So if anybody has experience in any of those fields, let me know what you think.

I turned 26 this past Sunday, and I’m already feeling the Turning 26 has hit me harder than I expected, and I’m honestly getting tired of the constant job hunt. ramifications. I’m aging off my parents’ health insurance, so now they have to figure out a new policy for me, and the pressure to find a job with benefits has reached an all-time high. At this point, I’m honestly willing to take just about anything that offers decent benefits because I need some stability.
What frustrates me the most is that I used to be a pretty good athlete, specifically in track and field. I was good enough to compete in college and had a decent career, but obviously, I wasn’t good enough to make it to the Olympics. Sometimes I can’t help but wonder what my life would look like if I had made it. Maybe I’d have more financial stability, fewer worries about my future, and wouldn’t have my family constantly on my back about finding a job.
Instead, it feels like I’m getting rejection after rejection, and it’s mentally exhausting. I have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in criminal justice, but trying to turn those accomplishments into a stable career has been a lot harder than I ever imagined. Every rejection just adds to the frustration, especially when I feel like I’m running out of time to get my life together.
At this point, I’m actually considering getting back into track and field. I know it might sound crazy, and I’m not expecting to suddenly become an Olympic athlete, but I miss having something to work toward that I’m actually passionate about. Right now, the job hunt feels like an endless cycle of applications, interviews, and rejection, and I’m just tired of it.
I never imagined that turning 26 would make me feel this much pressure. I know I’m not the only person going through this, but damn, it’s hard not to feel like I’m falling behind. I’m just trying to find some stability and figure out what comes next, because this whole process has started to feel like a humiliation ritual.

What changed along the way?

ugh i don’t even know where to start. i turned 25 few months ago, I feel so lost in life. i thought i would have my life figured out by now. i’ve attended multiple colleges gained credits but still hasn’t finished my degree. i work front desk and my job is fine but it’s not a career. this has been a “college” job for a while now, but i still haven’t finished something and stuck with it. i’ve been so indecisive, and im so annoyed bc i want to start making money, and start my career. im forcing myself into nursing because ive been told it’s good money, but the schooling is intense. and i don’t even know if i really wanna do it. im looking into tech boot camp programs w/o degree needed. but still work on getting a bachelors since im so close to finishing. but i genuinely dont know what to do, i feel like im on a tight timeline. i get kicked out of my parent’s health insurance next yr, and i rely heavily on my mental health care because of my adhd. and i dont know what i’d do without it. Also I’d need to start helping my mom financially soon. i dont even wanna start comparing myself to others because that will just bring me down even more. but it’s so hard being in my 20s unable to live a stable life. barely affording my bills and still wanting a social life. i’m lucky in certain aspects, but it’s so hard to look at it that way when im so fucking lost.

I’m currently applying for radtech school but im having second thoughts. I also thought about paralegal but it seems risky.

At my core,I would really prefer something thats an office job,preferably non customer facing or introvert friendly that would make 60k a year without overtime and has a friendly barrier of entry

Not rlly tryna make a family or anything just want more pets and money to provide proper care for those future pets.

I’m willing to get certs or college degrees if needed. And i am in florida. I may consider relocation if possible but i just wanna put effort and money into something that will actually get me somewhere in life.

I have always considered mathematics and Science to be two of my strongest subjects, and I am interested in pursuing a career in engineering. However, I am still unsure which branch of engineering would be the best fit for my skills, interests, and future career goals. I would like to choose a field that offers good earning potential, strong career opportunities, and long-term job security. Another important factor for me is that I would prefer a career that does not involve  coding or computer programming. I would appreciate guidance on the different types of engineering, the skills and qualifications required for each, and which options would best suit my strengths while allowing me to achieve my financial and professional goals.

I have come to realize that my priorities in the past didn't make me open to choose wisely between the good options I had. Now the time has passed.

During college, I saw many students doing all sorts of things- startups, drama, preparing for competitive exams etc...

I aspired to start something of my own but never did- always thought I was incompetent. I want to work abroad for some years thus, I didn't pursue an accounting certification which is well known in my country and even if I stay in my hometown after some 4-5 years of experience and open my own practice I would make enough to live. Just that accounting and taxation didn't sit with me compared to how much cfa's curriculum sat, I didn't pursue it- sticking in for 8-9 months straight didn't feel right either.

Both cfa and that accountancy certification would take at least 3-4 years (cfa is comparatively easy)- this is the second reason why I didn't choose the tough accountancy paper.

Cost wise- If I failed accountancy paper 10 times in a row then also it will be cheaper than any level of cfa cost- it is not recommended though.

Now my college is finished and landing in the job market made me realise what instability and pennies worth a salary can do to you. I don't have any family problems as such, we have our family business which earns us a decent lifestyle but my father says to not think about pursuing business full time as it has become really hectic - late night calls, 24/7 availability requirement and dealing with beaureacracy is tough.

