What course is for me?

[psychopathwannabe]

I have read through the whole school and work section and is relieved to find that I am not the only one who can't seem to find the right course that would keep my interest as well as my passion long enough.

I have dropped out from school a few times. So far I have studied Accounting (which I have no regret drop out), Marketing (Boring) and Law (half-like with issues that I will elaborate later).

Now I have a range of subjects in mind that I am interested in (so far). They are:
1. Biotechnology
2. Philosophy
3. Criminology
4. Psychology
5. Pilot (Ok it is not a subject I know)

I am not sure which one I should go for at this stage, in fact I am not sure if I should go for any further education in this point. It all starts with the issues I encountered in Law.

The issues in Law are in fact also applicable in the subjects mentioned so here it goes.
i.) I have language barrier, I didn't study in my first language and whatever subject I mentioned above will not be studied in my first language.

ii.)I like certain aspect of Law only. E.g. Criminal Law, Tort Law etc. And I only pay attention to those aspect of Law that I like. Other aspect like Company Law etc, I simply skived the lectures and do my own thing.

iii.) For the aspects that I like, I only like the concept, the general picture of them. Once it goes down to the details like case NAME and YEAR, I simple ignore them which leads to a fail or mere pass in exam since mentioning the concept without the precise case name and year wouldn't take me far no matter how creative and insightful I am.

So when it comes to reality check, I realize that no matter which subject I choose to study at the end, the issues above are going to hunt me down. How do you study Philosophy without remembering the name of the Philosopher? Or how do you study Psychology when you only interest in abnormal psychology and ignore Cognition and the brain?

So I would like to hear your advices in my situation.
Also for those who found your REAL interest, can you tell me how you did it?

Thanks!

 

[Cognisant]

Don't study philosophy; they suck all the fun out of it.

Also for those who found your REAL interest, can you tell me how you did it?

Stop resisting and just let the madness take over.

You already know what you want to do, it's not rational, when you stop looking for it you'll find the answer was waiting for you all along.

 

[Minuend]

School suck all fun out of everything. They put pressure on you. Bastards!

One must realize that even what is closest to ones heart is not fun all the time. Mainly because what I just said. :<

Easiest thing to do is just read up on the subjects and see what you like. Though, there will probably always be certain elements that are a bit tedious to get through. Often the beginning can be a bit bland as well, before you get to the good stuff.

I have *always* been a curious person interested in how and why things work. I've always been fond of nature, am very fascinated by the cogs (the ones that spins, not the ones that talks )
of the universe, so to speak. Science and logic has been a intimate lover for quite some time. At first I figured I'd study biology because I have a great interest in nature and science, and I figured it would be the easiest science to master. As my self-esteem grew, I changed from biology --> biotechnology --> chemistry and now I have decided on physics which I previously did not even consider as I saw it as too difficult for me. But, fuck, I'll just work and if I fail I will sell all my belongings and spend the rest of my life travelling using money from prostitution.

Edit; What Cog said reminded me of what I usually tell myself: I already know what I want, now I just have to figure out why I am conflicted. And then I usually know what I want, and what's holding me back are usually some doubts as to whether I will accomplish my goal etc

 

[HDINTP]

School suck all fun out of everything. They put pressure on you. Bastards!
etc

That is it. But i can remember teacher to say: What do you want? If no one pushed you to work what would you do then? Told some funny stories and then got where i am getting. If you could do just what you like would you do it? That was the moment when i told to myself yes i would. When i like something i can spend all days and nights doing that. The problem is that i hate stereotype. Everything can be mastered easily. There isn´t anything like ceiling or limit of yours i hate people who are telling me. And when you do things you are interested in you won´t have problems that is why i can move on and still do things i didn´t try to understand yet. Once is enough and you will handle. I can be wrong that is true but that is what i think. How do you imagine school? Whole life is teaching you by itself doesn´t it?

 

[Dapper Dan]

Hard to say. For me it was computers, but that's the stereotypical INTP answer.

