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Community => General Chat => Topic started by: JM on February 18, 2009, 06:52:13 PM

Title: When, if ever...
Post by: JM on February 18, 2009, 06:52:13 PM
...did you find out what you wanted to do with your life?

Did you know from an early age? Did you find it out because of some major event? Or are you still trying to figure it out?

I'm still trying to figure that one out. (Not really in any rush.) Just wondering how it goes for other peeps. :]
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: Miluette on February 18, 2009, 09:16:15 PM
I think it was ever-present in my being.

Well, I didn't ever have some kind of revelation dawn on me. But I feel like I know. I know quite precisely, really.
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: griever on February 18, 2009, 11:28:11 PM
Still trying to figure that one out but I think I have a better idea of it now.
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: fesworks on February 19, 2009, 02:39:31 AM
I think I know what I want... but with the economy... I don;t think I can anymore... I'd need more schooling.. and even then, the already, highly competitive job market for working in wildlife parks, are going to be much fewer in available job numbers....

*shrug*

Other than that, I'm still trying to figure out my "calling" as far as a career goes.
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: Databits on February 19, 2009, 03:00:14 AM
I'm already working in the generalized field I want to be in, but not under the specific focus that I'd prefer. :P
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: Xepher on February 19, 2009, 03:39:25 PM
Heheh... that question has been of nearly constant pondering to me for the past 10 years or more. I mean it, on an average, I think "what do I want to do with my life?" every 4 hours I'm awake. It's the single most prevalent topic in any of my conversations. Problem is, I've gone to college, gotten a degree that I don't use, worked in various things I don't like, and I get paid really well doing a job that I'm really good at, but bores me to tears. I honestly do the screaming thing at the start of this commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W3hzJNSkqs

I have, in that time, learned some things about myself that may help me find what I want to do eventually though. Key among those is that money alone is never enough for me, but I do need to be paid enough to live comfortably. I need a job where I can be creative, and feel like I'm accomplishing things. My current job feels like playing an MMO... the endless treadmill of leveling up, even though every level looks the same. I also realize I need a job that lets me work on my own schedule, because I just can't fit myself into a 24-hour day/night cycle, and having to go to work at the same time each day is painful. The problem is that I know of no actual job which fulfills all those requirements, so when people ask me what I want to do... I don't know, I just know it's not anything I've tried so far.


So yeah, you're not the only one still trying to figure things out. I'll be 28 this year, and still no closer to an answer than I was when I was 16.
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: JM on February 19, 2009, 04:26:16 PM
I've been the type that gets really into something, but a few months later it does nothing but bore me.

Since I'm undeclared, I'm taking all the general education classes and I like all of them. But I don't like any one in particular. There's no class that I'm truly happy with. I like natural science, politics, history, art, information technology... pretty much everything.

I just have an issue of finding something and sticking with it for more than a couple months. :\
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: Miluette on February 20, 2009, 02:01:13 AM
Quote from: Xepher on February 19, 2009, 03:39:25 PM
I have, in that time, learned some things about myself that may help me find what I want to do eventually though. Key among those is that money alone is never enough for me, but I do need to be paid enough to live comfortably. I need a job where I can be creative, and feel like I'm accomplishing things. My current job feels like playing an MMO... the endless treadmill of leveling up, even though every level looks the same. I also realize I need a job that lets me work on my own schedule, because I just can't fit myself into a 24-hour day/night cycle, and having to go to work at the same time each day is painful. The problem is that I know of no actual job which fulfills all those requirements, so when people ask me what I want to do... I don't know, I just know it's not anything I've tried so far.


