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At a turning point...normalcy?
Topic Started: Mar 12 2008, 05:57 PM (1,026 Views)
TatteredDaydreamer
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Hey everyone. I’ve been going through a bit of a rough time recently trying to figure out what in the world it is I’d like to do with myself.

I have a few college credits, but I detest school and can’t find anything that I want to actively peruse. I have a very hard time focusing on things that I can’t really see myself doing in the future. The last year I was in college, I stumbled upon a pretty nasty drug addiction, and failed that semester. I’m doing much better, clean and sober, but not currently in school.

As of now, I’m working at a fantastic barn and riding/training/feeding a bunch of great ponies, working part-time at a feed/pet store and walking an adorable puppy when I can.

Very recently I’ve had a longing of “normalcy”. I’d like to have a normal job, 9-5er, have more of a social life, and be like everyone else. I’ve ridden horses for 17 years, since I was a 4 year old(I’m 21, almost 22 now). I love it, and I’ll always be involved in some way, but I feel that it’s maybe time to grow up? I’m just very confused and lost. However, I don’t feel that I have any other skills…really, other than the horse thing. I’ve got almost no self confidence, due to childhood BS.

My other passion is music; it’s played a huge role in my life and has successfully gotten me through rather tumultuous child/tween/teenage years. The grand majority of my friends are in bands or otherwise involved in the music business somehow. My inner groupie is certainly making herself heard!;) I love traveling…seeing new places, just getting in a car and going. Last summer I took a week long road trip (PA to Nebraska) on the first week of the Buckcherry/Papa Roach/Hinder tour.

I don’t know what I’m looking for from you lovely ladies/gents….I just kind of feel stuck.
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Painted Lady
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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Well you're not alone. I am stuck. I am in school and have a love/hate relationship with it. I truly enjoy some of the courses, but I hate others and have a really had time with them. So currently I keep getting rejected from the faculty I want to get into. Part of me feels like I should just keep trying to get into this faculty, but the other part feels like its not the right career for me. But I dont know what else to go after, so I keep taking courses trying to get in. Most people get in their first year. I'm on year three <_< But where else can I go? I mean if you get a job without getting some sort of schooling first it usually pays peanuts, and I can't afford to own horses if I'm making no money. Plus if I dropped out of school, my dad would probably disown me. (Pressure much?) So again, I keep on trucking towards a career I am skeptical about. If I dont get in again this time, I am at a loss for what to do. Trying another year feels like I am wasting time and money, and I'm just not happy there anyway. :lonely:

:jingles: <--- here are some jingles. Maybe a neat oppurtunity will present itself to you soon. :luck:
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Sannois
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You're BANNED!
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I dont know how old you are tattered and I am no one for advise thats any good, but do yourself a favor. Do what YOU want. Stop the pressure and take time to figure it all out. Travel, move, get a job that is FUN! Then decide. Enjoy being young!!! :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :hug:
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DairyQueen2049
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DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT
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I was there with you Tattered and Painted. At 28 I knew I no longer wanted to train horses and kiddos and waitress. Red Lobster was closing out retirement and 401(k)s and I took mine and went back to school.

NEWS FLASH: no one likes school except those that get their PhDs (and I think they are NQR)

To get normal hours, and money for your horse habit, in this day and age of $ 4 a a gallon gas you are gonna need a degree of some sort to make ends meet.

Waitressing is not going to pay - and your body won't last long at it. Training baby horses ditto. And the kiddos - well, you know!

YES to keep trying to get in at the school of your choice. MAKE it happen. Make some contacts in the area you plan to study - OH! And make sure your course of study results in a JOB. You are FEMALE and so target non-traditional female careers: Engineering, Science, Math. You CAN do it. It just means you have to study. If you want it bad enough you'll chase it down.

Chase down those proffs in the area you want to study: MAKE an appointment with them to discuss your future.
Now they know your face and name.

Get one of the lowliest jobs in that area of study and learn as much as you can outside of school.

It will not happen overnight - I took 11 yrs to get through school. I hoped to have my bachelors by age 40 - then I MADE SURE I did.

There is nothing to stop you but you.

You'll try to toss up barriers: money, time, too hard......pfffft. YOU make those barriers YOU need to tear them down.

Your self confidence will build and you will blossom and you will wonder why you took so long to DO IT!!
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TatteredDaydreamer
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Thank you everyone, I appreciate it.

DQ...my issue is I have NO IDEA what I want to do or study.

NONE.

I'm thinking business at the community college....just to have a degree that opens some doors.

L
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DairyQueen2049
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DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT
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TatteredDaydreamer
Mar 13 2008, 04:22 AM


DQ...my issue is I have NO IDEA what I want to do or study.

NONE.