What do you most enjoy doing that can be translated into a serious course of study?

 

[Meer]

Stop resisting and just let the madness take over.

Which one?

 

[Words]

By virtue of Ti and Ne or your asserted dislike for details:

Biotechnology: Highly Applicable. Greatest potential of possible discoveries. unconquered. most Beneficial to Society(if you care for that.) 2,3,4 and especially 5 sucks by far.

Also, there's this branch of biotechnology called, Bioinformatics. Do that if you like teh computers. I believe arranging all knowledge and discovering knowledge in the future will predominantly involve the full use of computers, moreso than today's level of use. (Maybe it will be a prerequisite to education.) Aside from that, Bioengineering. And if you get any good ideas, put it in the market.

Accounting is largely Si without any hint of Ne, any field involving humans generally end up with specifics due to the unpredictable nature and the currently limited assumptions one can make with humans.

Also for those who found your REAL interest, can you tell me how you did it?

I got to forums. I talk about everything. I go to school. I talk about everything. It's a pretty simple equation. Indeed, I'm interested in all knowledge involving technicalities and ideas. It's not really the specifics(which field) of the information, but rather the nature of information, and in my case how it's delivered, that matters.

School suck all fun out of everything. They put pressure on you. Bastards!

Pressure is entirely self-voluntary or self-invented. The only scenario is: If you do the boring stuff(assignments and procedures), you stay in school. if you don't do them, you get kicked out. The best thing about schools are the discussions, just like in this forum. If you can do that enough, you won't ever need to study. At least, that's how I managed.

 

[Fallenman]

You already know what you want to do, it's not rational, when you stop looking for it you'll find the answer was waiting for you all along.

This.

How do you add names?

The insanity is that we're trying to rationally determine what would be best for us. You're playing the wrong game. Rationality rarely has anything to do with our desires, except when our desires decide to play by rationalities rules (and even then it's probably only superficial at best, our desires are diva's they don't what they will).

Ask yourself what are you looking for in a job? Then ask yourself, do you want to do that for the rest of your life? Point is, sometimes we have objective plans that we're trying to meet, maybe we just want a respectable job, or money, or whatever. But are we forcing ourselves to compromise in attaining that?

I love writing. I love design. I love ideas, and creating them in all their forms.

I love to problem solve, and connect with people, to help them grow.

None of the jobs I had been looking to do really connected with any of those ideals, and it made everything so much more difficult. Find what you love, believe me you're probably already doing it (it's the nature of the emotion), and then pursue it. I feel as if what people lack now is the audacity to be honest with ourselves, to turn down the glamorous job and be an artist. Who the hell should know, but I promise you if all you want to do is what you love, then the search is easier than you think.

 

[psychopathwannabe]

The only thing that is holding me back is I don't trust myself.

As my interest in things comes and goes away in time, I really don't know whether the courses I am interested now would end up like those courses I was once interested in or not, namely drop out in one or two years time.
Yes there are things that I enjoy learning, the problem is they can't keep going. I could keep reading certain things for a period and would do so without much sleep but that's for that ONE particular period. Then I lost interest and become extremely lay back until I find a new interest and it all goes again.

You see I used to love science stuffs (but not the maths) and I was a very "engineer" (or handy?) type of person long time ago (like when I was 8). I used to break down all kind of things in my house and build them up again; computer, chair, bicycle, even water pipes! But them somehow as I grew up, I became a "literature"person and since then my old ability and interests have largely decreased and I feel like I am no longer in touch with them. It is weird to explain, its like the magic is gone. I simply can't think or behave the same way as I once was.

I like discussion with others but most of the time the points that they bring up are lacking of the "enlightening" element. I mean they are some good point but not that groundbreaking, they are still within a box if you got what I mean.

