Hi, I'm a 25(f) . I started stripping when I was 18 because I had a difficult upbringing (to put it simply). It was the best way I knew to survive at the time.
When I was 22, I met my boyfriend. While he never loved the fact that I danced, the bigger reason I eventually stopped was because the job was really starting to take a toll on my mental health. I left the industry at 23.
My boyfriend has a good job, and I'm fortunate that I don't have to work if I don't want to. But lately I've realized that I do want something for myself. I want to build a stable adult life, have a career I'm proud of, and maybe one day have a family. I'd love to be able to give myself, and maybe someday a future child, the kind of stability and opportunities that I never had growing up.
The reason I'm sharing all of this is because I'm seriously thinking about enrolling in community college, but I honestly have no idea what to pursue. I never really had what I'd consider a "normal" life until I met my boyfriend, so I never imagined college or a traditional career was something that was even possible for me. Now that it actually is, I'm realizing I have no idea where to start.
Has anyone else gone back to school in their mid 20s after having a completely different life? How did you figure out what you wanted to do? I'd really appreciate hearing your experiences or any advice.

Basically the title. Had a rough childhood, resulted in serious health issues and, frankly, years of me only able to do the bare minimum. Couldn’t hold a job long term, so just did odd jobs for much of my adulthood.

Before things got too bad, I was a CNA. Then a shift leader at a gas station. Then a waitress. Then fast food. Then just odd jobs (DoorDash, etc) when my physical and mental health got bad. And that’s where I’m at now.

My health is finally better and I am ready to do something with my life. But what? It feels like I’m so far behind and I have huge gaps in my resume so idk what to even do.

I was a straight A student in school. I learn quickly. I am not much of an extrovert, though. I am autistic and while I like people, I also like my space.

I want to do something more than delivering pizzas and walking people’s dogs. Not to talk down on people who do those jobs. Someone has to do it, but I am unfulfilled doing it.

Any ideas? I toy with the idea of going back to school, but I almost feel like it’s just way too late, and I worry about going in substantial debt only to not make enough to pay it back, anyway. I don’t really have a “passion.”

I just turned 40, haven’t worked in 4 years, and honestly feel like my life is starting over. All my kids are out of the house, and my husband and I are downsizing and planning to travel. I’m excited, but it’s also scary because being a mom is all I’ve really known for most of my life. Now I’m trying to figure out who I am outside of being a mom and what this next chapter looks like for me.

Anyone else start over at 40? How did you find yourself again?

Hi all,

I'm new to this community, but after reading some posts I feel like maybe I've found a virtual home.

Some important information- I'm almost 30, and I don't have a lot to show for it. I often wish I was a lot younger, maybe 18-20, because it would be easier to justify my current life.

I have no dating/relationship experience. I live at home with my parents. I can drive, but I don't know how far and the law won't let me try. Never been to college. I work maybe 15 hours a week on a good week, often less. Most of my time is spent sleeping or on the internet.

I hit the mental health jackpot- anxiety-depression-OCD- when I was 18 followed by mental health bingo- ADHD-Anxiety-Depression-OCD-ED- about a year ago. I imagine there's a spiderweb in my brain with all sorts of tangles and threads and it's all interconnected and if I disturb one part of the web the spider makes a new one that's even stronger.

My dream is to have a partner and a family and my own place. I'd like to be a writer. But I wouldn't exactly say I want those things, because every single aspect of every single thing I mentioned terrifies me for a whole host of reasons. I'm worried a partner will cheat on me and I won't be able to cope with that. I'm worried a partner will get an illness and I won't be able to cope with that. I'm worried there will be a natural disaster and my life will be upended. I'm worried I'll suffer severe brain damage and lose everything but not be aware of that. I could fill many college essays with all of the many worries I have about everything I mentioned- (I'm guessing, I've never been to or applied to college.)

I also have an internet addiction which I feel uncomfortable talking about, which in itself probably gives some idea what it is.

