What Future Plans?

I've been at my current job for almost 1 1/2 years now, and it's good. I was offered an actual position 2 months into an internship I was doing, and was able to keep working and finish schooling at the same time. Within a few months of being hired I was full-time, and everything was so wonderful about it. Really. My internship supervisor at the job had been talking about trying to get me a job when I finished school, and he didn't think he'd even be able to get me more than 10-15 hours a week then. By that point I was one of the senior employees of our department. I love my job, I love what I do, this isn't a thread to complain about that at all. I'm even working in the right position now to get licensed by my state in 2 areas that I enjoy working in.

Today was just kind of a wake up call in terms of my need to "grow up", and how my MI has affected so much. While talking with my supervisor this afternoon, I realized that I'm only about 3 months away from the last license I've been working towards. When I mentioned it, he asked me what my future plans are. I have no idea. I plan on staying here for a while, at least, but as he also mentioned the pay isn't amazing for what I do, and there isn't a lot of room for diversifying. I work in corrections, and I enjoy it and would like to continue working with these types of people. The only real career move I would like to do would be moving on to working in a prison. But that change is somewhere far down the road, maybe even another 5 years away. It just makes me wonder what I really want. Am I wanting to stay here because I really love it and find it rewarding, or am I just too afraid to move forward? I've already felt some burnout from the work, but I also have major depression and anxiety, so that might have contributed.

I guess I just kind of needed to rant some about this. I'll be 29 in a few weeks, and I don't know what I want from my life. I feel like most people have an idea by now, but when I look ahead I don't see any huge dreams or hopes or aspirations. Just the same thing, forever.

Good to rant, but better perhaps to talk it over with someone who understands you. Plenty of time at 29.

The plan is to talk to someone who knows me better. That is not an option 24/7, though, and posting here is.

I don't believe it is easy to know what you want to do with your life at any age. I've always felt you make a decision based on what you know now and adjust until you find something that feels right. For me, my work aspirations have changed as I changed. I think a little differently today than I did at 29.

It is fantastic that you found work you love. It would be good to reflect on what you love about it and try to determine if any of the opportunities you see before you will have the same characteristics that you love. Loving your work is a huge plus...especially, with living with anxiety and depression.

Thanks for replying. I do love where I'm at now, and I don't really feel like I want to make any changes. My supervisors don't seem to see that, though, and especially the one I talked to today. He wants to give me more opportunities to experience more and be paid better, but I'm doing fine where I'm at. It's just frustrating, and sometimes it makes me feel like I'm not being ambitious enough to want more for myself.

If you love where you are now and what you are doing, I don't think you should feel pressured to change. It might be helpful to identify *what* you like so much about what you are doing now.

Your supervisor wanting to promote you is a good thing, even if it is annoying and unwanted at the moment. If you could explain to him why you like what you are doing now, he might have some ideas about how you could have those same qualities in a different job... or he may realize that you are truly happy where you are now and leave you alone!