My priority is to work the road > make big money(4-6)> and return back(by 28-30) seems to have been hit hard...

I know i am privileged but I live a really confused life and uncommitted life-

1) If I see some 18yo or 23 yo make some ton of money to just live off without any worry then the question of "what am I even doing with less than 10,000usd per annum salary? This guy started at 20 and sold his business at 23...."

2) If I se4e some CFA working in singapore earns double of what my family business makes. That also makes me think- I have a thing that is working then why am I trying so hard for the things that aren't there.

3) If I see my community folk get into some good b school abroad then it flairs that I should also work hard.

Life is dynamic and nobody can map it. I love my parents and the slow life of living in my hometown. I want to go work abroad but I know I will miss my family a lot and as time passes and they get old- I know I gotta become concrete in my decision making otherwise only regrets will remain.

Spending $60,000- $1,00,000usd for education abroad is expensive for us (it's doable but still an expensive bet). Burdensome for me as I have to worry about getting a job. So, either I decide something and commit to it or commit to studying abroad and work.

The only time I can remember i committed to something was once- for 1 month worked so hard day and night that I went straight from thinking about studying in a no-named college to sitting in tier 2 public college in top uni university of my country. At that time I took my reward for such hard work with a pinch of salt. Stakes were smaller then, now the story is different.

huh...

I m indescive I dont know which career to choose between teaching and dental hygienist a little about me I m 31 F I ve been searching my whole life what interest me .. but then later I realized no matter what u study life is about finding a career that balances work and ur personal life i have studied dentistry for a year it was soo hard on me as i m not studios person i failed twice in my first year i gave up i passed outs of 4 subjects only three which was dental anatomy dental histology and anatomy head and neck i failed physiology and biochemistry twice then i gave up and i switched to bachelor of business administration which i completed and graduated which I dont even like it i just did like that anywho i got married young and have one child now they my child is grown up and is 9 and my marriage is almost on the verge of breakup and all my life i felt from inches i n depended on a man and i dont want that narrative i wanna do something for me and not lived by control of finance to be honest i have wasted soo much behind marriage that I haven’t started anything for myself i just want stable career where i can give time to my child and able to work in the morning i have previously worked as English teacher in a nursery it was very exhausting with planning and making worksheets didn’t enjoy much but i know I would get holidays with same time as kids the only reason I think of studying bachelor of education but i know every great person has studies education which lead to something but my interest is in health care field i wanna do something like study hygienist open up my own clinic and have all the health care services given not medical ones like the spas ones i like to work in health care and sometimes i think i should do both but the degree i m thinking to obtain from for education is from Middle East and its has a lot of scope to work as teacher but again because of the economy now i feel nothing is guranteed and for hygienist i want to study in canada as it has less year and in Middle East they don’t hire hygienist and even if they do hire which is rare the salary sucks its not good as it is in Canada if u studied there and my long term plan might be staying in Canada as i m Canadian and not sure about the certainty about in Middle East even if i study bachelor of education in Middle East and went back to canada i know i can use my middle eastern degree and upgrade it with some short course and able to work quicker but if i studied hygienist and tried working in Middle East it’s not the same pay as in canada and wont be able to open up my own clinic as a medical spa without the actual Botox and filler one just regular spa which a non medical can do it without a doctor .. i m soo confused as i m also in the middle of my marriage breakup and i m scared also if i joined anything i wont be able to continue or have stress and on top of that i m teaching my child as homeschool because i cant right now afford to pay for physical school fees and when i teach my child she really be testing my patience and my family says if u wanna be a teacher u gotta be patient and they all demotivate me i mean i just want to stand on my own without but i m unsure what to do i m thinking to study bachelor of education for two years as i have to stay in Middle East in for two years then try to enroll in dental hygiene program but i dont know its all making me feel overwhelm that i feel like sometimes leave everything and dont do anything . People be telling me to be a teacher u gotta be patient i do have patience and i did worked as teacher previously in teaching setting but i sometimes i m doubtful if i can do it or not and then if i can study hygienist and become one or not i just want to do everything quick and start earning i want to be financially independent with the choices i have taken but then again i think does putting money in this matter what if i die in between completing all this all this is making me feel overwhelm with life i m soo exhausted with everything . My family said if u be teacher be ready to deal with even difficult kids I know that bas everything has good and bad and i feel time is the biggest thief half of my life went pleasing everyone and listening to what my partner wants and get dumped once life gets hard I feel the stuck the most every day my heart feels heavy with all this I m running behind is it worth it as my husband has been against all this but I m tired to being controlled I don’t want it .. I feel like when life gets hard I leave things and run away from it and that’s my weakness please guide me with all the pros and cons and I want to know seriously if anyone can guide Canadian hygienist course guidance and studies if anyone can share with me the notes to actually see as I m trying to find out about the studies pleasee help meee .