Not Sure Which Direction To Take My Life

[Zak757]

I'm 19 years old and still not entirely sure of what to do with my life, and I'd like to do something now that I've had my high school diploma for nearly a year now and I've fallen out of contact with most my friends. I'm doing okay working as an assistant in plumbing/sheet metal company but it's definetly not a career path I'd want to live with.

Now as it stands, I have sent an application to the Mount Royal University to take courses in aviation, as I have my private pilot license and about 60 hours of flight time, though I can decline at any time. And while I somewhat like it, I'd be lying to myself if I said I really liked it. I just went through with it on account of having put a lot of money into it already, and wanting to accomplish something my family would be extremely proud of. It's the career path I'm defaulting on right now if I can't find something else. My main worry is the people I'd be working with. I'm fairly anti-social, and I'd rather play video games or watch anime/drama than play competitive team sports (besides paintball which I like) or drink, and I don't want to be stuck inside a plane for long hours several times a week attempting (and failing) conversation with someone I can't relate to. Aviation doesn't really seem like the kind of job which attracts people like me, from what I can see from other pilots I've met. I don't want to have a job in which I can't relate with my co workers, being friendless isn't fun at all, I've been there before. Also, the education costs are like 24,000$ which is pretty massive.

I'm lacking for aspirations outside of that, aside from one. I've been building a pretty original plot-driven science fiction story in my head (got a lot of setting, characters, major plot points, and art style worked out) for the last year or so that I'd love to make, but it just wouldn't work in the written form, and I never took any classes related to art or visual design in the entirety of grade school. It would work great in a comic/manga/cartoon/anime/video game form, but because I have never taken a course that would help me in getting a career in that area, I'm at a disadvantage. I don't really have natural drawing talent when it comes to drawing things that are either highly complex/hard to visualize, or non-existant in the real world (for example, I can draw a pretty good P-51D Mustang but asking me to draw a plane you made up in your head would result in fail). So I don't know if that's a viable career path either. And trying to get this story made into a cartoon in the West seems like an impossibility, and I'm not nearly enough of a weeaboo to consider moving to Japan (in fact, a lot of their culture really irks me).

I've given things like the Air Force or graphic design (preferably for video games) some thought, but nothing much besides that. My parents are really pushing me to make a choice here, so some recommendations on what I could plan on doing would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Elfgore]

I was in the same boat as you after I learned that being a game designer wasn't going to work out. I ended up switching colleges to a local one and was leaning towards business. The more and more I thought about going into a nine-to-five job in a suit and tie for the next fifty or so years was not what I wanted to do with my life.

That is what gave me direction. Ask yourself "What do I want to do for the next forty years and not be totally miserable?" Me? I choose to be a history major. I plan on being a teacher, but I'm always fine being an archivist or even a librarian. As long as it has something to do with history, I know I will be happy in life.

Maybe while attending classes as well, you should really make an effort on your idea. You never know what could come out of it.

 

[Foolery]

Have you considered getting a skilled trade? Mechanic, carpenter, electrician, millright, pipefitter, machinist, etc. Good money and steady work for the most part. Some trades are better than others I'll admit. But it's great if you like working with your hands. Plus you get to potentially work outside and away from too many people.

 

[TonianBK]

I think a lot of people have your experiences; not knowing how to spend the rest of your life, what area to study and identifying an avenue that appears difficult to make a living from.

Writing - writing is a viable area, but even with the best writing career ahead of you, it will take time to develop a readership - meaning that you will need a 'normal job' to fund your creativity until it gets to the stage where you can focus on it solely.

In regard to socialising at work - being social isn't a requirement necessarily - some people are more talkative than others and people accept them for who they are. School experiences won't translate to a working environment usually and it is likely that you will meet people that share similar interests as you.

There are also plenty of people in jobs they'd rather not have to do, are very unhappy in - this results in the high stress levels and mental health problems people experiences as a consequence of working life in the west - the feeling of being trapped in a job with no end in sight. But you on the other hand, have a long range plan which you can focus upon.

If you are committed to writing as a career, then its no point studying for a career that you will have limited time to yourself - such as piloting - a job where even at home, you are focused on your work - what you need to do, further training, reports etc - this takes away from your time and adds stress which is not the right environment in which to be creative.

Since you are already working in a field which can open up for decent money, I would increase your earning potential in this field by gaining qualifications which build upon your experience so you can command greater wages or work independently.

 

[Rolaoi]

I asked myself what I wanted in my life and made my decision based on that criteria. What you work as doesn't matter so long as they match up with your goals on how you want to live. So, think, where do you want to live? What do you want to be able to do on your off time? How much contact do you want with other people? Ask questions like that, then match them up against your interests and go from there. What you might end up picking may surprise you. Start your research broadly and work down.

 

[Kuilui]

Don't sweat it if you can't figure it out immediately and for god sakes don't just do something to please your family. It's YOUR LIFE not theirs, never forget that. It really pisses me off when I hear parents forcing their kids to take a plunge into something just because. I didn't know what the heck I wanted to do with my life, I only figured it out pretty recently and I'm 24. I went to college because I was forced and it was probably the worst mistake I've ever made. A crap ton of debt and no degree to show for it because I realized I hated what I was learning about 2/3rds of the way through my degree.

Do what you want, don't just do something for the sake of doing it to get people off your back. It hardly ever works out. Have a real talk with your parents about how you feel and really make sure they understand. Do what makes you happy and throw yourself into it. And even if you don't know what that one thing is, you'll figure it out. Believe me I was so depressed at 19, miserable, I hated myself and it was probably one of the worst years of my life honestly. So at least your head seems on straighter than mine was at 19. Your very young, RELAX.