I don't know what I want to do in life

[FruitsChinpoG]

I know this is probably a super common question among high school students and young adults (heck, probably quite a few of those older than that face this problem too), but I really don't know what I want to be or what I want to do later in life.

I want to take my own pace and figure things out for myself, but all my teachers and the people around me constantly pressure me into choosing what I should do for the rest of my life. As a 12th grader, practically all of my assignments involve planning for college and the future and I feel so lost and behind. I didn't even think I would graduate high school (but I kicked my ass into gear at the last minute because not graduating high school would be pretty pathetic) much less even go to college. I know people don't always end up with the career they first choose, but at least they have a starting point. I just feel like I'm listlessly and aimlessly going through life right now.

Any advice for someone like me?

 

[Mega_Cabbage]

Well you can start with doing something based on your hobbies. You seem to like art, so maybe you can get a degree in animation or something. You could also do what I did and take college courses towards a degree that you are interested in learning more about.

 

[Bunnilla]

I didn't know either, but because of watching youtube I think I wanna rescue animals and find them permanent homes

 

[blackfeint]

if i were you, and if you must figure something out before you graduate, i'd choose community college first. that could give you some time to do research and try and find something you might be interested in learning. i'm not totally sure how transfer credits work, but if you do decide to go to another college, say, half-way through CC, having those credits could possibly save you time and money on classes.

the pressure to go to college is awful, because it's not for everyone. but if you're forced to pick a place, community college is probably your best (and cheapest thus far) bet. plus, if you're mentally/physically capable, it might do you some good to find a job, preferably part-time if you're going to be a full-time student.

and, like mega_cabbage said, explore your hobbies! that could also help narrow down options.

 

[Soigne]

That's quite a common fear among people. It's very rare that a person will stick with a major that they declare during their freshman year of university/college simply because, despite appearances, most people really don't know exactly what they want to do. I didn't know what I wanted to do when I graduated from high school or entered university. I think at most (if not all?) colleges/universities in the United States, you aren't required to declare a major until after your second year. I entered as "undecided" and I'm taking classes that fulfill some of my graduation requirements, but at the same time they're subjects and topics that I'm (somewhat) interested in. It was through some of these classes that I've found what I want to study.

Also keep in mind that college/university isn't for everyone. There's nothing wrong with pursuing another career that doesn't require an undergraduate degree or graduate studying. I'm not saying that you shouldn't go just because you're unsure about what you want to do, but you need to decide for yourself what you want. Tuition isn't cheap & if you go just because people around you want you to go, yet you don't want to, you're going to be miserable and wasting your money.

tl;dr - explore your interests, take some classes at a college that you think you'd be interested in, speak with some academic advisers, and go from there.

if i were you, and if you must figure something out before you graduate, i'd choose community college first. that could give you some time to do research and try and find something you might be interested in learning. i'm not totally sure how transfer credits work, but if you do decide to go to another college, say, half-way through CC, having those credits could possibly save you time and money on classes.

the pressure to go to college is awful, because it's not for everyone. but if you're forced to pick a place, community college is probably your best (and cheapest thus far) bet. plus, if you're mentally/physically capable, it might do you some good to find a job, preferably part-time if you're going to be a full-time student.

and, like mega_cabbage said, explore your hobbies! that could also help narrow down options.

Agreed about community college!! I meant to say something about that but forgot. There's kind of a stigma that community college isn't "real" college, but don't fall into that. It can be a great option if you want to start out there.

 

[CatsAreSuperCool]

Does your school have some sort of Exploring Careers class? That's what I'm taking, and it (if it's like mine) teaches you what personality type you are, type of learner, etc. and at the end of the semester we'll find out what career best suits us.

 

[Pookie4557]

Just don't stress too hard about it. Many people, even adults that have been in the work place for a while still don't know what they wanna do with their life. You'll figure out eventually, and if you really wanna go/are being forced to college right after high school do something that goes hand in hand with your hobby's like @Mega_Cabbage said. If you don't have to or don't want to go to college right out of high school maybe take a year break to just explore a ton of options that interest you. (Keep in mind that I'm a freshman in high school and I also don't know what I wanna do, so I guess you should probably take my advise about this topic with a grain of salt).

 

[Crash]

i was in the exact same spot as you when i was a senior, so i know exactly how you feel. i'm kind of in the same spot now, almost four years later. i didn't have the money for college and i had no clue what i wanted to do, so i started working full-time after graduating and that's what i'm doing to this day, and i hope to start school this winter or spring.

i agree with blackfeint -- look into community college, for multiple reasons. it's cheaper & it's a bit easier of a transition, rather than to a four year university. although college is way different than high school, i know i personally just couldn't go straight from high school into college, as i hated school so much. going to a community college can also give you more time to develop your interests and figure out what you really want to study and pursue a career in.

i'm not necessarily happy with where i am now, but i'm glad i didn't make any quick decisions. no matter how many teachers or adults or even your parents pressure you about college and your future, just try to keep in mind that it's your future; they can help you when you do make a choice, but it's all up to you. if you want to take a break for a year to figure things out, you can. not to mention working for a little while before going to school gives you an opportunity to not only save money, but get a real grasp on adult life and how to handle certain things. and you really don't have to know what you want to do with your life at your age; tons of people twice your age still don't know.

best of luck with everything!

