How did you know what you wanted to do in your life?

Question

I'm so badly stuck with this thing and my future is scaring me way too much. I really don't know what I want to do in future and I don't even know if I love the subjects I chose for 11th grade. I just have one more year in high school and then I will have to choose college and give entrance exams if necessary and choose a major and things

I don't even know if I'll qualify for my dream colleges, and don't even know what college I really want to get in. I don't know what I'm passionate about and I don't know what are the things I'm not passionate about. It's like I like everything and it's confusing to choose few or one out of them. At the same time my parents are so open minded, yet I don't really like them now even though nothing's their fault. It's just that I'm a bad daughter

I used to score A grades and now I'm scoring C grades. I can't look at myself in mirror and my head hurts and everything. Thinking about what I want to do in future or even about what college I want to get into, makes me feel unprepared and worthless. Its like my friends know what they want to do in their lives but not me. I'm left behind.

I really don't know what I want to do, my head hurts so much while thinking about it that I want to bang it on the wall and I feel hatred for every aspect of me, my body, my grades, my lifestyle, my performance.

I'm oversimulated whenever I see people around me and I can't even ask for help. If I say something about college or career then my parents are like at least complete high school first and get good grades in that and then my friends are way too busy with their own preparations for their planned future

I feel like going to a whole new place with a whole new identity, personality, body and skip student life. I need help and I don't know where to ask it from, parents are not the option so I can't even go to therapist. And it's not even a teenage phase kinda thing, it's just basically about how messed up I feel in my shoes and I don't know

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Accepted Answer

I ended up changing my mind about how I wanted to live my life in my senior year of college, but by then I had almost finished my degree and it was too late to change majors so I finished it out. Your choice in education doesn’t necessarily dictate your success, nor does it have a negative impact to have one kind of degree and then go for a completely different kind of job. Just having the degree is often enough to put you ahead of other candidates who don’t have one.

The idea that you have to plan out your life as a teenager is insane and truthfully no one expects you to get it right the first time, and that’s okay. It’s your first time being alive, if you’re going to make mistakes it’s okay.

I went to college for writing because I loved to write. I never ended up making a career out of it, but I loved what I learned and I still love writing. I also know now that if I were to take up a career in writing for someone else, it would be something I come to resent and I don’t want that to happen. You can pursue what you think is best, if you want to just get a generalized degree that can apply to a lot of different fields like business, you can. If you want to get a specialized creative degree like I did, you can. If you want to get a degree for a booming industry like IT, you can. Don’t panic about dream schools or grades, even if you have nothing but D’s, you still pass and you still get a degree. Honestly, I would recommend taking a gap year between high school and college so you can take the time to work a simple job, get comfortable with the way a job works and then figure out how you want to advance your life, what specialized education do you want? What’s a career that appeals to you most? Slow down and take time to think and that will help you a lot. More than anything, know that you will not be lost to the world, nor will you be a failure to society if you decide to opt out. You will be okay, as hard as that might be to believe when you’re spiraling in so much anxiety, but you will. You won’t go hungry or homeless, you’ll be okay.

bobalife · Accepted Answer

You’re experiencing too much anxiety that you’re making yourself feel unhappy. Try to do some things you enjoy to relax and destress rather it’s taking walks, watching funny TikTok’s, motivational quotes and such.

You are still young, and believe it or not… we are always learning and growing no matter how old we are. I’m 34 but I didn’t even know what I wanted until my early 20s. That’s what college is for, to explore and figure yourself out. You can not figure everything out in one day in your age range nor in life. It will take time by learning more about yourself, exploring, trying new things, asking for advice and support, and what feels right to you that will be your calling which is not limited to one thing alone. Hope that helps, you got this :)

RingOfFire · Accepted Answer

I understand how confusing that is at your age. I think everybody has some of that, I know I sure did.

But you have to understand that no one knows what they want to do at your age. You don't have to make a perfect guess. Just get a college degree and something that seems interesting to you. That degree is your ticket to your future. It doesn't matter what the subject is. If you want to change the subject after you get your degree it's generally no problem. You can even work for a few years find out if you like a certain type of work and if you don't you can go back to school and get a graduate degree and something completely different.

You are definitely not locked into what you study in college. There are millions of people doing jobs that have nothing to do with their degrees. But you need that degree as a ticket to get into the door to the good jobs.

You're not expected to know anything about your future at your age. Very few people do. What's important is that you continue your education so you can get your foot in the door someplace that opens up new opportunities to you while you explore what you want to do

Try to pick something that you enjoy doing if you can. Because if you enjoy it you will be successful at it. But in the end you can't know now what you're going to want to do 8 or 10 years from now. That's okay. Not many people do know.

Just do the best you can to pick something you think you might like and if it turns out that you don't, it's not the end of the world. You can often even change your major while you're in college.

Always remember, the best you can do is the best you can do! It sounds silly but it's not. Do the best you can without hurting yourself and you will do fine.