I can come up with many reasons and excuses for why I should do nothing and not try. I have yet to find anything that can overpower the spider in my brain. But I haven't spent much time talking to other people who might also find themselves stuck, so that gives me hope. I haven't given up yet, but I don't know how to move forward. Humor is one of my primary coping tools, but I am miserable when I'm not engaging in my addiction or shopping or doing some other activity that jacks up my dopamine.

A typical non work day in my life is sleep until about 9:30-10:30PM, eat breakfast, think about projects I might want to do, don't do them, go back to sleep, internet until about 4:00-5:00PM, take a nap, get up around maybe 9-10PM, eat dinner by 2am, take medications (I take medication every night, although sometimes at different times) more internet, sleep. I spend most of the day in bed and shower every couple of days. I dread going to sleep at night because I could wake up to an unimaginable hell. I don't shower or brush my teeth as often as I should.

I talked about a lot of the issues I've faced, but there are good things too. I've never been financially insecure. My parents have been incredibly supportive. I've had access to great treatment programs and specialists. I don't have a lot of friends, but I have a couple. And even though I don't work many hours, I have a job.

I alternate between feeling guilty about that, like I've wasted that, and taking that as proof that I've exhausted all options and I'm treatment resistant and simply too broken to lead a normal life. I'm my own worst enemy and I don't know how to defeat the part of me that is keeping me stuck.

whether that be physics, math, writing or any sort of passion...I am terrible at it. I know you are going to say "just practice" but even with practice I am behind those who are naturally great. I got a 68 on my first attempt in physics and 70s in mathematics. I tried, I really tried. Yet here I am, aimless and unsure of what my passion even truly is. I wish i was someone who was born with a natural talent or ability but I suck at everything I do. I used to be a fast learner, I am not anymore, I used to write very well, and cannot anymore. I want to give up because what is the point if I am just going to get every problem wrong. I am super stressed out because I have a calc 1 exam.. it's honestly laughable but I am struggling with the most basic concepts. I hate everything, I hate myself the most for being so stupid and inadequate. I study, it's not like I don't but I have seen individuals hardly study as much as me and still get better grades. I will never be good at physics or math so it's probably better to settle for a field in which I actually make money despite being miserable.

I just can’t. I don’t know what to do with my life. I thought I’d figure it out by now. I can’t work my desk job much longer. I’ve been here 4 years and it is draining me. I want to make money being creative some how, I want to write a book maybe, idk anything. I hate working an 8-5. I can’t do it, thinking harder isn’t helping me figure it out either.

What has helped you with your quarter life crisis

Hey everyone,
I’m 24 and currently work in a warehouse. Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about changing careers for personal reasons.

I’ve always liked technology, especially computers, gaming consoles, troubleshooting, and just figuring out how things work. I also enjoy cleaning, maintaining, and repairing electronics, which is why I’ve been looking into IT and computer repair.

The thing is, I don’t have a college degree, and sometimes I wonder if I’m being realistic or just chasing something that isn’t meant for me. I see people with degrees, certifications, and years of experience, and it makes me question whether I’m too late to get started.

For those of you who work in IT or tech:
How did you get started?

Do you think it’s realistic to build a career without a degree?

Can someone make a decent living starting with basic IT knowledge and certifications?

If you were interested in computers, consoles, and electronics repair, what path would you recommend?

I’d appreciate any honest advice, especially from people who started from scratch or switched careers later on.

I’m looking for honest, direct feedback. If you think I’m being unrealistic, please tell me why. I’d rather hear the truth than false encouragement. I’m here to learn.

Thx 🙏

I’m curious how many people here are working in careers they never actually planned for.
Was it something you stumbled into because you needed a job? A random opportunity? A complete career change?
What made you stay?
I’m asking because it feels like there’s so much pressure to find the “perfect” path early, but most people I’ve met seem to have found their direction by trying things rather than planning everything.
I’d love to hear your story and what advice you’d give to someone who’s still figuring it out.