So head to that CC, cuz there will be classes that everyone has to take to get to the REAL classes, and get them started. Meantime, the advisors at the CC are armed for questions - and getting you to places where you can scope out the job and find out about it before you commit. The advisors are there for their brains to be picked. And there are tests and things that will help you know what you like and how to funnel that into a real normal job. :clap: :clap:

I went back orginally to do x-ray tech (oh I so have no patience for whiney sick people :innocent: ), then found civil tech through advisors, and after working as a civil tech and going to school got my civil engineers degree.
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OpticalIllusion
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Im in a similar situation. I have a great job, two actually, that I wouldnt trade for the world. However, my boss is probably going to retire in the next 5 years, and I have no clue what to do when that happens. I keep saying I need to go back to school, but it hasnt happened yet.

If you enjoy music, and you enjoy travel, have you considered doing some writing for magazines on bands and concerts?
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TatteredDaydreamer
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I've been to that community college, took a few classes. I think I have almost all of my gen ed's done.

I have to get transcripts sent from the other college I attended.

I have to muster up enough desire to WANT to do this and succeed...because if I don't, I will do horribly. As I have in the past.

I think my motivation should be that once I graduate, I can afford to live elsewhere, and have a place of my own, out of this hellish area that I currently reside.

L
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TatteredDaydreamer
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Opt-Where are you working?

I have, but I'm not sure how I would go about getting into that. When I very first started at college, my major was journalism...I hated it...HATED it. When led to being miserable, which lead to the drugging....not good. I've got a better, older head on my shoulders.

I was actually thinking that a flight attendent job might be awesome.

L
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heineken
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A friend of mine worked for Delta and loved it...but many of them expect a bachelor's before they'll take you...
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OpticalIllusion
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You're BANNED!
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TatteredDaydreamer
Mar 13 2008, 04:50 AM
Opt-Where are you working?

I have, but I'm not sure how I would go about getting into that. When I very first started at college, my major was journalism...I hated it...HATED it. When led to being miserable, which lead to the drugging....not good. I've got a better, older head on my shoulders.

I was actually thinking that a flight attendent job might be awesome.

L

I work for an equine vet.

Do you like kids? Maybe teach band? A good music teacher is worth their weight in gold.
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DairyQueen2049
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DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT
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OpticalIllusion
Mar 13 2008, 04:54 AM


I was actually thinking that a flight attendent job might be awesome.

A good music teacher is worth their weight in gold.

I hear flight attendant is good -

and yes to teachers - and they get the summer off!


Try to break it into do-able steps. Just today you'll talk to the advisor, just in a week you'll do x, just in a month x will happen.

If you look at the long haul its very daunting - baby steps!! :hug:
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Melliebay
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It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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TatteredDaydreamer
Mar 13 2008, 04:22 AM
Thank you everyone, I appreciate it.

DQ...my issue is I have NO IDEA what I want to do or study.

NONE.

I'm thinking business at the community college....just to have a degree that opens some doors.

L

If you think you might want to pursue a career in the music business, I would do a marketing or business degree. You can use that degree in almost any field, and it would open up doors for you to work at a record label or even as an agent or publicist. The best thing you can do is get the very best internships that you can while going to school, meet as many people as possible and let your goals be known to them. People will help you if you prove yourself. Good luck!!!
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vxf111
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Aw Linz, this is tough.

I know you though, once you figure out what it is you WANT to do, you'll persue it with dogged enthusiasm and "get 'er done." The problem is just figuring out WHAT to do.

Can you buy one of those books or take an online test where you enter in all your skills/likes/dislikes and it suggests occupations. Maybe that'll at least get you thinking, and then you can go shadow people and find out more. There are lots of super jobs that no one ever thinks of, you just need to find out about them and then get the qualifications to do it.

I thought you liked writing (I know you didn't like journalism but I thought you liked writing in general). Have you thought about freelancing? I also think you'd be a great teacher, and there'a always a need for teachers.

:hug:
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Won for Me
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Figuring out what you don't want to do is just as important as finding out what you do want to do. I thought I wanted to teach so I tutored over the summer at one of those Learning Centers. HATED IT. Totally changed my mind set.

I don't know about anyone entering the teaching field anymore. I wonder how people can live on the salaries that are paid. I am not knocking teachers at all..In fact, I admire what they are able to do with a roomful of kids. But, at least with any other job, you have an opportunity to move up. Yes, you will start out in low wages, but as you get experience, you can get a higher salary.

Looking back over my career path, I have really enjoyed the way it all played out, but here I am 44 and I am not sure what I want to do when I get older. Does that make sense? Sometimes just do what you are asked to do and do it well. Take risks.

But, the most important thing is to have a degree. Any degree. Just get at least a 4 year degree. That is the best advice I can give. I have a degree in English (What the hell do you do with that?). I am a Marketing Executive. My career path just led me here.

At your age, I just had no idea what I wanted to do or how to get there...It becomes clear. Good Luck.
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