Not Japanese related but..
 

well...Lots of people around me don't know what they want to do in life.

I think my father's story is quiet interesting.

He always wanted to become a carpenter since he was little.
He was 22 when he was affected in a car accident.
The only surviver was himself, he was lucky.
Since then, he stopped thinking about money.
He just wanted to live and enjoy every second in his life.
And now he's a great carpenter <3<3<3

I think most important is to find a job that is fun and brings happiness.
To find that job, you have to wait, I guess it's fate...
Some ppl know what they want from the beginning.
Some other ppl find it hard to realize their strengths.
Most important: they have to have faith in themselves!
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If you, for example, want to draw manga, I would aim for that and I wouldn't give up on it...
You could - in general - do something with art!
try to not regret a thing in life....
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The interesting thing in life is, that we don't know what's going to happen...
You, or any other person could be in a wheelchair tomorrow, for example.

I think...if someone REALLY doesn't know, what he/she wants to do in life,
blows of fate will lead the way, or they give us hints....

• hobbies, critical situations, role models, your childhood...
  all that impresses us and influences our later occupation XDDDDDD°
  omg - long posT XDD°°

greetz~
Raku,.

well since i got a really nice score in english exam (rest..not so good) my only option left was languages. i made it into two budget groups in universities. one was for english-latvian-russian translator. other one japanese. since my english already was/is advanced for everyday use i decided to go with something more exotic :) less than 100 people speak japanese fluently in my country + i have some contacts who have companies in japan...so there already was a nice option for a possible future job when i decided to pick up japanese :cool:

rakutenka...it sounds nice - do what you want. but truth is that most people arent able to do what they want because they are not good enough to do it and feed themselves. usually those are very specific jobs were you have to be exceptional to get noticed and to make an actual living of it. and....most people just arent.

I applied for and won an AFROTC scholarship :D So now I'm a happy little cadet. Though, I've been in college for a while now and I'm still not entirely sure what I'm gonna major in :/ But anyway, joining the military can be good for indecisive youths :D

well, I believe one can achieve everything if they want to, if they "really" want to....

@evanny:
But you're right, there are ppl who have a disease since birth, for example.
A friend of mine has always been sitting in a wheelchair since birth.
But she has dreams and goals....and never gave up on them <3
(*she wants to be a game-illustrator)

And I think a farmer that survives by feeding himself...*own home, own fields*
....can be as happy as one that lives in a big city and is rich.

...Well....sometimes you just need friends or people who help you.
It all depends on what one believes in, what makes you happy...what one enjoys most.

• If money, for example, makes one happy, than that's it ~

"being rich" - is a metaphor in my point of view.

• you can be rich --> having lots of money

• you can be rich --> having a family that cares for you, friends, enough to survive <3<3<3

You may find at some point you just hope to have a secure job, and marketable skills. Therefore rather than sitting in limbo trying to figure out what you want to do, i suggest you major in something that will train you directly for a certain job. You can always go back and get more schooling if you decide you do not like what you are doing, but what is important is that you have something to fall back on.

There are three major things that need to be taken into consideration... Or rather that I considered important.
First, it needs be a *living*. In other words, something that can make enough money to live on.
Secondly, it needs to be something enjoyable (to an extent). It`s going to end up being something you do a LOT of to make a living.
Third, it needs to be feasible. There need to be enough opportunities to do it that it will pay off.

A lot of things fit two of these, but very very few fit three.
An artist is usually capable of making money, and is enjoyable... But not feasible as there are few artists who make enough to live on.

The first two rarely change, but the last can change from year to year. For example, there are times when there are so many graduates of something or other that the job possibilities are quite low. A lot of people I know who went into computer science based on the countless job opportunities years before had a rude awakening at graduation when there were so many graduates flooding the market. If something is popular as a way to make a lot of money after graduation, chances are by the time you graduate there will be so many other people wanting to make a lot of money that it`s no longer possible.
On the other hand, we have a friend who had no clue what to do (other than not wanting to do any physical labor) who looked through and decided by process of elimination who is not a chemist in a very respected lab. He`d never been particularly interested in chemistry, but at the same time didn`t have anything against it. He makes more than enough to live very comfortably and had few preconceptions about the job so few disappointments - so is quite satisfied in life.

If you have a dream and are prepared to go through the hardships to follow it - great. But if you are just totally lost on what you want to do, look through job descriptions and look into anything that piques your interest. And then apply the three points above to it and go for the one that gets a good balance.

For me it was, and still is a "cross the street to see by yourself" kinda of experience.

I started for a year, after College, as an Internet Caffe Administrator/IT Support, but the truth is my degree was Tehnical, far away from IT.

2 years after that, I was a local supermarket Administrator and IT hardware/software Suport.

Now, I'm currently at Mid-Level to Senior-Lvl Financial Analyst, at one of the biggest retail companies in home appliances domain in my country. During this, I followed 3 years of University, but the Degree in Business Science wasn't really what i wanted in my life, so I left it, one week before the end.

Next comes a University in Belgium (in 2 years), for me to become a medical assistant, in Radiology/RMN department. Thats something that will suit best both of my dreams, one the PC analysis, the second, the human helping part.

It doesn't mather how big or small youre dreams are, you should at least try to follow them, until it's not too late. After the time passes, if you will not try, you will become bitter, bored by your work place and life and all the time asking yourself "Why didn't i tried to follow my dreams." .

