I’m a second round undergraduate student who just doesn’t want to do this college thing any more. Not only do I lack the motivation to do homework, but once started, I have to suppress strong feelings of rage, making the process very time inefficient. I am getting psychological help and am on medication.
My first degree was in Math. I came to hate the major but was able to power through it. Then, I joined the Army. I loved it. However, I was assigned to a bad unit due to bad luck, which would have been recoverable were it not for the personnel reductions due to the sequester. I tried getting a job. I could get any minimum wage job at a retailer, but not one appropriate for a college graduate.
So I’m back in college again going for Engineering. This time, I don’t even see an end to it. It’s not the profession I want to pursue, but rather the one the Department of Labor says is going to be in demand. Furthermore, I don’t believe them. I believe it’s a lie and and excuse to import more H1 visas so that the Business majors who work in middle management jobs don’t have to pay their employees higher salaries than their own. I can’t compete with some guy from India who wants to be an engineer a lot more and is ten years younger. The fact I was there competing would lower the other guy’s salary, but in the end I’d still be left out unemployed with two degrees. Then, I’d end up getting a third degree in accounting or something, going back to college again and again until I snap completely. After all, I thought I was done with college the first time I graduated.
I’ve gone over my career plans with several career counselors and engineers. They’re all convinced my plan is sound though, and to be honest I can’t come up with any better ideas. I know I’d rather do something in national security, but it’s just not an option for me.
I know how to suck it up for a finite period of time in anticipation of a brighter tomorrow. But, I don’t know how to accept that this is what my life’s going to be whether I like it or not. Furthermore, I have to meet the expectations of professors who assume I want to be here.
The easiest way to get into national security is cyber security. What type of engineering are you doing? If it’s computer or even electrical, then you have a decent shot at getting in. Especially with a degree in math to supplement. Otherwise, save for some specific types (petroleum for example), engineering has great job prospects and certainly still will in two years when you graduate. It probably wouldn’t be difficult to find an engineering job in the army or other military branches, if that’s more appealing.
I know the grind is hard, but try to remember why you’re there. Do you have a family to support? Will you have a family to support? Will you be proud of yourself if you stick through it and graduate? With a degree in engineering, you won’t ever go to school again unless you want to. It’s the last two years. Just power through.
We have heard what you don’t like…what do you like to do? Also, even though you didn’t like the Math major, are there jobs involving math you can get? Talk to the career office at your alma mater (or current college) for help.
What I liked was the military. It had practical field work, adventure, purpose, and yes, an off-chance to inflict harm on those who spread evil. But, it and careers like it are closed.
To clarify, I was going petroleum engineering but messed up one of my classes and am open to changing majors. Good field, but too many students. I’ve no family to support. And to reiterate, I’ve gone to career advisers. Mathematics only really pays off at the MS level or above. I’d have to be a good student, which I’m not, and even then it would be in academia, which I can’t stand. The path I’m on is the best that’s left.
I went back to school out of spite. I live in a town where to voters send politicians to Washington in order to keep the dysfunctional army unit in town to boost the local economy and provide a source of cheap labor after those clowns are done wrecking our careers. Last thing I want to do is reward them by working for them.
I’ve gone over the list of positive things I can do several times over, but those options have been exhausted. I guess I’ve gotta learn how to draw motivation out of hate. Where do i go to find an expert in that?