Since as I grew up, specially recent 2 or 3 years, I became more and more introvert, it is not surprise that I do NOT want an office job. Those standard 9-5 sitting down, typing, recording whatever is NOT for me.
I preferably not to work with others as a team. By that I mean it is ok to have a group of people around me but I want to develop/analysis the project, the case or whatever you call it all by myself. Quiet time is very important to me, I don't want to waste time and talk nonsense with others. It would be good to have a decent income but to be honest, I know I don;t care much about it once I find my true passion.

 

[Words]

The only thing that is holding me back is I don't trust myself.

As my interest in things comes and goes away in time, I really don't know whether the courses I am interested now would end up like those courses I was once interested in or not, namely drop out in one or two years time.
Yes there are things that I enjoy learning, the problem is they can't keep going. I could keep reading certain things for a period and would do so without much sleep but that's for that ONE particular period. Then I lost interest and become extremely lay back until I find a new interest and it all goes again.

Do you have friends? I ask this because I hear about the motivation problem quite often, and I think that the best way to "fill" that motivation bar up is to have people around you, could be people who share the same interest with one of things that have slightly interested you. Or.. you can just keep moving around, which I don't advice, because I don't believe passion is based on specific fields of knowledge like pure chemistry. It just seems so arbitrary to me. I think most people are only passionate about certain things because they are familiar with those things. The only true distinctions are the level of complexity, the level of generality(N), and the level of technicality(T). Maybe you could find the kind of information that attunes to your level, but, then again, preferences affects skill which affects preferences.

I've also had the same childhood curiosity experience. I think many have had that experience. It's great because it's a mindset with few assumptions, and the less assumptions, the more curiosity.

 

[MsAnthropy_Indefatigably]

...Also, there's this branch of biotechnology called, Bioinformatics. Do that if you like teh computers. I believe arranging all knowledge and discovering knowledge in the future will predominantly involve the full use of computers, moreso than today's level of use. (Maybe it will be a prerequisite to education.) Aside from that, Bioengineering. And if you get any good ideas, put it in the market.

That sounds like something I need to get into!
I'm a nurse and I do love it, but I'm feeling like my potential is being wasted slowly everyday. I want to go back to school, but now I'm not feeling like nursing is going to be what I go back for...

 

[psychopathwannabe]

I have *always* been a curious person interested in how and why things work. I've always been fond of nature, am very fascinated by the cogs (the ones that spins, not the ones that talks )
of the universe, so to speak. Science and logic has been a intimate lover for quite some time. At first I figured I'd study biology because I have a great interest in nature and science, and I figured it would be the easiest science to master. As my self-esteem grew, I changed from biology --> biotechnology --> chemistry and now I have decided on physics which I previously did not even consider as I saw it as too difficult for me. But, fuck, I'll just work and if I fail I will sell all my belongings and spend the rest of my life travelling using money from prostitution.

Edit; What Cog said reminded me of what I usually tell myself: I already know what I want, now I just have to figure out why I am conflicted. And then I usually know what I want, and what's holding me back are usually some doubts as to whether I will accomplish my goal etc

How you successfully completed all biology, biotechnology, chemistry course? How hard working were you? How did you remove the doubts as to whether you will accomplish your goal?

 

[psychopathwannabe]

That sounds like something I need to get into!
I'm a nurse and I do love it, but I'm feeling like my potential is being wasted slowly everyday. I want to go back to school, but now I'm not feeling like nursing is going to be what I go back for...

Can I ask why you haven't considered to be a doctor? Or is it because you are interested in computer?

 

[psychopathwannabe]

Do you have friends? I ask this because I hear about the motivation problem quite often, and I think that the best way to "fill" that motivation bar up is to have people around you, could be people who share the same interest with one of things that have slightly interested you. Or.. you can just keep moving around, which I don't advice, because I don't believe passion is based on specific fields of knowledge like pure chemistry. It just seems so arbitrary to me. I think most people are only passionate about certain things because they are familiar with those things. The only true distinctions are the level of complexity, the level of generality(N), and the level of technicality(T). Maybe you could find the kind of information that attunes to your level, but, then again, preferences affects skill which affects preferences.

