Struggling with something

[Kata6]

So, this isn't really related to the topic of the website, but I consider you all friends and I just want some input, so here goes:

I really struggle with this whole job thing. Let me explain: I have a good job, it pays really well and has really good benefits, and for the most part is somewhat interesting (it has its moments). Having said that, this is not one of those jobs you want to have when you're growing up, at least I didn't. It is not one of those "cool" jobs you always wanted. It's just ok and it pays good.

Here I am at 26 years old and I still have no idea what I want to do with my life, I'm pretty sure what I'm doing right now isn't it. Now I know a lot of people are in this position and a lot of them don't ever figure it out.

I've always believed that a job is just something you do to pay the bills and give you the financial freedom to do what you want outside of work. I'm now about to apply for a higher position w/in my company and I guess I'm afraid that If I do that and get the job, it means I'm stuck here and this will be my career. Not that it would be a bad thing, I'm just not sure if it's what I want. I struggle with whether or not to get a job I love doing and believe in or to get a job that's just ok but pays really good, unless you're one of the lucky ones that can find a job with both.

I'm not asking anyone to tell me what to do, believe me, I'm over that. I guess I'd just like to know are you doing something you love and are you happy with that choice; or are you doing something you sort of like and getting paid better for it and are you happy with that choice?

[WhiteRabbit96]

Oh man....do I stuggle with hating my job on a daily basis..
I'm been thinking a lot about what would be more fufilling, but averytime something seems like a good idea, just like you said the pay is not there.
I don't know how ppl just know what they want to do, or by some happenstance land a job that is exactly that.
You are not alone in this.

[-]

Not alone at all. I'm 30 and still haven't found a 'career.'

Am back on the job hunt now. I have a job, but I don't want to be in the place 10 years from now.

[webmistress]

I know exactly what you are talking about.
I have moved up through the ranks at my job from classroom aide-5 years ago, to being a very critical member of the IT department. I have loads more responsibility and am pretty much in a job that would be considered a "career".

I do not know if for the rest of my life I will still be at my current place of employment, althoguh I do know that I have o.k. pay, a fun job, paid vacations/school holidays, and paid for health insurance. Those are the reasons I stay, for now. But trust me if something better comes up I would leave. I think for some of us young people we feel as though we need to pick a career path and stay with it like our parents did. I believe this is no longer the case, if when I am 30 I decide I want to be a forset ranger, I think the oppurtunity for me to do so will still be available. For now I am happy but at least with me, the desire for new experiences runs deep and who knows where I will be in 5 years let alone 20 years...

[Fox]

Believe me, I'm with ya on that. Except I don't get paid well, as you know. I do however get full health benefits which is why I came back this year. That became especially necessary after needing 3 surgeries last year. (I am finally a woman! - ok, I'm kiddding........or am I? ) Anyway, I have no fucking clue what I'm doing with my life or where I'm headed. All I know is that I'm quitting my job in about a month, moving to Israel until at least September and then I have no idea what I'm doing. All I know is that I will be jobless, insuranceless (eek!) and about where I'll live......well, that's up in the air too.

So, you are most definitely not alone. You are just more set (for the moment) than I am.

[Fox]

Oh, and I just wanted to add that I'm pretty sure that's normal for people our age. We're still trying to figure who we're supposed to be and what we want to do. And I think those ideas or ideals keep changing. At least they do for me.

Ooh, ooh, cool quote (kinda contradicts what I said, but very cool:

"Life isn't about finding yourself, Life is about creating yourself."
~ George Bernard Shaw

Hmm....something to work on....

[webdominatrix]

Kata,

I have not worked for "the man" since last summer. I was miserable and hated my job. I got paid well, had insurance, job security(I was damn good at what I did), my own office, company paid cell phone, etc. Yet, I still wanted to pull an Office Space everyday I had to be there. It depressed me to think that this would be my job forever. I didn't realize that just because you're good at something, doen't mean that that's where your career lies. If that was case, I'd be givng blow jobs for $500 bucks a pop(pun intended)at the Bunny Ranch.