​

I'm 22, recently graduated in engineering, and my graduation is in a few weeks. Instead of feeling excited, I just feel... lost.

When I was in high school, I wanted to become a lawyer. I loved subjects like social studies, enjoyed debating, and felt like that path suited my personality.

But my parents strongly encouraged me to choose science because they believed it offered better career opportunities. They told me that even if I didn't like it, I could always switch later.

So I listened.

I joined a science college that I never really wanted to attend. I adjusted, made a few friends, and just kept going.

Then came engineering. I had good grades, so everyone assumed engineering was the obvious next step. Again, I went with it. I kept telling myself, "It's okay. You can always do your master's in something you actually want."

Now I've completed engineering and I'm about to start a Master's in Computer Science.

The problem is... I don't even know if this is what I want.

I feel like I've spent years just going with the flow, making decisions based on what seemed practical or what others expected from me. I don't regret studying, but I honestly don't know who I am outside of following the next step.

My personal life hasn't helped either. I've grown up with a lot of family conflict, and I think it's affected the kind of relationships I end up in. I've had a few serious relationships and situationships, and I've realized I've almost never been single. Every time one connection ends, another somehow begins. That's another pattern I'm trying to break.

Career-wise, I'm just as confused.

I don't have a job yet. I'm about to begin my master's, but I don't know if I'm passionate about computer science or if I'm just continuing because I don't know what else to do.

The one thing I do know is that I don't like staying stagnant. Even if I'm confused, I keep moving forward because standing still scares me more than trying something new.

Has anyone else felt like they've spent years living according to other people's expectations and then suddenly realized they have no idea what they actually want?

How did you figure it out? Did you ever find your own path after feeling this lost?

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who've been in a similar situation. I could use some perspective right now.

hi friends! my wife and i are moving to canada from the states for my masters program. i’m super excited about my program and it starts september 1st! we did however make a major mistake in our research and we thought that since we have our visas and we are legally allowed to move into our apartment in vancouver bc that we would be able to work as well… unfortunately we have to wait until september first when my classes start to be able to work on our visas. we are considering trying to find a shitty job in the mean time over the border in Blaine WA… but other than that, what should we do with our free time? i adore my wife and im so excited to get some quality time together, but both of us have been working since we were 16 and we don’t know how to have free time. any suggestions would be so amazing!
here are some of things are are thinking about:
- joining a rec softball team (we are the lesbian stereotype)
- gardening (our unit has a patio with garden beds)
- going to the aquarium
- getting a shitty job in blaine for a month
- reading a ton of books
-volunteer work of any kind
-exploring the city and getting a handle on the public transport

thank you so much for your help <3

Do you commit to the career that you built and made a name for yourself out of ? How do you process that ?learning that the unbelievable skill you discovered you always had that you thought was shameful was actually the opposite and more valuable then the career you chose.

feel like I’m still trying to figure things out while everyone else seems to have a plan.
If you’ve been in that position, what helped you find your direction?
I’d love to hear your story or the advice you wish someone had given you back then.

Hi everyone,

I’m a 31-year-old immigrant woman living in Milan. I’m at a point in my life where I feel a strong need to support another woman, share what I’ve learned and contribute to someone’s journey.

This is not therapy or professional coaching. I would simply like to be there for someone who feels lost, lonely or overwhelmed-to listen, encourage her and check in regularly.

I feel I need this connection too. Maybe we can bring something meaningful into each other’s lives, with me taking a gentle mentoring role.

If this resonates with you, send me a message and tell me a little about yourself.

Thank you

Yana

19 (M)
dropped out of college and have been working dead end jobs since 17 and feeling like im letting my parents down. I see all my friends are doing well whilst I’m stuck behind. I want to get ahead in life but i don’t know how to be all i have are GCSEs and no other qualifications and feel like I’ll be stuck in this position forever. If anyone has been in my position before and could give me some advice it would be really appreciated.

