<p>Some of you may have seen my other threads about all my problems this semester. Long story short: I took a leave of absence from my university and am now back home until the Spring. I was way too behind in my classes and too homesick to think clearly about the decisions I was making and now I'm right back to square one. </p>
<p>I'm very sad about how everything turned out, but I can only move forward at this point. </p>
<p>The thing that makes me the most frustrated is that I don't know what I want. I'm a sophomore and I am more confused about my major than I've ever been, I don't know where I want to go to college, I don't know who I am or where I'm going now. It's not a lack of motivation, its a lack of direction. I came home to figure it all out and make a new plan and go from there. I don't know how to start doing that. I literally could see myself majoring in anything from biology to political science to economics to graphic design to psychology. It never ends.</p>
<p>I thought coming home would solve everything, boy was I wrong. Now I'm sitting at home feeling worse than ever, with no purpose. Sure, I'm comfortable...but I'm a bum. </p>
<p>How can I get myself together? I see all my friends who are in school working towards their degrees and everything seems so perfect for them. I feel like I'm such a failure. </p>
<p>If you were in my position, what would you start doing to figure your life out? At this rate I'm going to be in school forever. I just want to make myself a new solid graduation plan that is feasible...but I feel hopeless right now. Any advice?</p>
<p>Get a full-time job. I was a lot like you at your age. I took a leave of absence after my freshman year and then worked a full-time job as a grocery bagger. By the time I had worked three months, I was ready to go back to college and get a degree so that I could have better career prospects. Sometimes, spending some time in the “real world” can help you get a little perspective.</p>
<p>Get a job ASAP. Work full time. On your day off, do some community service. Offer to pay your parents rent for your room and board. Go to counseling. Figure out why you quit everything when you either get bored or the going gets tough. Take responsibility for your actions rather than make excuses for them. Start acting like a responsible young adult.</p>
<p>Take a breather. Wonka’s right, get a job. Think about “What do I want?” Go back to college next year, find an interdisciplinary major where you can study everything and see where that leads you.
Stop worrying so much about whether you are on the RIGHT path. Many, many people end up in jobs that had nothing to do with their college major. Any path is better than standing still paralyzed by choice.</p>
<p>I actually have a job interview this week for a marketing design team. (They’re hiring several students - and technically I’m still in my university’s system). I think that will be really cool, because I’m already really interested in graphic design so it might help me to see if its something I want to pursue. </p>
<p>I think I might do a lot of self reflecting and self teaching this semester. I was talking to my parents and I feel a little better. I can’t care so much about what other people think of me. I just have to know that I’m going to get to where I want to be…I just have my own, not so smooth, way of doing it.</p>
<p>Well, I think that most adults never attain COMPLETE self-actualization. Life is full of bumps in the road, and the road is almost always full of turns. In order to be happy, you must fully accept and try to enjoy the place you are in life NOW…try to not worry about the “what if ‘xyz’ doesn’t make me happy?” In fact, I wouldn’t even take a job in a field you’re interested in…maybe get out of your comfort zone and see what happens. You might find something you enjoy that you had never even considered before. Plan for the future, but don’t fret over it. You can make yourself miserable that way.</p>
<p>Someone said (or possibly quoted) to me once on picking a path:
Do what you would do with your life if you didn’t have to worry about money (or anything related). Unless that thing is sitting around all day…then get off your lazy ass and do something with your life.</p>
<p>Have you done an interest assessment testing through your career counseling office at the university? You will probably be given a number of different test to see how your personality relates to different professions and what your academic strength are. Also, ask yourself a question: “What would I do if I knew I couldn’t fail?” Sometimes we think about all the limitations that we forget to look at possibilities and strengths. </p>
<p>I think college students are under so much pressure to decide on a major and stick with it. But most students change their majors a number of times before they graduate. Also, most people change careers several times during their life time. Good luck!</p>
<p>I would suggest getting a full time job if that is possible and seeing a good therapist. There is a reason for your behavior that goes beyond homesickness, not knowing what you want, or not liking anything you start. The therapy will help you sort how why you react to things the way that you have. I wish you lots of luck in the coming months and hope you will find your path.</p>
<p>Try making an appointment with the career center at your school, maybe over the phone if you are not nearby. Career counseling tools such as an interest inventory (like the Strong Interest Inventory), personality assessment (like the Myers Briggs), values assessment, or skills assessment can help you find the direction that you are looking for. These tools can help you figure out your major and plans for after college and career planning.</p>