Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

Since I have graduated college, I have had a few jobs from retail to teaching to most current real estate. My experiences at all these jobs just never blew me away; I never felt like I found what I truly wanted to do or, at least, happiness. My major was English due to my uncertainty. I always envied the people who seemed to find their niche early on in college. I have even taken personality tests which always suggest teaching or social work. What I have found, at least in the last year or so, is that I would like to find an occupation where I can help or benefit people. Does anybody else ever feel similar?

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

Every single day of my life.

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

me me!! I cannot believe some days that I felt like I had a more clear idea of what I wanted to be at 19 than I do at 28. I have been in a few jobs, and none of them thrill me. I am either tolerating them for the paycheck, bored out of my mind, or aggravated at having to be there. I am still searching for the job that will make me think and challenge me.

DH loves his job, and its so hard to explain to him that I have no idea what I want to be when I 'grow up' I have always thought of teaching, should have gone into it right out of school but I didnt. So I am planning to go back to school to get my masters in elem. ed this fall. Problem is, I dont really know that this is what I want to do either....I think it is, but who knows?? At one time, I thought advertising (what I do now) was totally exciting, now I hate it. So go figure.

I have no answers But you are not alone...I have a lot of friends going through a career crisis.

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

You are not alone. I was an English major too but I went through a Publishing Studies program and decided to give it a whirl. I started with a company in a simple clerical type job and then moved to another clerical type job at a big house in NYC but I still don't feel that I have found what I want. I thought I wanted to be a literary agent, but I don't know. Right now, my brain is in wedding mode and that makes it difficult to figure out a career move.

Funny thing, I took personality tests and they told me to go into teaching or social work or even nursing.

Maybe we should become English teachers

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

i hear ya..

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

Isn't it funny though? I remember as a kid if someone asked you what you wanted to be, you could answer, 'Oh, I wanted to be a teacher' or ' I want to be a vet.'It seemed to be so much easier then!!!

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

Yowza! I was just thinking about this topic, and about creating a post about it! I have a ton of things to say about it, but unfortunately I am inundated with work at a job that I can’t stand in a field I never thought I’d be working in…and I have still not figured out what I want to be when I grow up!

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

I am almost 48 and I still feel like this!

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

Juliet, oh how I wanted to go into publishing!!! I know the pay is not that great to start but that is something I feel I might have liked. Being an English major, I applied to soooo many companies and never received a call!

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

count me in. i got my master's in library science in may of 2002, but i haven't been able to find a job in that field yet so i'm not sure i made the right choice with that. the job i have now i just sort fell into b/c i needed a job. but i don't really like it much. the thing is when i think about what i would do if i could do anything i can't think of anything except travel hmmmm.......

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

You know what else I have realized? Competition is soooo fierce and jobs are so limited, that a lot of us have had to settle. Gone are the days when you could walk out of college with you business degree and just walk into one of the top firms!!! Whatever major, I feel a lot of people have had to settle for the paycheck!!!

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

I don't HATE what I do, but I don't LOVE it either. I'm having the worst time finding a job in the field I have my MS in (School Counseling), I graduated almost 2 years ago!

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

I have to grow up?????

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

Seriously, I feel the same way. I am still in college, even though I am older than most students & even some professors.

I am preparing for Law school & business school ( I want to double JD & MBA), and very often I wonder if it is what I really want to do forever. I figure the worst thing is that I have a degree or two & that I can explore other options if I do not like where I end up after grad school.

I try not to stress about it.... it drives me crazy when I do.

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

I want to be an entrepreneur... I've always wanted to be a Pastry Chef, so I need to find a way to make and sell my own line of chocolates and pastries. I'd love to have my own little chocolate/bake shop. Maybe someday it will happen, I don't even know how to get started!

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

I thought getting a postgraduate degree was the answer, but here I am with a PhD, tens of thousands in student loan debt, and STILL no clue what I want to do for a living!!

Re: Does anybody else ever feel like they don't know what to be when they grow up?

Lunatrek... If you are really interested, many high schools have seminars occasionally that are used to help people begin their own 'small business.' A friend of mine went to one & owns her own photography studio now. She said it was really helpful!