Lack of Motivation and Career Direction

<p>Okay, I'm a freshman in my second semester of college and I'm having trouble motivating myself for my classes. I know I can do the work but lately I just don't seem to care. I enjoy a lot of what I do besides school but lately I just use it as a fun distraction to avoid doing schoolwork I don't want to do. A lot of my problem is I can't find a reason to really care about doing it. I'm mildly interested in the material but a lot of the times find it boring. I'm Majoring in Psychology and took two classes in that this semester in order to try to be motivated but I still am having a hard time becoming interested.</p>

<p>I feel as if I don't know what I want to do in life and that whether I do well in these courses or not, its not going to make a difference in getting a job I would enjoy and be good at. I want so much to have talents that I could put to use and work hard at in order to have a goal to work toward but I feel I'm just average or above average in most things. </p>

<p>I love the arts from music, books and tv/film but I have no talent in and I'm introverted and not really suited for the social stuff in business (nor is it my interest). I was always smart as a kid and I had big dreams back then but after high school and now college, I don't feel that way anymore nor do I feel truly interested in being an academic or researcher. And yet thinking about being an average person working in an average job leaves me cold and uncaring about the future.</p>

<p>I'm just the kind of person who needs a dream, a goal or something to be excited about for the future to make me feel motivated to really try for the future. I have that in other areas of my life (such as friends, hobbies, travel plans) and that makes me look forward to my life but I lack that in a career sense. I tried going to the Career Center at my school and I was thinking about maybe being a career counselor but thinking about that doesn't motivate me or truly make me excited about doing it. I feel like I've explored all my options and I still have nothing. I just really want to contribute something meaningful to the world, make a difference and all that idealistic type stuff and I'm not sure what would be the best use of who I am and what I can do.</p>

<p>I'm not sure what I'm looking for exactly but I'm frustrated and feel blocked so any kind of help, suggestions, advice or even ancedotes would be nice.</p>

<p>It's normal to feel that way. </p>

<p>Why don't you pursue what you love (your hobbies, your love for the arts, etc.) through extracurriculars? Maybe you'll find something that you never thought you could do or discover your passion. </p>

<p>I've been in that situation so many times. It's hard to get motivated when you don't really see the point in it all. I mean, heavens, to tell you the truth, the more I grow up, the more unsure I am of what I'm going to do with my life. </p>

<p>That probably didn't help but just know, you're not alone in feeling that way.</p>

<p>There are vast groups of kids just like you, they don't number in the tens but rather the hundreds. It's obvious that right now you are in a Rutt, you need to examine if it's just something that you think is short term (like senioritis) or is a result of the first year of study in something your really not very interested in. It sounds to me like you have no passion for what you are doing and studying, if that is the case you need to discover what it is that will turn you on. There are considerable resources and networks avaliable at school especially when kids get clkose to transfer into upper division programs. Attend all the orientation welcome session, talk to the kids, talk to your roomates, talk to your parents, sit in on some classes. Do some job shadowing in an area that you might be interested in, but do something. Sitting around and not doing anything isn't going to resolve anything. There is something out there for everyone and you just have to discover it.</p>

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I'm just the kind of person who needs a dream, a goal or something to be excited about for the future to make me feel motivated to really try for the future. I have that in other areas of my life (such as friends, hobbies, travel plans) and that makes me look forward to my life...

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<p>Can you tell us more about the things in other areas of your life that make you feel motivated, excited about the future?</p>

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I just really want to contribute something meaningful to the world, make a difference and all that ...

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<p>Anoel - the world NEEDS people like you. Desperately. Please don't give up just because you haven't found your calling at this young age.</p>

<p>Look over the clubs or organizations at your college that have an action-based mission. Examples might be environmental clubs, political clubs, groups that do community service and outreach, etc. - anything that will get you involved in something larger than yourself, and will make you feel like you're doing something meaningful. This requires that you care about something out there in the world, of course, but I'm assuming that you do based upon the quote above.
Start with just one group. My bet is that action helping others, or the world at large, will help you feel better about yourself, and will also make a positive difference in your studies. This may or may not lead to an epiphany about your life goals, but it will get you involved, and other opportunities will come from it. Get going!
The world needs you...seriously!</p>

<p>Also - don't expect to know where you''re going, at this point in your life. Enjoy the journey. Sometimes when we look around and it seems like everyone else has such direction and defined goals, we feel inadequate because of it. Don't fall into that trap.
You don't need to have your life planned out yet. In fact, it's healthier if you don't.
The key is getting involved in something that interests you. One thing. Sometimes opportunities come when you least expect them -when we're involved.</p>

<p>What about a gap year to do something like Americorps or some other service-related activity? When I was directionless early in college, I found a job as a Head Start teacher and worked for a year. When I went back to college, I had a clear direction and everything I did and learned had a lot more meaning because I was working toward a goal?</p>

<p>I'm in the volunteer club at my school and I do like being involved in the projects that they do. I just find it hard to find a skill that I have that would really benefit others. Thanks for the encouragement though. At this point, I'm strongly considering a leave of absence as I still am having a hard time caring about my courses and would like to do something different.</p>

<p>Consider what it is that you like doing in these projects (not just the fact that they benefit others). What exactly do you enjoy doing in these projects or elsewhere? </p>

<p>For example, teaching kids and working with senior citizens both are important and both benefit others. But many people might enjoy one or the other but not both.</p>

<p>When you can say specifically what you enjoy, then you can figure out what skills you need in order to do more of what you enjoy. And if you find that you don't have all of the necessary skills--just make and follow a plan to get them.</p>