I Don't Know What To Do

[GTPJay]

With my life >_< . Everyone keeps saying to go to school, but idk wtf for?

 

[Latro]

1. How old are you?
2. What have you done thus far (this may simply be attend school depending on your age)?
3. What sorts of talents do you think you have, from your experience in school and/or elsewhere (math, writing, science...)?

 

[meshram.alok]

If you've ever felt a creative rush and the contentment/happiness resulting from following that desire, find what made you do that and seek knowledge+practice+skill.

If not, school is (supposedly) a good place to be exposed to various subjects and develop interest and creativity.

Though schools often tend to focus more on completing courses rather than introducing children to the world. Attend even then. At least you'll have access to libraries/laboratories/good teachers.

 

[GTPJay]

I'm 21 and the things that interest me wouldnt be found in college. I like racing cars, I like comedy but I doubt I could get on stage. I also like playing poker and blackjack.

 

[GTPJay]

1. How old are you?
2. What have you done thus far (this may simply be attend school depending on your age)?
3. What sorts of talents do you think you have, from your experience in school and/or elsewhere (math, writing, science...)?

I always did good in everything but math

 

[Latro]

Unfortunately all of the specific advice I could give involves math, so I can't help you, but I'd search for some kind of practical interest. Try to avoid a desk job, if you can; you'll probably wind up frustrating yourself that way.

 

[Razare]

GPTJay, if you can find a job that will pay for you to live in a house/apartment that you're comfortable with, then do not listen to the people telling you to go to school.

There is nothing wrong with being a working man and doing a job that does not require a degree. Many jobs out there pay well and do not require years of college. Take plumber for example, just need to apprentice yourself and pass an examination.

If you can find a decent job that isn't going to get you laid off 5 years from now, go with that and get your own place. School isn't going to make your happier unless *you* want to do it.

Now if you do not think you can get into such a job that pays well, then college might be a good choice. There's odd things colleges offer too, stuff like culinary arts or piloting school. If you like cars maybe you'd find piloting interesting?

 

[GTPJay]

I guess I just hate the whole lack of motivation thing. I'm to the point if someone tells me something that catches my interest I might just do that.

 

[ArcusDog]

Hey Jay, I'm in the same sort of state right now. I'm doing *nothing* and wondering what I should do before I'm flat broke. Nothing interests me terribly and the thought of getting a job is torturous enough to make me stop thinking it.

By the way, I got interested in poker for a while and got pretty good at it. I got a job at a casino as a house player - they paid me to play poker. It was awesome for a while, but the constant exposure to people and the stress of playing the game eventually burned me out. I lasted a year though, which is a long time for one of my endeavors.

I've moved on from poker to trading the stock market. But trading is pretty slow right now and so is boring me.

 

[GTPJay]

Hey Jay, I'm in the same sort of state right now. I'm doing *nothing* and wondering what I should do before I'm flat broke. Nothing interests me terribly and the thought of getting a job is torturous enough to make me stop thinking it.

By the way, I got interested in poker for a while and got pretty good at it. I got a job at a casino as a house player - they paid me to play poker. It was awesome for a while, but the constant exposure to people and the stress of playing the game eventually burned me out. I lasted a year though, which is a long time for one of my endeavors.

I've moved on from poker to trading the stock market. But trading is pretty slow right now and so is boring me.

I have a job I'm a manager at advance auto parts. But I hate dealing with the retarded people that come in there. They'll randomly bring me a car part and expect me to know wtf it is, as if I built the car myself. It's extremely stressful and I wanna move on but idk to what.

 

[Razare]

Heh, INTP careers are difficult to choose. Unless we're really passionate about something, we're apt to dislike whatever sort of job we get into. Maybe I'm just a pessimist on this.

 

[Red Mage]

Heh, INTP careers are difficult to choose. Unless we're really passionate about something, we're apt to dislike whatever sort of job we get into. Maybe I'm just a pessimist on this.

No, this is a perfect description. Anyone who disagrees is passionate about something.

 

[Latro]

No, this is a perfect description. Anyone who disagrees is passionate about something.

Isn't that somewhat circular logic? "If you agree, you agree. If you disagree, you agree."

I see how it works, but if you look at it objectively, it turns out kinda strange...

 

[Red Mage]

All of my logic is circular. Aristotle said the circle is nature's most perfect shape, ergo circular logic is the most perfect logic.

 

[Latro]

All of my logic is circular. Aristotle said the circle is nature's most perfect shape, ergo circular logic is the most perfect logic.

That's not circular logic. That's...dammit, there's a particular logical fallacy here...OK it's actually several at once:
Appeal to authority
A variant of "post hoc ergo propter hoc"

There's probably even more that I could pull out of that...

 

[Prof_Pointless]

I agree that it is very difficult to set a definite career for yourself that would remain interesting throughout your life.

The realistic answer to your question, however, is that going to school will give you more opportunities (in general) and allow you to have more control over your career if/when you find a passion.

 

[Red Mage]

That's not circular logic.

It wasn't logic.

 

[Mute]

I'm in college too and had the exact same problem. I'm smart-hate math, and find my interests constantly shifting. For a long time I was just getting gen eds out of the way, unsure about where my life was headed.

I ended up deciding on acting, sound recording/music and astrophysics simply because I have a passion for each and never find myself bored.

Its all about finding something you enjoy and can realistically make money off of. You mentioned comedy-if your any good at writing, comedic writing can lead to big paydays (tv/film/stand-up). Acting/improv is also a great place to start.

Take what you want from this world. Good luck.

 

[Latro]

It wasn't logic.

Aristotle said the circle is nature's most perfect shape, ergo circular logic is the most perfect logic.

is an example of logic, albeit fallacious logic.

 

[Ermine]

Heh, INTP careers are difficult to choose. Unless we're really passionate about something, we're apt to dislike whatever sort of job we get into. Maybe I'm just a pessimist on this.

I'm having issues with that atm. Any job available to me is tedious, repetitive, and has no lasting impact or reason for me to care about what I'm doing. All the jobs I'd love to have require at least a bachelor's degree.

 

[Concojones]

I'm having issues with that atm. Any job available to me is tedious, repetitive, and has no lasting impact or reason for me to care about what I'm doing. All the jobs I'd love to have require at least a bachelor's degree.

wtf?! I have a bachelors*, and I find all the bachelors jobs "tedious, repetitive, and having no lasting impact or reason for me to care". I really hope I'm wrong though, and find something cool soon. It's a fucked up situation that I don't wish to anyone.

*well in Europe it's called a Master's (5 years), but I think the US equivalent is a Bachelors. God, am I going off a tangent again?

 

[Ermine]

Ok, then I really hope I find better bachelors jobs than you. I really hope that I spend my whole life despising my job. I'd spend so much of my life in it and it would be a crying shame to waste it away like that.

At the very least, art is my love and unless I have a phenomenal portfolio, I'd have to get a bachelor's in order to get an art related job that pays adequately.

 

[Ulysses]

It can't be too late for you to get a bachelor's in your subject of interest, can it?

As for me, I'm currently doing an internship with CIBC, and I absolutely love it. I plan to pursue the same career path once I've completed my BSc in computer sciences. I'm also doing some rallying with the Toronto Autosport Club as a hobby. At the moment I'm sort of mediocre compared to the other racers, but I'm getting better. If I'm lucky enough and make it to the big leagues some day, I'll quit my career in computers without any hesitation.

 

[Ermine]

No, I'm going into my first year of college this fall. I just really hope that my education isn't in vain. I'd hate to go through school and love it, only to end up in a boring repetitive meaningless job.