Search for happiness, or get real and start paying the bills?
I am 28, have degrees in Mechanical and Forestry Engineering, and have worked on year long contracts but haven't really enjoyed the experience. Finding it near impossible to get full time permanent work, for engineers in Canada it is tough until the baby boomers start leaving.
Been thinking a lot lately if maybe this path isn't what I should be doing.it just doesn't feel right. Maybe cause of the particular contracts...
Any advice...stick it out and search for engineering work (I need to pay the bills and loans badly), search for the dream and motivation or what.
Didn't know where to post this as most times it makes me feel like crap as I am poor, unhappy, and it has cost me the girl of my dreams already.she just couldn't wait, and wasn't being supportive.
Answer:
I totally understand where you are coming from. I'm 30, have a degree in Chemical Engineering and I'm currently working in the IT field. I aspire to be psychologist someday soon (I also have a bachelor's in Psychology).
Although I am fortunate that I like my IT job, I do want to pursue my dream of working in the psychology field. However, of course, that will involve going back to school and incurring massive amounts of debt. I have many friends who have reached their late 20's who felt that they have reached a juncture in their life where they reevaluate what is important to them - pursuit of happiness (option A) or pursuit of financial stability (option B)?
I have friends who chose option A a few years back and they remain dirt poor with difficulty in pursuing the family buidling part of their dreams. I have friends like myself, who chose option B who have become financially stable and now can start looking into pursuing our dream careers or building a family.
I recommend toughing it out with option B and pay the bills. But you must do with knowing that there is an end to your means. That end is the financial stability that will allow you to pursue your dreams, both in your career and family. That will keep you on track and happier knowing that you are not abandoning your dream but actually pursuing it despite working a job you dislike. Make sure you plan well though by saving and investing. Many people who choose this route end up covering up their transient unhappiness by spending the money they make, which traps them forever in a job they don't like without any of the financial freedom they sought in the first place.
On the other hand, going with option A often means that you are digging a deeper hole before the light at the end (and what if you don't like this new career?). Option B means that you are starting to climb out of that hole, albeit slowly and more firmly.
Oh I completely feel your pain. I am 26 and life has not turned out as planned. I feel like I am too old to start over again so I should just stick with what I am doing which pays the bills and be miserable. On the other hand I have never been this depressed and miserable in my whole life and I don't think I can stand to feel this way for another 50 years. It's tough. I wish I could give you advice but I can't because I am in the same boat, so at least you know your not alone.
Well.. it's been my experience that dope gets you through times of no money better than money gets you through times of no dope. Apply this to your situation and see if it helps. Seriously.
Please forgive me if this sounds patronizing to you..but I am 53 and I do believe that you are still too young to feel like life is passing you by. I do understand that you have spent years in study. You sound like a very responsible and heart broken man. Please do not make serious choices when emotions of fear, loneliness, confusion, and desponsence are in the mix. You really have many years ahead to work at your dream job, but you have just lost your vision for a little while and that is completely understandable.
Do some honest soul searching. You know you have bills to pay right now. You have to work to pay them off. Pay them off quickly by sacrificing free spending so that you can be freer to look for work in your fields that will be satisifying and gratifying. Maybe that could be your war cry..Freedom..from debt and freedom from mundate work.
When a man is secure in his choices and his ability to live a responsible life..he will be a happier man and very sexy to the opposite sex. You will not be alone forever.. make your game plan and go for Life as you were meant to live it.
Perhaps a change of scenery? You could always travel/work abroad for a little while. I am not sure how specialized your degree is...but you can branch out a little, perhaps? Many people who study law find out that it's not for them and progress to other careers in other fields. Take some time to figure out what you want to do that will enable you to also make a living.
I have had some awful jobs, and most people I know are in a field other than the one they studied for. Life has a way of working out differently than one plans at times. Sometimes people earn degrees that they ultimately don't really want as a way of delaying making decisions in their lives. You aren't that old, things will work themselves out. People aren't as "stuck" in a career path as they used to be.
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Been thinking a lot lately if maybe this path isn't what I should be doing.it just doesn't feel right. Maybe cause of the particular contracts...
Any advice...stick it out and search for engineering work (I need to pay the bills and loans badly), search for the dream and motivation or what.
Didn't know where to post this as most times it makes me feel like crap as I am poor, unhappy, and it has cost me the girl of my dreams already.she just couldn't wait, and wasn't being supportive.
Answer:
I totally understand where you are coming from. I'm 30, have a degree in Chemical Engineering and I'm currently working in the IT field. I aspire to be psychologist someday soon (I also have a bachelor's in Psychology).
Although I am fortunate that I like my IT job, I do want to pursue my dream of working in the psychology field. However, of course, that will involve going back to school and incurring massive amounts of debt. I have many friends who have reached their late 20's who felt that they have reached a juncture in their life where they reevaluate what is important to them - pursuit of happiness (option A) or pursuit of financial stability (option B)?
I have friends who chose option A a few years back and they remain dirt poor with difficulty in pursuing the family buidling part of their dreams. I have friends like myself, who chose option B who have become financially stable and now can start looking into pursuing our dream careers or building a family.
I recommend toughing it out with option B and pay the bills. But you must do with knowing that there is an end to your means. That end is the financial stability that will allow you to pursue your dreams, both in your career and family. That will keep you on track and happier knowing that you are not abandoning your dream but actually pursuing it despite working a job you dislike. Make sure you plan well though by saving and investing. Many people who choose this route end up covering up their transient unhappiness by spending the money they make, which traps them forever in a job they don't like without any of the financial freedom they sought in the first place.
On the other hand, going with option A often means that you are digging a deeper hole before the light at the end (and what if you don't like this new career?). Option B means that you are starting to climb out of that hole, albeit slowly and more firmly.
Oh I completely feel your pain. I am 26 and life has not turned out as planned. I feel like I am too old to start over again so I should just stick with what I am doing which pays the bills and be miserable. On the other hand I have never been this depressed and miserable in my whole life and I don't think I can stand to feel this way for another 50 years. It's tough. I wish I could give you advice but I can't because I am in the same boat, so at least you know your not alone.
Well.. it's been my experience that dope gets you through times of no money better than money gets you through times of no dope. Apply this to your situation and see if it helps. Seriously.
Please forgive me if this sounds patronizing to you..but I am 53 and I do believe that you are still too young to feel like life is passing you by. I do understand that you have spent years in study. You sound like a very responsible and heart broken man. Please do not make serious choices when emotions of fear, loneliness, confusion, and desponsence are in the mix. You really have many years ahead to work at your dream job, but you have just lost your vision for a little while and that is completely understandable.
Do some honest soul searching. You know you have bills to pay right now. You have to work to pay them off. Pay them off quickly by sacrificing free spending so that you can be freer to look for work in your fields that will be satisifying and gratifying. Maybe that could be your war cry..Freedom..from debt and freedom from mundate work.
When a man is secure in his choices and his ability to live a responsible life..he will be a happier man and very sexy to the opposite sex. You will not be alone forever.. make your game plan and go for Life as you were meant to live it.
Perhaps a change of scenery? You could always travel/work abroad for a little while. I am not sure how specialized your degree is...but you can branch out a little, perhaps? Many people who study law find out that it's not for them and progress to other careers in other fields. Take some time to figure out what you want to do that will enable you to also make a living.
I have had some awful jobs, and most people I know are in a field other than the one they studied for. Life has a way of working out differently than one plans at times. Sometimes people earn degrees that they ultimately don't really want as a way of delaying making decisions in their lives. You aren't that old, things will work themselves out. People aren't as "stuck" in a career path as they used to be.
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