I’m a 35-year-old man in the U.S., and for the last three years, I’ve been drifting in a void. I feel no progress, personally or professionally, just a crushing sense of being stuck and unhappy. I often see myself as that 15-year old teenager who was inexorably confused about the world and his place in it.

Six years ago, I moved to my dream city to start over. Then the pandemic hit, and whatever momentum I had vanished but I remained.

Despite that I feel profoundly lonely, unfulfilled, and depressed about the present and future. I’ve never found a partner and no longer have friends in this city. I’ve always struggled with dating and making friends. I feel extraordinarily insecure about my struggles to find community and companionship at my age.

As an introverted + shy human it’s always been challenging to connect with others. It feels disadvantageous to possess these traits but it’s who I am. Self-help books and therapy have never been particularly helpful in this regard.

My corporate 9-5 is a soul-sucking necessity. The prospect of doing this for another 35 years fills me with a cold, irrational fury. I have zero ambition because the entire "career" game feels performative, toxic, and utterly meaningless. I feel extreme envy but also pity for those who intuitively accept that the only way out of the game is to play it and hope to win. Good luck.

Everyone talks about finding passion or purpose, but I’ve looked everywhere and found nothing. There is no “North Star” for me.

I might sound like a curmudgeon, but I strive to be kind to those around me. People I interact with may describe me as kind, polite, and sociable. People who know me better might say I’m grounded, thoughtful, and caring. And still I am so alone.

My greatest fear is waking up at 50, still in this exact spot, still alone, with a lifetime of nothing to show for it. I don't believe in myself or my ability to change things anymore.

At the same time, I’m fortunate and grateful for what I do have: I live in a relatively safe country even though it’s currently run by a bunch of racist grifting troglodytes. I have some friends and acquaintances who I see every couple of months and connect with digitally almost daily, but they’re not in the city that I’ve made my home. I have my health, a job, and a roof over my head. I’m downright fortunate. And still there’s this gargantuan black hole in my life: profound loneliness and a lack of purpose. I feel extreme guilt about how good of a hand I’ve been dealt and how I’ve squandered it.

I’ve come to believe that I can't reason my way out of this hole. Every potential solution feels like a lie I tell myself before I inevitably give up or come up with an excuse for. Most things feel fake, forced and trite these days. Authenticity is my most important value.

I’m hoping to hear from those who have been in a similar situation and you came out of it.

Hi everyone I (25M) recently graduated from university and facing the important decision of choosing a career. I have two paths: one is the family business path in which there are hurdles with my father (abusive and short tempered; lashes out; have been hurt multiple times from him) and the second path is through a job. The business path doesnt automatically promise success (big money) as I will have to work towards creating business and new clients. Along with that taking up responsibility for running the whole house and other responsibilities. This one offers limited freedom and big money if I am successful. The job path offers quick financial independency and freedom but obviously not too much financial leverage. There is a lot of money that I will have to start making through side hustles to survive and thrive in this economy. Plus the dread of a 9-5. This path promises small money, more freedom but not the emotional hurt that I will get by being with my father.

In both of this, I am offered something that I value and something that I dont. I have thought about what I value more. And I am currently stuck at this point. The thing is I have always valued my mental health more and avoided emotional hurt even over money. I wont be in a job that drains me neither in a business that drains me. But the thing is there is an underlying need for an excessive amount of money. Like having the kind of money that allows me to be a bit relaxed rather than living marginally through a monthly pay check. So this is what I an stuck at. Choosing between ownership under my father’s business and money vs limited money and freedom. I would appreciate if someone can give their own opinion or advice as to what I should do. Thanks.

Im so exhausted. Ive been (basically) unemployed Since November of Last Year. “Basically” because I take art comissions from friends when they pop up. I was a barista / management at a coffee shop that unfortunately went out of business. That sucked, but i think it sucks even more that I cant find anything now. My main question before I dive into my personal life; how the fuck do I not give up and stay positive. Literally.