Still-alive · Accepted Answer

Hey hang in there. you aren't a bad daughter. sounds like your parents love you unconditionally as any parent should. You shouldn't take that for granted as i knew people with terrible parents.

2nd yeah this can be quite difficult for many people. i was one of those who could never figure it out. I was also a C student in school. However, just try to remember its not a race. we are all individually going on our own paths through life. try to not do that compare and contrast thing with other people. that usually leads down a dark path... trust me on that one. Try to instead be happy for other peoples success and celebrate your own however big or small they are when they come and they will, have faith in that. the Future could be bad but it could also be good just as much too. you don't know what will happen. the future is yet unwritten. If you are in a bad situation just remember it will pass eventually. im living proof of this concept. i once thought i could never get out of my depression... thought there was no way out.. yet 5 years later im still here. I'm still alive. I couldn't predict that back then and so you can't predict what will happen to you 5 years from now either. Just try your best. you may take awhile to find what you want in life but eventually you'll find it. just put yourself out there more... never give up. try new things, meet new people, explore... someday you'll find it as i have found mine. Best of luck to you Apulu :*

Advisor Smith · Accepted Answer

Feeling uncertain about your future is completely normal, especially at this stage. Many people feel the same way, despite appearances. You're not a "bad daughter"—it's common to feel overwhelmed by expectations from yourself and observed success around you. Take a deep breath and break down your thoughts. Experiment with different subjects and hobbies to discover what resonates with you. Consider talking to a trusted teacher or counselor about your feelings—it might offer a new perspective. Remember, college and career paths are not set in stone. You are allowed to change directions and seek what truly fulfills you.

SeriouslyNotSerious · Answer

I knew what I wanted to do when it also aligned with what I want in the future. ❤️

The degree I chose wasn't originally my dream degree, but I know it'll make things easier for me. I was lost also, and I sure am not perfect.. but I'm in a better perspective now. You just have to trust yourself and pray.

I hope you find that one thing that sparks your heart one day. You're still young and may not know where these waves are going, but trust yourself during the process. 🌊 And, always remember that this life is not a race. Enjoy it.

Maybe_Maybe_not · Answer

In retrospect, at 16, I didn't know what I wanted "to do in my life". It didn't prevent me to discover things I want to do in my life, I discovered them by accident, when going to places, when meeting people. What I did was just... Living.

Good luck to you 🍀

laurieluvsit · Answer

Go online. There are tests you can take that will direct you to the vocation that fits you the best. You can thank me latter. ... or you can marry a rich guy... just saying... lol

exitseven · Answer

I always wanted to be a astronaut. The Mercury astronauts were my heroes as a kid, especially John Glenn. I was in Air Force ROTC with the intention of becoming an pilot and eventually an astronaut. I really felt like that was what I was supposed to be doing.

Jersey2 · Answer

Try taking some Myers’s-Briggs tests online. They are free. Google it. The more questions, the better the accuracy. 80 or more questions are best. There are absolutely no wrong answers to the test. It will among other things, show careers that people who think like you excel at.

ICanSmellTheCosmos · Answer

Honestly, I didn't know until around 22.

My advice:

1) Choose something that you don't hate. You don't need to love it, just not hate. Neutral is fine.

2) Don't turn your passion into a career, because if you ever lose interest in that passion or get burned out on it, then you've lost something that you truly look forward to. I made this mistake and almost gave up on one of my defining interests.

Abbycado · Answer

I was always fascinated by the medical field. I am just starting out, but my aim is to become a PA or Physician Assistant.

KtownSlapps · Answer

Hun... I'm in my 30's and still have no f*king clue what's goin on! You're young still... enjoy your life and surround yourself with good people... things will fall into place eventually.

rachel776 · Answer

it's the family business going way back to my great grandparents

Nikki1989 · Answer

I did business training and fell into the real estate field. It was never planned, but I am happy it worked out that way.

WhitneySnow · Answer

I just started college and I’m the same way. Wish I could help.

slatyb · Answer

I picked programming because it's easy and pays well. It pays even better now.

strateguy632 · Answer

I always wanted to use my skills. But my goals kept changing!

Jennz6 · Answer

I always loved Dancing 💃 but I didn’t think I would do it Topless

Crazzyyworld · Answer

Don’t be a bitch. That’s crucial. Be calm and let it come and take it one by one. If you bitch angels leave.

UrsulaY · Answer

What you plan to do is most often not what you turn out to be doing.

Horn_Hog · Answer

I want to be a nose surgeon, not because i wish people to smell my neckbeard odor but because @elf_erectus couldn't tell that he was fucking a grapefruit.

Yannae · Answer

I just jept trying stuff until one thing clicked

Stephanie2004 · Answer

My enjoying what I’m doing.

kaucky1 · Answer

My premonitions backfired so do anything

Jeremy123456 · Answer

I wanted to be a stripper

How did you know what you wanted to do in your life?

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