I'm kinda like that, too. The day-night cycle of jobness... I like consistency, but it would become monotonous. With the kind of creative field I'm interested in, my job should also be living, breathing, flexible! But no, wanting a job in something creative that isn't web design right now is probably insane. *weeps*

All I want is an in-house illustration job, but no, you need "experience" already. Where do I get mine, huh?!
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: griever on February 20, 2009, 12:19:56 PM
Quote from: JM on February 19, 2009, 04:26:16 PMI just have an issue of finding something and sticking with it for more than a couple months. :\
I'm that way too.  In college, it was actually the professors that helped me make up my mind.  I originally thought I'd be looking at anthropology or computer science, but got into psych and Japanese because of 2 professors.  They were very awesome, influential people who made learning in these subjects so much more fascinating than anything else.
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: sagebrush on February 20, 2009, 05:51:38 PM
If college were free, I'd have a degree in everything.  :/
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: JM on February 20, 2009, 08:10:49 PM
Quote from: sagebrush on February 20, 2009, 05:51:38 PM
If college were free, I'd have a degree in everything.  :/

Hell yes! I want to get a minor in everything. I don't need a major.
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: fesworks on February 20, 2009, 08:15:00 PM
Quote from: sagebrush on February 20, 2009, 05:51:38 PM
If college were free, I'd have a degree in everything.  :/

If it were free, I'd take my time :P
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: Miluette on February 21, 2009, 04:36:45 AM
Quote from: sagebrush on February 20, 2009, 05:51:38 PM
If college were free, I'd have a degree in everything.  :/

Ohhh yeah. I'd go back, take Japanese, the life drawing classes I missed due to time conflicts, do some Biology, anthropology, maybe special illustration courses...

I'd be a scholar for life!
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: JM on February 23, 2009, 01:15:42 AM
Come to think of it, I'd probably just never leave college.
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: sagebrush on March 02, 2009, 01:04:58 AM
My latest idea for "oh that seems like it could be my life path" is going back to school for a B.A. in Anthropology with a focus in Native American studies.  I have absolutely no idea how to justify doing it, though, from a financial perspective.  What I'd want to do would be in research and writing books, including children's books and comics, and building databases for translation and folk remedies and such.  That means I wouldn't be any better off than I am now, financially, since I'm not going to be working for some big corporation doing that.  I'd either be relying on grants or trying desperately to sell books.  My best bet would be getting hired by a university as staff, but since I suck at public speaking, I wouldn't particularly want to teach. 

But I could also get a Masters of Library Science or an A.A.S. in Computer Programming/Networks/Web Design/Security.

So far I already have half a B.A. in Architecture, a completed B.S. in Civil Engineering, an abandoned M.S. in same, and about a year in the US Army in training as a Military Intelligence Specialist (got out on medical).  Successful follow through on a career is not my friend, apparently.

I'm in a major "I don't know what the hell to do" rut.
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: JM on March 02, 2009, 01:23:07 AM
I've been looking at majors at schools back in Hawaii, where I grew up, and they appeal to me more than the ones that are the college I'm at right now. Things that deal with tropical environments and animals, mostly.

But since I really like my school right now (George Mason University), I don't want to transfer. And I would really miss my friends.

I think I'll just do a B.S. in Biology here (with a concentration in Environment and Conservation), and then go back to Hawaii to get my MS in Marine Biology or something.
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: Xepher on March 02, 2009, 03:14:47 PM
In college (when we were underage still) we used to joke "I'm majoring in liberal arts with a minor in possession." Eight years hence, and I'm still not any closer to a real answer. If I do go back, I'm betting it'll still be liberal arts of one kind or another.

"Liberal Arts: We do less each day than most people do by 8am." :-P
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: Pedes on March 25, 2009, 10:27:43 PM
Huh, that is a good question... I'm 24 ands till unsure.
I started university of technology in Electric Engineering which would give me a nice job probably, but I felt like I was dying inside and run away. Then I started ethnolingustics which basically doesn't make me anyone, even though we learn a lot. I'd like to do something creative, connected with art and writing and/or communication. I'd love to whore myself to advertising for a while, but it's not easy to get there. I'd love to make my living by creative writing or art (illustration, storyboards, concept art etc.) But it requires talent and skills. Don't know about the talent, but I'm trying to polish my skills :D Still I got into writing and art at the end of high school and I'm self-taught mostly so what chances do I have? D:
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: Miluette on March 28, 2009, 08:52:34 AM
You have plenty of chances, Pedes!

...I say that, and yet not a one of my friends from college got a design job or anything near what they expected after graduation. D:
Title: Re: When, if ever...
Post by: Miluette on May 11, 2009, 09:02:39 AM
Haha it's almost hard to tell if this person is a spammer.