[PeachCream22]

Hey everyone, I'm currently taking A levels, which is a real turning point in my life...

This may sound cliched to some of you, but it really is a big deal for me.

I've lost it at school. I've never been like this in secondary school. Maybe it's because in secondary school, I've always been motivated to study hard to get good test results (i am super competitive), and honestly, I've never really thought about my future or career, though most teachers have bugged the students about it. I've always been confident about my grades, and about the career thing, I am actually scared and I've always put it off because I'll always say," i'll think about it when I'm older". I was always interested in health and science, and I thought that was enough to keep me going.

But now when I'm at the stage before entering university, I've totally lost it. I just don't feel like studying. A levels is just tough and stupid. I hate it. I hate all of the subjects I took (Psych, Math, Bio, Chem and LLE(as)) but those were the only subjects i hated the least at my school. Well, I don't actually hate them, but they're difficult and I really can't see myself doing a field of medicine or engineering in the future, but i was thinking of being a doctor since i hate that the least compared to engineering.

As for humanities courses like business, i don't like those either. I just don't seem to have passion for anything at all. And what's the use of studying so hard and making a wrong choice of it all and regret for the rest of your life?! Is it normal for me to feel this way, or is it normal for college students to LOVEEEEE the subjects they take during Alvls and are SURE about what they want to be? Because I seriously don't know WHAT i want to do in life. My interest can range from English Literature to Science, and i lose interest quickly. The only thing I can cancel off is engineering and business courses, along with art.

I like to draw, read, jog, listen to music, day dream and ponder on my emotions which have been messed up due to an ex which i had my very first relationship with in college. It could be due to that, i don't know, that i've lost interest in studying.

Every time I just think to myself, what am I living for? What's the use of going to uni? If you want to live, why can't you just cook and clean the house like a housewife and fall in love with someone or whatever and marry. Okay, you'll get a proper job and get into society once you have a degree and then what? Live like a drudge for the rest of your life without really knowing what your purpose in life is? Earn money, buy the stuff you want, have a social life...it's all so...BLAH. My train of thought goes in a cycle: it starts with me thinking education is positive: without education, we wouldn't have the technology we have right now, we wouldn't be wearing clothes or using cosmetics and bath products, we wouldn't have the toilet for our biological needs, and we wouldn't be destroying our green planet, and i start having negative thoughts about education again.

Am I being too emotional about it? I guess i'm just scared of making the wrong choices for uni, and I keep getting distracted from studies by these deep thoughts. I know I should be working hard...but i'm slowly letting myself fail in life by thinking about these. I just want to stop and have answers to them!

I'm not sure if i'm making any sense. But thank you for reading my post. I'm sorry if it shows my ignorance about the importance or career and work and future, but that's why i'm asking and trying to remove my ignorance.

[deelooted]

I went through the exact same scenario in my last year of high school. I was so overwhelmed, fearful and anxious that I froze and did nothing. So, my only option was community college because I had not sent off any applications to any universities.

Before you decide, I would recommend to go and try to volunteer in the industry you are thinking of getting a degree for. Shop around and try as many as you can. Let the occupation find you, so to speak, rather than you finding the occupation.

That way, you have a better chance at doing what you love. And maybe you won't need a degree! Hope this helps

[H3rmit]

Originally Posted by PeachCream22

...about the career thing, I am actually scared and I've always put it off because I'll always say," i'll think about it when I'm older". I was always interested in health and science, and I thought that was enough to keep me going.

But now when I'm at the stage before entering university, I've totally lost it. I just don't feel like studying. A levels is just tough and stupid. I hate it. I hate all of the subjects I took (Psych, Math, Bio, Chem and LLE(as)) but those were the only subjects i hated the least at my school. Well, I don't actually hate them, but they're difficult and I really can't see myself doing a field of medicine or engineering in the future, but i was thinking of being a doctor since i hate that the least compared to engineering.

... And what's the use of studying so hard and making a wrong choice of it all and regret for the rest of your life?!

I have experience with what you're feeling, plus the perspective of age, 50+. I am currently a student doing my second degree. So . . .

Any choice you make now is not necessarily for the rest of your life. People change careers. The best choice you can make is to do the best with what you're involved in right now. Push yourself in the area of studies you have been interested in, which seems to be health. There are many careers below doctor in the health field. You may or may not be cut out to be a doctor, but there is some level you could make it at most likely.

It's tough, you say. Here's a saying - when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Are you going to lie down and give up, or fight? I choose to fight. Yes, most people want to exercise, listen to music and daydream. These are things you do for yourself, things you need to make time for in your schedule. Then study as hard as you can. It's your job right now. What I've given is a fairly conventional point of view, I would say, but in this case it is also my point of view.

[RomanSunburn]

There is nothing wrong with taking some time off from school to figure out what you are passionate about. I think the idea of working/volunteering in various fields to figure out what you like is a great idea. If you're thinking about the health field, try to find a job/volunteer opportunity in a hospital or clinic. You probably won't love what you're doing, but you'll be able to see what others are doing and maybe decide if that's something you'd like to be doing. Look up jobs online and in the newspaper. Look at the classifieds to see what's out there. Honestly? There's no rush to finish schooling. And at this point, it can be a very expensive detour to where you want to be. If I could go back 10 years, knowing what I know now, things would be very different.

Oh, and ps? There's nothing wrong with being a housewife if that's what you want to do and there's a husband who can and wants to support you. Just because you're a housewife, doesn't mean you can't get involved in your community and make a positive impact on society.

[PeachCream22]

Thanks for the advice,everyone. I guess I'm just overwhelmed. I'm going to be fine. So the main thing is to just explore the possibilities right? I guess my area's a little limited for that, but I'll try.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by PeachCream22

I just want to stop and have answers to them!

It is hard when you are in school and only have experience with school! It is one thing to think about what you might like to do but the doing is always much messier and less linear than school; with school you go one grade to the next and get clear guidelines on what to do and how well you are doing it compared with the other people doing it alongside you but life after school is not like that.

Find and stick with working on and doing what you like. I kept waiting for the surroundings and other people to have the answers for me but it is only Me who has the answers for Me. All the secondary school work is like a base coat of paint; necessary, but not very glamorous.