I have an Arts Degree. I love my Arts Degree. I love art. I would rather cut off my own hands before I give up entirely. I don’t give a fuck about anyone that may think it’s a throw away degree; because chances are if you think that, youll think what I want to do in life is stupid because AI exists. Speaking of that; right now with the AI boom I feel so incredibly stuck and fucked. I Graduated in 2019. In a time where we were told ai is terrible, cheating, “the same as using wikipedia as a source”. Now its used everywhere. Every kid uses it. Job recruiters don’t read resumes anymore, they have a fucking robot that reads it, and tells them what to think about a resume.

Its so incredibly disheartening to try and stay positive about finding a job of any kind now is so hard. At the end of the day, Id love to tattoo and I know thats a long uphill climb. Ive been building and perfecting my portfolio for about 2 years, drawing seriously for about 7 years. Ive applied for everything that can make me money (9-5 job) and i mean everything. Pest control. Retail. Janitorial. Barista. Bar-back. Amazon. Costco. Target! Walmart!! By fat the Pest Control interview was the weirdest one; but I digress.

How in the world am I actually supposed to stay positive? Im just genuinely looking for a mindset change and a reminder that im not alone maybe? Or maybe not alone in the fact today was my breaking point where ive just been screaming, and crying wondering what the fuck is going on?

26f I went to college and grad school and became a PA and felt like I had everything figured out. But, these days I feel so lost and I’m not sure what the issue is. On paper everything seems good, I have this professional degree, and a good job, supportive family for the most part, and 1 close friend nearby and few good friends in other states but over the past few months I feel like I’m on a downward spiral. When I first started my job about a year ago for the first 6 months I was doing great and really enjoyed it, but then I had to take a 3 month break for my mental health and since then it’s been rough. I find it harder and harder to just go to work these days and have used up all my PTO, I spend most of my time doing nothing quite honestly or scrolling online to see if I can find an answer for my current situation. I know I have a lot to be appreciative for but I can’t seem to escape this feeling that there should be more to life? Besides mental health, I do think I’m dealing with a slight existential crisis as well as feeling quite incompetent at work. It feels like all there is to life is working. I just dont know what to do anymore. If the answer is just work my current job, do better at it, and suck it up, then I’ll do it. I’m not sure if quitting and getting a less stressful job would be better either. But I wanted to hear if anyone else has been through something similar and how they got through it and if you have any advice or suggestions I’d greatly appreciate it, thank you for reading.

I’m looking for 15 people between the ages of 25 and 45 to help me test a personalized self-improvement framework I’ve been building.
It’s for people who have a general idea of who they want to become—healthier, more confident, more organized, further along in their career, or just more put-together—but feel overwhelmed trying to figure out what to work on first.
You might know where you want to end up, but day-to-day life gets in the way. There’s endless advice, too many possible starting points, and a lot of pressure to make the “right” choice. Eventually, figuring out what to do becomes its own obstacle.
The process starts with a personal assessment about your goals, routines, priorities, energy, time, budget, and the areas where you feel most stuck. Some questions are personal, but you choose what you’re comfortable sharing, and nothing will be posted publicly.
From there, I’ll create a personalized assessment for you and guide you through a completely free seven-day trial. Each day, the goal is simple: identify one realistic, useful action that moves you forward without making your life feel more overwhelming.
You’ll get:
• A personalized assessment you can keep
• A clearer understanding of what may be keeping you stuck
• A seven-day roadmap built around your actual life and priorities
• Direct guidance and support throughout the week
There’s nothing to buy. In exchange, I’m asking participants to complete a quick daily check-in and give me honest feedback at the end—what helped, what felt off, what was overwhelming, and what was missing.
This is open to adults of any gender, ages 25–45. I’m especially interested in hearing from people who feel stuck between who they are today and who they thought they would have become by now.
Comment below or send me a DM if you’re interested, and I’ll share the next steps privately.

I'm not the first or last person to post about this, but I'm looking for some advice from people who've been in a similar position.

