<p>Recently I have been thinking a lot about my life. Seeing as I'm a Senior and the rest of my life is waiting for me, I've had to ask myself what is it all for. Up until this point school has never been hard for me. I have a weighted gpa that is over 5.0, I got a 2360 on my SAT and 790 on three SAT II's. I've now taken a total of 14 AP's. I think in all the years of schooling I've done, I've spent about 5 hours studying tops. The only reason I've been motivated to do well is in spite of people, especially my mom. Now I'm realizing that I feel empty, or that it has all been futile. Has anyone else felt this way, or understand what I'm going through, and if so how did you get through it?</p>
<p>Ever listen to the song "Time" by Pink Floyd? Adults keep telling us that our teenage years are preparing us for a future life, but when does this life actually start?</p>
<p>TheSwimmerKid, I know that I'm younger than you, but I think I know what you're talking about... I'm not all through it, but I went through this panic stage afraid that I would never truly "live." So I try to have more fun and enjoy life, you know? It's easier said than done for me, but I'm trying.</p>
<p>my advice is to not overanalyze and just go with the flow ;)</p>
<p>Overanalyzing is unhealthy.</p>
<p>Seriously, why live? Doesn't really fulfill much of a purpose, and most people, if not all existence, are/is superfluous anyway.</p>
<p>But we can't think that way, lest we become depressed.</p>
<p>I went through that angst stage early (as in, sixth grade, and was outcast for being emo, LOL), and wound up with the conclusion that the purpose to what we do is to make our later lives better and easier. Worth it? Who knows? Depends on the course of your life.</p>
<p>Final conclusion was that it's simply better to live largely in the moment, and not think too deeply about it.</p>
<p>Live for later? Doesn't sound too appealing. Yeah if you try to dumb things down and figure out the 'master plan' behind school, college, and all that bs you will merely be running in mental circles, figuring out nothing.</p>
<p>Yeah most of the work you did is pointless- many things you do are pointless. However nihilism doesn't make you feel any better about things; it doesn't do shlt.</p>
<p>I went through that last year. Eventually I just stopped thinking and became happy again. (I think it had something to do with AP exams coming up and me having to sell my soul to the College Board and whatnot.) Anyhow I'd recommend you keep busy -- very busy. Watch TV. Play computer games. Just don't think about this stuff. You won't find the meaning of life, people have been trying for thousands of years with no conclusive answer.</p>
<p>get a gf/bf :P</p>
<p>LOL!</p>
<p>Yeah, really. You should. More than one.</p>
<p>
[quote]
get a gf/bf :P
[/quote]
like it's just that easy</p>
<p>It sickens me that people would tell me to find a mate. I could not live with myself if I dumped the problems and stress in my life onto someone else. I guess in everyone's quest to be perfect, calloused, overachievers, they forgot what it felt like to be human, It is utterly appalling that you guys have simplified this whole thing to such an insufficient and completely cursory solution. So thanks but no thanks.</p>
<p>D00dz, chill. It was a joke, and my "LOL" should have made that pretty obvious.</p>
<p>Besides, it's not about "dumping them on somebody else". It's about distracting yourself with fun - a diversion from those kinds of melacholic thoughts. You don't burden whomever it is with your problems; you set them aside, forcing yourself to relax and enjoy life as fully as possible.</p>
<p>Eat some candy. You'll feel better.</p>
<p>Actually, I've been wondering the same thing. I mean, it's not just high school. After high school it's college. After college it's a job. You'll always be working to get through life, but I'm thinking that if you enjoy what you do, it shouldn't matter. I know lots of people do competitions and standardized testing to look good for college, but I honestly enjoy doing math...don't ask why. As long as I enjoy them, math competitions will be mediums of having fun rather than futile struggles. And the candy helps.</p>
<p>And fillet, what do you want to be when you grow up?</p>
<p>I don't know about fillet, but I want to be an astronaut when I grow up. Or a rocket scientist. Or a brain surgeon. Or the next Connie Chung. </p>
<p>.-_-.</p>
<p>that is a good question, and unfortunately, one only you can answer for your self. I'm a senior now, and I struggled with the same question you did for my first two years in high school. </p>
<p>Why are we living? nature never really intended us to get to this position; it used to be back in the day humans never really had time to ponder their own existence; we were just surviving, hunting, making sure we got the next meal, etc. well, now we have that time. there is no answer. we were never supposed to be able to answer it. you make your own answer, and your own purpose.</p>
<p>good luck.</p>
<p>"And fillet, what do you want to be when you grow up?"</p>
<p>Hmmm...I haven't really looked into it too much, but I hear financing is a great route for applied mathematicians...</p>
<p>Great route, excellent possible payoff, but with what I've been hearing, you'll face a good deal of competition.</p>
<p>I'm not aware of too many jobs strictly for applied mathematics (as in, without involving other major fields, such as biology or chemistry).</p>