 

[Bowie]

I've pretty much concluded that I'm just gonna learn as much as I can about the things I am interested in, combine them, and create something that I can be commercially successful with.

 

[FruitsChinpoG]

Well you can start with doing something based on your hobbies. You seem to like art, so maybe you can get a degree in animation or something. You could also do what I did and take college courses towards a degree that you are interested in learning more about.

Although I do enjoy art, I'm just not that creatively inclined I guess. Drawing and sculpting are only things I do for fun, I don't think I'll ever do art as a profession.

if i were you, and if you must figure something out before you graduate, i'd choose community college first.
...like mega_cabbage said, explore your hobbies! that could also help narrow down options.

Community college sounds good, thanks for the info.
Unfortunately I don't have many interests or hobbies atm

- - - Post Merge - - -

I also have the problem of doing assignments in my classes too. My teachers constantly assign work asking what college/career I plan on pursuing and when I reply with "I don't know" they act like I've spoken with heresy or something. And it really sucks, especially because they're graded assignments too >:C

 

[ibelleS]

-go to the Big Future website. Have fun
-watch Don't Follow Your Passion (with Mike Rowe) on Youtube. It sounds misleading but it's the opposite

 

[vel]

i agree with everything said, if you haven't found out your passion, try going to a community college first and starting from there.

 

[Chris]

Don't try to force it. Just take things slow and when you decide what it is you want to do you can consider college then. It's a lot of money to drop into something you are uncertain about. Not everyone has their future figured out in high school. I certainly didn't!

 

[piichinu]

LOL for the assignments write u want to be a lawyer or doctor so they leave u alone

 

[Elin1O]

I'm in the same position, but I'm still in high school, and planning on going to college. I don't even know what college I'd like to go to, and it is indeed pretty stressing to know that you're so close, but still don't even know what you want to do.
I have been thinking though, and I'll probably do something involving IT and computers and stuff, since I guess I'm pretty good at that. At the same time, I might want to do something that involves animals, because I love them so dearly.
While it's not really a rush for me (I've got 2 years to decide), I think you should perhaps sit down, ask people that currently have a job how they did, and how they knew what they wanted to work with.
I hope it turns out fine for you

 

[LinkToTheWorld]

It's quite a common occurrence to go through school and into college and having no idea what you're going to do when you leave. If you do what I did then you will take something that interests you, my one qualification isn't actually specific to one type of job, I could go and take it to other establishments and still put it to use. It can be handy sometimes to have a degree in something that covers several areas. In my case, education/child welfare/etc.

I think some people even fall into jobs when they're adults without really wanting that job but having no idea what else they would want to do.i have a friend who recently hit 30 and it's only now that she has finally decided she wants to work on the police force.
It can feel difficult when everybody around you seems to know where they're going and school are so focused on you having a future plan. I'm of the opinion that you can fake it till you make it. You will figure yourself out at some point, I think too much pressure is put on kids at school to know all about themselves and where they want to end up. Most middle aged people struggle with things like that

 

[sylviabee]

I felt the same way in 12th grade. Everyone had chosen their major and talked about college all the time and it was secretly tearing me apart inside and making me feel inadequate lol. If you know you'd like to go to college then I definitely recommend starting in a community college (I wish I would have.) Usually most incoming students will be put in a college success class that helps you develop good study/overall life habits and work on projects that identify your traits and skills to help you pick a potential career path. Good luck!!

 

[namiieco]

Same with me. The teachers at my highschool are pressuring me to know what I want to be when it's pretty irrelevant at the age I am at now.

 

[Acruoxil]

To add in to what others said, just explore the different kind of careers out there and see what you would really enjoy doing. Art, graphics, IT, commerce, medicine. I'm sure you can figure it out.

Just don't rush things, take your time. Don't let your parents or teachers pressurize you into choosing in haste or make you do something you don't wanna do

 

[chronic]

Please don't waste your time and resources in the cesspool that is college education. Do what ignites the spark of life within and become well versed at it. Nothing is more sinister than these colleges, supposed places of higher learning, that exploit the na?vet? of young people lacking direction. Be sure to get student loans so you'll be thousands $$$ in debt for years to come and even better if you can study a completely worthless wipe-your-ass with degree like [any liberal arts degree]. Imagine the psychological burden of being essentially enslaved while you still have no real direction. Don't play the game of going ahead with college when you're uncertain.

Life teaches.. high school teaches you how to be a an obedient "citizen" that eliminates any room for independent thinking with the "curriculum". It's all a trap. You're doing well so far by asking yourself these important questions. I was in the same position as you actually (I can disclose more info via pm is you wish). What happens now is up to you. Reject the entire idea of college unless you absolutely know what you're getting yourself into and are exceptional at making connections. I assume you're in the US.

Basically, if you're brain dead and love being programmed like a robot go to college. That's all you'll ever need to operate there.