Today I go to school, help with production work on music videos and am currently making my first documentary film. I am broke alot, the hours are sporadic, and there is no guarantee of success. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I'm getting ready to go back to school to complete my bachelors in nursing, but I'm also looking to gain credits to earn a major in English Humanities and minor in Art History. Why? Cause I fucking can. Because those subject endlessly provide me with joy and interest.

Maybe somday you'll see a movie or a video that has my name on it. Maybe not, either way I'm doing what I love and leaving myself open to fall in love with something else, should it come along. You'll find your path. I think there is a stigma attached to adults taking a step back and saying "this is not where I want to be right now." Why are we pressured to know by eighteen or twenty or hell even twenty five what we want to do with the rest our lives? We haven't lived enough by then, in my opinion, to even know ourselves truly as a human being much less educate or gain work experience for something that may or may not hold my interest in ten years. I used to think I was a late bloomer, now I know that my brain just took it's time in deciding till I had a better understanding of who I am and the confidence to finally follow through on my dreams.

[-]

webdominatrix said:

I didn't relaize that just because you're good at something, doen't mean that that's where your career lies.

Right! I was SO good with computer stuffs. I had a 3.95 GPA and honors junk while in college. I had a full ride scholarship to my BS in Computer Sci/Math. Everyone (me included) thought I destined to a cushy job in the city. But you know what? I fucking hated it. I did. And maybe that's why I wasn't able to land a cushy job. I spent a year spinning my wheels trying to get meaningful employment.

Then I settled for any employment. And got hired here, at the wacky chemical company. Somehow I took on the jobs of all the people who left during the last year and a half. And God only knows how I ended up the chemist having only barely passed high school chemistry. But here I be. Mon thru Fri, playing online most of the time, playing with chemicals the rest. And the truth is, I don't like it. I don't hate it. But its unproductive. I have no advancement possibilities (2 owners + me=the entire company). I will never make enough money here to fufill my goals. So... I'm looking again....

[Kata6]

Hey all, thanks so much for all your input.

It's nice to know I'm not the only one dealing with stuff like this right now. I guess the only decision that I've made with this whole thing is that I am not making a decision right now, and that it's ok for me to do that.

[reno666]

Kata6,
check this out...i thought i had a my "job" that i would do for the rest of my life. NOT! what education i thought i had well, it wasn't shit! i could of worked for another treatmant center if i wanted to. that would of happened only if i started somking CRACK! the "cult" fucked that desire up good. SO, all i had was...me!
so i did what anyone would do, start in construction for a fortune 500 company in phx. az.. (LOL) one thing god blessed me with was half a brain and the gift of gab!
So, SALES SALES SALES is what i do best!
i didn't like the company i worked for nor the people there so i quit. i moved on to...SALES in construction AGAIN! moved here in *********** ** and started in...
pulling wire and installing sound systems in custom homes for a small company here in ********** **.
before that job i just had this feeling that i was NOT at where i should of been. i didn't hate any of those jobs BUT i didn't like them either. so one day i was watching this "do it yourself" thingy on "home theaters" and i said
"FUCK reno you could do that shit and it looks fucking FUN!". power tools, hammers (we don't use them but it sounded cool), speakers, amps, projectors etc..
i get to play with rich people's CASH? I can DO THAT!
so, i started at them BOTTOM! i didn't know shit, well kinda. playing music and setting up for shows helped a bit. to make a long story longer. i took a risk and bet the farm and won. i could of went back to school to study... i am glad i didn't. if i would of blown it i would just went on to the next thing. now i do what I LOVE to do and i will be buying the company over the next ten years because i am a bad mother fucker in my business. my boss knows i could split and work for someone else but he would rather make a bunch of cash and keep me then loose me and not make much at all. so it is very smart on his part to sell it to me over ten years and retire with a good bank account! i get what i want and he does too! my point is this, be true to yourself (i don't mean that in a "cult" way) and do what you need to.
i think at 26 yrs. old you have ALOT of time to get this one down!



reno