I'm unemployed and still living at home. I worked in digital marketing but was laid off and haven't found another job. Even if I could, I don't feel like that's a career for me. I have no idea what is though.

Right now I'm looking for a part-time job to get some income and structure while I decide. I know it's a reasonable step, but it's hard not to compare myself to people my age who are ahead of me.

I applied to join the IBEW but wasn't accepted. I've also considered becoming a truck driver, but I'm not sure it's the right fit long term. My parents think I'd make a good teacher because I've always been good with kids, but I'm still unsure whether that's the right path for me.

Any advice for what to do when you're directionless? If I just had an idea of where to start I would. I feel there's too many things to consider right now and I feel I don't have time to make another wrong decision.

33 Male, NSW, Australia.

I am currently on 40mg Ritalin daily.

My mental and physical state:

For childhood context, I grew up in an emotionally and physically abusive household. My mother and I took the brunt of it. From this, I developed Long-term maladaptive daydreaming as a coping mechanism when I was a teen.

This also led to me being diagnosed with depression and ADHD, whether accurately is currently in question.

Due to reasons I will get into later, I have been socially isolated for at least 10 years.

During those teen years, I was taking escitalopram (An SSRI antidepressant) 40mg for 10 years. They had a strange effect in that they never really helped as much as I wished they did.

But they made me comfortable in the isolation and circumstances that I should never have been comfortable in; I would describe it as they put a smile on my face while rolled around in my own shit.

Around December last year, I made the decision to get in shape and get my life some kind of order. I wanted to become a police officer.

Even then I knew it was an odd choice, but I felt law enforcement would be a way to help people, or at least run through red lights without getting a ticket.

I came to the belief, either rightly or wrongly, that being on an antidepressant would be a hindrance in becoming a police officer.

I made the inadvisable and life-threatening choice to cold-turkey my antidepressants, just cut them off one day completely. I expected headaches, depression, and mood swings.

What I actually got was that I felt better than I ever had in my life; I felt mentally, physically, and emotionally clear. I lost a lot of weight, about 12 KG in one month.

I was confident and creative; out of nowhere I decided to write a 96-page screenplay after never even attempting anything like it. That lasted for about a month to a month and a half.

Then things went downhill considerably, physically and mentally. I stopped eating for days; I would lie in bed, listening to music, and cry for hours. I got random aches, pains, and brain freezes.

One morning out of nowhere, my heart nearly exploded; my bpm was at 200 had to go to the hospital. They suspect an electrical issue with my heart and are investigating.

At this point, my therapist began to suspect I was Bipolar; the question is still open if I am or if this is protracted withdrawal syndrome, or something else entirely.

I am also beginning to suspect it was four days ago my mood randomly peaked; I felt Better, not as good as the start of the year. But better than any time since my crash.

Employment history, Carer aspect, Etc

I have been a personal carer for my mother essentially since my early 20's. She was in a car accident and needed help at home; for context, this is a government-paid pension sort of thing in Australia.

Her need for assistance varies; sometimes she needs a lot of help, sometimes a little. I also have had my fair share of mental issues. We leaned on each other considerably.

I have attempted to get employment outside of my carer duties but something always came up.

In 2011, I got a Diploma in marketing and attempted to go to college; I had anxiety attacks too severe to allow it at the time.

In 2017, I got a diploma in real estate and got licensed, but before I could get employed, my mother had a complete mental breakdown.

Half her family died in a car crash overseas, and I woke one night to her locking the doors and windows, screaming about a ghost trying to SA her.

She ended up in a local psych ward for a week till what remains of her family made the hospital get her out. She has calmed considerably since then.

Since then, I have been with her. She can't drive anymore. She has her good days and bad.

The Current day:

During my early year possible Mania, I made the decision to go to TAFE (Australian trade school) to become an electrician. Due to my carer status, this was a relatively cheap course I could take, and I believed it had Yesterday was my first day, and it went poorly.