Do you know the exact course name of the branch of RED biotechnology, which is concern with human cloning and human genetic altering? How much MATHS will be involved as far as you know? (since I am horrible with it)
I am so fed up with myself moving around too. I want to pick one thing I can devote all myself into it.
I don't know anyone doing biotech related work, my friends are all Art related. So I basically relying on the internet to do all the research of it.

 

[MsAnthropy_Indefatigably]

Can I ask why you haven't considered to be a doctor? Or is it because you are interested in computer?

@psychopathwannabe I am not interested in making life and death decisions like that. I am truly more interested in the technical aspects of medicine than the human... But I manage to pull off being likeable by my patients, so I stay... Since I was 19 and working for Motorola, I was told I have a knack for Engineering and the like, but when I got let go from there, I just jumped in the most convenient career path (since I got myself knocked up and needed to have a job soon!).
+ I don't want to be in school for 18 more years. lol

 

[Words]

Do you know the exact course name of the branch of RED biotechnology, which is concern with human cloning and human genetic altering? How much MATHS will be involved as far as you know? (since I am horrible with it)
I am so fed up with myself moving around too. I want to pick one thing I can devote all myself into it.
I don't know anyone doing biotech related work, my friends are all Art related. So I basically relying on the internet to do all the research of it.

Sorry. I took one course on biotech, and it's basically introductory. I don't know how much math it has nor which particular field deals with human cloning. I don't think it'll be difficult though, seeing that the focus isn't on math. You have no interest in Art?

 

[psychopathwannabe]

Sorry. I took one course on biotech, and it's basically introductory. I don't know how much math it has nor which particular field deals with human cloning. I don't think it'll be difficult though, seeing that the focus isn't on math. You have no interest in Art?

There was a period I really like Art. Yet as I grow up, I prefer to keep thing simple. I prefer something that only contain either black or white. It is like maths (though again I have to emphasize that I am really bad in it); there are different ways to get to the answer but there will be one answer only.

Of course I could be wrong the way I see Art and science. I just have some doubts now and hoping someone will come along and "type" me , telling me the course/career that is most suitable for me.

 

[Vrecknidj]

Don't study philosophy; they suck all the fun out of it.

It all depends upon who they]/i] are. I have taught philosophy for more than 20 years. Every semester I have students approach me after the end of the class and shake my hand and thank me for the best class they've ever had.

But, as a rule, Cognisant is (unfortunately, in this case) right. Too many academic philosophers suck the joy out of the subject.

Dave

 

[EditorOne]

"There was a period I really like Art."

Right. And this week you are really interested in, say, auto mechanics. A year from now you'll be fascinated by oboes.

I point this out not to be a spoilsport but to remind you that one of the traits of a great many INTPs is to pursue an interest passionately until competency is achieved, then grow bored.

THEREFORE the idea that you just find something you like and study it is potentially doomed to be ephemeral. And not an approach to a lifetime vocation, at all. YOu should have in reserve the idea that no matter what you pick, you're liable to find it unsatisfactory after an unknown period of time. For me, three years.

So don't worry quite so much about a concentration of knowledge around a particular content or skill. Concentrate instead on learning how to learn, so that when you are tired of changing spark plugs you're prepared to learn how to analyze traffic accidents and then, five years later, want to be a crash test dummy. Or whatever. I'm being silly, except I'm not.

This may trouble you. I however found the realization that vocational contentment would never last to be somewhat emancipating. Whenever I grew frustrated with a job, I didn't waste time trying to figure out why, I just had a repeat epiphany (can you even repeat an epiphany? You know what I mean.) that somewhere deep inside I'd figured I'd learned everything I needed to learn to do that job, and what I really needed was to move on.

Remember, evolution doesn't really boild down to "survival of the fittest." For thinking creatures, economic survival goes to the adaptable.