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Monday, June 24, 2013

What Do You Do When You Don't Know What To Do?

Let's pretend I have my life completely together and got my dream job after graduating university. What exactly would I be doing in this perfect world?

The answer: I have no freakin' clue.

When I was 8, I wanted to be a teacher. And then a teacher family friend of ours said "Don't be a teacher; do something that makes more money!" That quote has stuck with me ever since.

Then when I was 10 I wanted to be a photojournalist. That was my absolute dream job! That is, until high school when I took my first media/journalism class and decided I actually hated it.

For the rest of my high school years, I was convinced I was going to be a screen writer. Yep, I loved writing and decided I could write movies. Then I got to college and realized I was no where near competitive enough for the industry.

So all of that being said, here I am in my twenties with a degree in psychology/sociology.

Oh yes, because that makes sense!

I have a job, I'm thankful for my job, and I like having a job (read: I like having a paycheck and a Mon-Fri schedule). 

But where is that "dream job"? Actually, what is my "dream job"?

What exactly do you do when you don't know what to do? Is it doing the whole "I'm working in an office now, but I don't want to do it for the rest of my life" thing? Because if that's what you do, I'm nailing that perfectly!

Don't get me wrong, I love where I am in my life. I love living with Alex in England. I love the freedom we have now to do whatever we want. However, I'd really like to wake up 5 days a week and not go "ugh... Is it 5:30 yet?"

I know success comes from those who work hard, and I'm not asking to be handed something to make my life easier. Trust me, I'm no stranger to hard work. I'd just like to know what I'm working hard towards at this point.

Does that make sense?



Anyone else have "I'm clueless in my 20s" syndrome, or has anyone escaped this? How do/did you cope?

4 comments:

  1. I'm right there with you. At least you've finished school, I haven't and feel woefully unprepared for anything. At the same time, I have no idea what to do about a career. Don't feel bad- I'm in the same boat.

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  2. Definitely know what you mean. I got my degree in English Lit cause I thought it'd be more practical that a degree in theatre, and because I liked to read. Nobody tells you that you can't actually do anything with an English Lit degree. Lame. Now I'm off to grad school for acting. Looking down the road of never having much money, but at least I like the path in front of me. Many years of working in an office has definitely shown me that I'm happier not in an office...But that's all I have going for me at the moment. Wanna write, but also not super competitive either. Sigh. Wish somebody would just pay me to read what I want and perform what I want. Need to get on winning the lotto one of these days...

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  3. I have met so many expats in Japan who have showed me that you don't have to have your life planned out (or even have started on your career path) at 22. Some of them have had what they thought was their dream job (one was an animator for My Little Pony), but opted to leave it and start over in Japan in their late 20's/early 30's. I guess the only way to "escape the syndrome" is to get lucky on your first job and find you love it/ find that the money pays well enough that it's worth to stay in it. Teaching ESL is not my dream job either, but it is a learning experience that I'm happy to have tried to see it is not a fit for me! Good luck xx

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  4. Ha, ha, well, I'm 37, and I'm exactly there - no idea what my future will bring and when (if) I find my perfect job.
    When I was 20 and had this crisis I just quit university, left home and joined Hare Krishna monastery;) But I know that's extreme reaction to 20's crisis.
    Sometimes I'm wandering if life isn't more about seeking then finding (though I would like to be wrong and finally find "that" thing.
    Good luck!

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