I couldn't focus. The mathematics was simple, yet I could barely wrap my head around it. Math was never my strong suit; when I did my real estate diploma, I never studied and got through fine on instinct. I assumed this might be the same; I think I was wrong.

I have no idea if I should try to tough it out or drop out and reassess.

I don't know if this is a bipolar thing, if this is somehow my baseline, if this is a longer withdrawal than I anticipated.

My real fear is I am 33 with no work history beyond being a carer; I need to go beyond that, I have no life beyond her.

I intend to keep living with my mother partially for financial reasons, and she still needs me.

I have no one to talk to about this, no one to get advice from. I don't know what to do. I am so quietly ashamed of the state of my life right now

Any advice would be appreciated.

I’m 27F and currently run a private alterations company that, while very rewarding, is not providing nearly enough for the amount of time I put into it. I want to retire at a reasonable age. Additionally, I want to lean away from sewing and fashion since in my experience, any career you find in that industry either pays terribly or requires you to work 50+ hours a week for 60K. I’ve considered costuming, but it’s a very hard industry to get into and is also fairly unstable. Unfortunately I only have a degree in Fashion but I’d absolutely go back to school if needed.

While not paid work, I volunteer quite a bit. I’ve held numerous leadership positions in the organization I work for and have been told I’m a great motivational speaker. Most of my leadership positions handled administrative tasks and promoting/planning events.

Highlighted skills: I’m excellent with people, especially difficult clients. When I was working as a bridal fitter (at a well-known company within the industry), my managers often transferred especially difficult clients to me because I was so good at calming them down and making them feel seen/heard. So much so, that when coworkers have had to occasionally cover for me when I was sick, there was very often a huge discrepancy in how my clients behave with other people vs how they behave with me. Brides I’ve found to be reasonable have had others pulling their hair out with insane requests. I have turned more 1-star review into 5-stars than I can count. (Note, people skills only applies if I can focus on one client/group at a time. I’m not a terrible server, but my powers shine best when I can focus on one client an hour).

I speak B2 German and am working to get to C1, if that can help at all.

Based on the information I’ve laid out, is there any career out there that could utilize my skills, earn me at least 70K a year, and won’t require me to work more than 45 hours a week? I understand, it will likely take me years to climb the career ladder in whatever field I choose, but I’d rather make this switch now than when I’m in my thirties.

Hi all. I graduated from my final year in college back in December and I’ve been feeling very lost since. I graduated with a degree in technical theatre, and a certificate from a one year special effects program. Theatre and film, specializing in puppetry and animatronics, is what I really want to do.

But right now I’m feeling very scared of the future. I have a few part time jobs at the local theatre; front of house, box office and sometimes tech. I know I need a full time permanent job, but I’m so scared of losing my path or passion in theatre.

Right now I get a lot of financial support from my parents, but they’re older and I know I can’t rely on them forever. I’m so scared I’ll never be able to sustain myself.

I don’t know how to keep moving forward and making sure I’ll be okay in the future. I apply to jobs as much as I can and I’ve been trying to build my network. I don’t know what else I can do.

Overall, I’m scared I won’t be okay in the future. That’s my biggest fear. And I don’t want to be scared anymore. I want to do better. I want to be better. I’m just not sure how.

How can I change my mindset? How do I keep pushing on and be proud of myself?

19f, graduated in may with my associates in paralegal studies but for the life of me couldn’t get a legal internship/job so i got a temp role through a job agency doing clerical support/mail preparation for an insurance company and i really like it! unfortunately i make just above minimum wage so i don’t think this position is sustainable long term.

while i do plan on going back to trying to trying to get a paralegal position once my temp contact ends i was just curious if there were any other similar avenues i should look into?

ideally positions where talking on the phone isn’t a majority of my day though obviously that’s going to apart of most clerical jobs.

thanks!

ETA: bonus points if you know any additional associates degrees/certificates that would be helpful for me as my community college allows alumni to take a class a semester tuition free and so i’d like to always be chipping away at something ◡̈ thanks again!