PS: In my College degree diploma, it writes "Plummer Tehnician", but still, that didn't stop me from doing what I dreamed of, and neither to both my sisters, which are now medical assistants (one in work, one in the second year of University and working during study).

hmm ya i am on that journey myself i keep on changing my mind the other day i thought special effects w/makeup 15 minutes later it was pharmacy technician. so i guess the tyical advice micgiggy would be to keep on exploring different subjects especially the ones that u are loving

Hi Nobora,

I have read a lot of good posts but while you take their advice remember there are 50 year olds who jokingly (though there is a little bit of truth in every "im just kidding") say "I'm still trying to figure out what i want to do when I grow up."

There is a great saying .. "It took me 20 years to become an overnight success."

For me personally, I work in sales and 3d design...so basically I golf and BS a lot.

Took a year off after highschool...went to college...took a year off...went back & graduated with a degree in communication..went for a degree in computer animation..came back and fooled around at a pizza joint....worked at a jewelry store...fell into a sales career where I can use my 3d skills which help make me very unique in this position.

Is this the typical path? Well...it's more typical than you think..people bump and bounce around trying to figure out where they fit in but while doing so still follow your passions.

Don't let anyone tell you what "most" people do or how "most" people live or you'll end up like "most" people and we all know how most people feel about..most people. (being a little facetious here but I do have a deep conviction about comparing yourself to people...this will only negatively affect you.)

Well..hope this leads you down the path of destruction that I'm hoping so you can join us "adults" who 'claim' to know where we're going but still are trying to find our way.;)

Currently, I'm looking towards a career either in the Military, Linguistics, Psychology, or Art. In my case, I haven't quite yet singled out the exact path I would opt to take. Though, I'm constantly considering each aspect as I continue to study. I've been told it's inevitably a trial-and-error process.

If you have a dream, follow it. But, as others may have already said, do so wisely. Expect the occassional bump in life; have some form of plan. Do research and invest your efforts into accomplishing it, but also allow yourself to be exposed to different ideas. There's a lot to do in the world, and there may be something you might enjoy that you haven't discovered yet.



On a different note:

I have to say... I was very lazy and arrogant in High School. Prior to becoming a freshman, I was an honor student -- I was recognized as a "gifted" student. And if it sounds like I'm bragging, I'm not. In fact, it's one of the greatest shames of my life; one of my greatest regrets. I have virtually nothing to show for it all... primarily because I let it get to my head. I had dreams and goals... but, I took things for granted: my luck, my support, my time...

Especially, my time. When you're younger, you could always hear people talking about wanting to do High School over for reasons most often related to a lack of effort or particular wisdom. I used to think they were just lecturing, talking out of their as**s (excuse me)... but in, retrospect, I realize many of them may have genuinely meant it, regardless of how humorously they may have expressed it -- almost as though they've already come to accept it. And, it's funny... as it seems, it's more difficult to realize all this when you're younger, when it's the most crucial. I've come to the basic belief that, in general society (note 'general'), screwing up in High School, in some form or another, is required for many of us to learn to better appreciate life. Yet another paradox, no doubt.

... I realize I'm lecturing ~ and it is a generic lecture ~ but it's true... and it's worth a shot spouting it if there's a possibility you'll be capable of comprehending it. I understand, I'm not the oldest, wisest, smartest, most experienced individual here... but, whatever the case, I'm inclined to believe my years of living, for what they're worth, haven't passed bearing no fruits.

The point is, school has the potential to change your life for the better -- never for the worst. For High School, that's roughly 4 years out of the approximate 60 you'd hope to live. Those 4 years immediately could seem like a burden, but they do play a significant role in determining your future. Take advantage of them. Nurture your skills, even if they may not appeal to your specific interests. If you continue to do that modestly, I doubt anything but good would come of it. And, when the time comes that you're prepared to pursue a specific career, you'd be in a favorable enough position to do so gracefully.

You're either growing or your dieing.

You make a mistake just learn from it and move on.
The only mistake in life is not learning from your mistakes!

I always like this upbeat message:

"In a hundred years we're all going to be dead and nobody will ever know we existed and even if they did..they won't care because they are too busy living their own life..so don't worry so much!"

Don't beat yourselves up too much..those are called ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) so as soon as you start realizing you have an ANT infestation ..develop an ant eater to eat those negative thoughts.
Here is a link about "ANTs" and yes .. this is a REAL term!
Cognitive Distortions - What Are Cognitive Distortions?

My ant eaters are ladies, pubs, massuses, dance clubs, fine establishments that serve drinks, craigslist..massage section...works like a charm.

That's an interesting way to put it.
I'll remember that one. ;)

You should follow your dreams, but you should also be realistic.

You wanted to draw manga, yes? Think about how you could get a job drawing manga.

Is it possible to get a job like that, and if possible, are you actually able to do it (ex. it's possible to be a famous movie star, but the chances of it happening are one in a million)?

Do you just like doing it for fun, or do you actually have the ability to do it on a schedule, working with other people, and making money for it? Just because you like doing something doesn't mean you can automatically switch that hobby/interest into a job or career. Some things are best left as an interest.

Also, you're in high school, it's normal to not have a specific idea for your future career. Don't rush it and end up married to a career that you really didn't think through, let it come naturally.

It's not really about what we think.

If it appeals to you, you may want to seriously consider it. It definitely sounds like a respectable job, in my opinion (In fact, it's something I've considered myself). Just make sure you're familiar with the realities that come with the career... being a translator, especially within the military aspect. Realize, among other things, you may not go where you'd like to go, and you may have to say things you may not want to say. These are just possibilities, of course, and they may not necessarily be the case, but if you're willing to accept these circumstances, I think there's a good chance you could enjoy the job.

Do some research.