Help me decide what to do with my life...

[thepd7]

You have two options:

1. Take the track in your OP, gut it out, make enough and save enough to have your job be what you love eventually.

2. Do like most people and don't let your job define who you are. Use your job as a means, not as an end. I feel very similar to you (EE, got an offer thursday still contemplating it). Thing is I can find a niche in my job and as long as I have a life outside of work to look forward to then I can work hard knowing that I must endure 40 hours a week of something I don't like to spend the other 168 hours in a nice house with my family and enjoying all sorts of hobbies.


I can't decide if you are a passionate person or a spoiled brat. I was talking to my grandmother today about my offer and she chided me a little for telling her I was going to negotiate salary even though the company made me a generous offer. I realized how much our generation asks for now.

It seems like you think you DESERVE to be doing something that makes you happy ALL the time. You don't.

In reality, if you are on the fast track to 6 digits, then you should be making $50k-$60k. If you are 24 there is no way you should be spending more than half of that. Therefore, save up for a year and you should have a year's worth of money to live off. Then go find your passion. You might not live comfortably, but you will be able to live.


Oh and if you want to teach: get an emergency teaching certificate (not sure if they have this everywhere but they do in TX) which is like 3 months and then you can teach, normally within your major but maybe general stuff. You can make plenty enough to live off teaching, unless of course money and your toys are really important to you, in which case you would be a massive hypocrite becaues the OP states you are all about being happy.


Whatever happens, best of luck and I hope that you find your place.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: bonkers325

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Sounds like you need to make some new friends and enjoy your life outside of work.

sounds like you need to read the post and not respond based on the topic title



OP: stick with your job until you are married and have ALL debts paid off. build yourself a foundation to start from and your dreams will be easier to get off the ground. nothing ruins dreams more than realizing that u cant afford them!

I did but obviously you didn't read the whole thread and his posts about not having anybody to do stuff with b/c his girlfriend is busy studying, work friends are married and college friends have moved away. Next time, read more than just the OP and thread title.

And suggesting that he stick with his job til he gets married has to be the stupidest comment so far in this thread.

 

[Evander]

I very much sympathize with your current position, the plan you laid out sounds like a good one. Couple of things to note - I believe if you get a masters degree that will be sufficient to teach at US community college or at some foreign countries' universities. (you mentioned an interest in teaching)

If you grind it out for a couple years and save then quit, you may be able to live in SE Asia for a long time w/o working (or possibly part time) due its low cost of living, give you time to relax and reflect.

These books are often recommended for people looking for their true calling:
What Color is Your Parachute - N. Bolles
I could Do Anything if I knew What it Was - B. Sher

 

[Capt Caveman]

Another book I would recommend is Do What You Are : Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: dighn
I'm having sort of the same problem. I went through engineering and am now working a engineering job. I started becoming a little depressed about it even a couple of years before graduation. Engineering wasn't my first choice; physics was. I went into engineering partly because it was more likely to get a good paying job, and due to some parental pressure. I'm beginning to consider going back to school at least part time and going down the road I originally wanted to. Maybe it's crazy, but I feel dead too often these days.

Are you me, posting from the future?

I would like (I think) to learn about nuclear physics, theoretical physics, astrophysics, or quantum physics. But I'd also probably want to get a Master's or Doctoral degree in one of them. That'd mean lots and lots of time spent in college. I spent 2 years at a community college for networking, and I'm now into my third year (for a 4 year degree) at a university for mechanical engineering technology. I'm sick of college. I'm sick of the expense, I'm sick of not having good income. Impatience was part of what steered me toward this field of engineering, impatience about wanting a job, and the stability one can bring.

But hey, Einstein did some work on his general relativity theory while he had his patent clerk job.

 

[Jschmuck2]

I have a degree in Theatre. I think I'm the only person in or around these boards with a similar degree. I can honestly say that if I were stuck in some awful, awful, awful 9-5 where I had to wear a suit and tie or even come near a cubicle, I'd scream. I don't know how people do that all day long.

Best of luck with your situation - feel free to PM me if you're interested in what I do all day

 

[Tiamat]

Can you get your work to pay for random night classes? I find that taking random technical elective courses while doing the day-to day crap helps mix it up a bit.

 

[Whisper]

I'm not sure what others have said so far in this thread, but this has likely been mentioned already: writing is something that can be done in conjunction with just about any "normal" 40-hour/week job out there. Take a few creative writing and literature courses, set aside some time everyday for yourself, and have at it.

 

[Slew Foot]

Passion dont pay the bills. 100K/yr puts you in the upper echelon of income in the US. Do you think you can make anywhere near that writing or such?

 

[Rogodin2]

You need some sort of epiphany. You've been blessed with a 'sweet life'. What you've not been given is the empirical foundation of your relationship to the earth and the structure that supports your way of life.

Go out into the wilderness and eat lcoust.

Rogo

 

[TehMac]

I think you have a lot of potential for all do. I'd suggest go out and see what job offerings there. Perhaps becoming a game designer?

 

[Ozoned]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
But I'm only 24 and I can't live the rest of my life in an office. I just can't.

Go spend a couple of years with the rainbow commune family or live on the streets for a couple of years before you decide what you just can't do.

 

[alien42]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Passion dont pay the bills. 100K/yr puts you in the upper echelon of income in the US. Do you think you can make anywhere near that writing or such?

the successful people who truly enjoy what they do and are able to profit doing so know all about passion.

 

[sandorski]

Two words: Religious Cult

 

[Jedi Mike]

I'm also 24 and am really confused. Graduated with a bachelors in journalism, but my area is slim with positions. I can't move out from home since I have school loans to pay. I love to write as well, and it is my passion.

The only downside is entry-level work will probably consist of topics I wouldn't enjoy covering. I know you have to start somewhere, but I strive higher and want to work in news that I enjoy.

We'll see how it pans out.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Passion dont pay the bills. 100K/yr puts you in the upper echelon of income in the US. Do you think you can make anywhere near that writing or such?

Obviously not. Good thing life's not about money.

Passion may not pay the bills, but pretty much any job at all, will if your tastes aren't too expensive.

OP: Work a couple years, and save, save, save.

Spend a year travelling, writing, whatever. Do it on the CHEAP. Forgo luxuries. You can travel most places on $20-30 a day. Sometimes less. Try volunteering at different places fora while.

Also: The 20s are usually a depressing time when you're trying to figure out what to do with your life. I'm there too. Usually you end up doing something completely unlike whatever you might have anticipated.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Maybe it is time to take a trip & see how rest of the people on this planet live. Find out why they are happy with little or no worldly possession.

[add]

I'm almost 40 year old and a happy plumber apprentice. Quit my lifeless database/network security admin job in my mid 30s to work as a mechanical plumber.

<-- Industrial design deg, cs deg, and currently getting plumbing, gas, and refrigeration cert.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Passion dont pay the bills. 100K/yr puts you in the upper echelon of income in the US. Do you think you can make anywhere near that writing or such?

Obviously not. Good thing life's not about money.

Passion may not pay the bills, but pretty much any job at all, will if your tastes aren't too expensive.

OP: Work a couple years, and save, save, save.

Spend a year travelling, writing, whatever. Do it on the CHEAP. Forgo luxuries. You can travel most places on $20-30 a day. Sometimes less. Try volunteering at different places fora while.

Also: The 20s are usually a depressing time when you're trying to figure out what to do with your life. I'm there too. Usually you end up doing something completely unlike whatever you might have anticipated.

Yeah but too bad his GF is in school. Maybe resign when she finishes?

 

[konakona]

I wonder if writing, drawing professionally with all the financial and other inter-people pressure is really worth it?
Some people thrive under stress I suppose, so it depends. I know I don't, and like you I have found out I really lack any kind of passion for engineering.
Luckily, I don't hate it either, and imagine it would be the lesser of the evils compared to many other unattractive jobs out there.

I truly believe hobby is where life is at, but everyone is free to disagree. To each his own, YMMV.

EDIT: oh yeah btw, you and I are different after all. I totally dont mind being a corporate slave, as long as I can expect to take off at 5 every day and work involves doing your part in your cubicle (less stressful than being a manager etc.). To me a job is a job, one type or another; being professional about my work is about the most I could care about it I guess..

 

[Koing]

OP is your gf no enough to keep you happy? Would she be willing to pay most of the bills with her degree so that your happy? If so, save hard for 2-3-4yrs and see if that can work.

Koing

 

[Hyperblaze]

Originally posted by: Manuwell
At least, you know what you don't like !

But do you think it's good to have a job wich is your passion too ? That will mean that in the long term, you will not make the difference anymore between your job and your passion and, maybe, one will take the other over and you will miss something.

I see nothing wrong with having a job which is one of your passions.

In fact, that's one of the positions I'm in right now.

It's like getting up, going to have fun, and coming back home. Every two weeks you get a paycheck for having fun. Is that really wrong?

Also, having a job which is one of your passions allows you to have even more enthusiam at it, which probably gives you more motivation to get your tasks done even better.

Again, what's wrong with that?

If I cannot mistake the difference between my job and my passion anymore, so what?

Not everyone needs to hate their jobs you know.

 

[jjzelinski]

I've found that good, old-fashioned obligation isn't such a bad thing. In my case I started a family a little earlier than I had anticipated, so my plans, as tentative and unfocused as they were, were shifted in a direction that I hadn't planned on. What I've learned to do is work with what life gives me. I put as much effort as I can into whatever I do, try to influence my life's path where I can, and make the most out of the cards I'm dealt when I can't influence them. However, above all I try to keep a good attitude and recognize all the positivity life has to offer. This is easier said than done though, and takes a concious effort at all times. With practice I think I've become a much happier, satisfied person and I predict I will stay that way as long as I put the effort out.

I know this may sound corny, and I admit at times I fail miserably, but it IS possible.

You know someone has a quote from Ghandi in there sig on these forums that states: "You must be the change you seek in the world." I find that brilliant.

 

[FoBoT]

forget all that crap, life is about serving the corporate "man"
you'll get used to your cube in a few more years and forget all that hippie crap

 

[ProfJohn]

Why not go back to school part time and get an advance degree in English or Math and teach at a college level?

With a masters you can teach at most community colleges AND you don?t have to do research or have any pressure to get your work published. Just stand in front of classroom and talk about one of your passions. What could be better?

 

[JoeKing]

Work to live don't live to work.


It's rare for someone to love what they do for a living. A job's a job. You do it to make money so on the weekends/free time you can afford to do what you want.