early life crisis!

[bluejeanbebe]

I think the latest craze these days is the so-called 'early life crisis', for people like me, in their 20's. We are well-educated, even maybe have an ~advanced~ degree, are thrown out into the job market and it's like ~oh my gawd~. So we get a job... what job? where? follow the money or follow your happiness? buy a house or backpack around europe? get married or attempt a faux sex in the city lifestyle? what if you end up hating the 4-yr degree you earned? who knows? I think women of the past, like in the 50's, despaired over their lack of choices and now women today pull their hair out over too many choices. I'm not sure if this is the right forum to ramble on, but here I am anyway.

 

My manifesto: I am a late 20-something experiencing an existential early-life crisis! I have a bachelor's degree in something I might somewhat enjoy, but the jobs are few and very very far between and the pay is menial (no, I'm not expecting to be living in the lap of luxury, I just would like to pay my bills). So now I work for the feds in a job that is somewhat related to my degree, and the pay is nice, but I CAN'T STAND MY JOB! I am so incredibly bored to tears. People joke about federal employees being lazy, well the majority aren't lazy, we just have nothing to do! I hate everything there is to do with working here, except for my ability to lead a mid-class lifestyle, and that's it. I hate the idea that I could show up to work and put in 110%, or I could sleep under my desk, and it wouldn't matter either way.

 

So now, I feel like I'm back in high school again, and thinking, ok, what do I want to do when I grow up? I'm thinking about pursuing something that has nothing to do with my current occupation or my degree. I'll be honest, I'm thinking about being a particular kind of nurse. First problem is, I don't know who to turn to about say, 'career counseling'. I really would like to talk to someone in my field to see what it's like, but I don't know anyone in the medical field. Second, obviously I would have to go back to school, perhaps for a 2-yr program. Night school is out of the question because my current occupation's work schedule is so variable (nights, weekends, OT, etc) that I could never make it fit and I woulnd't want my current employer to know anyways. So I would have to quit work and go to school full-time but that's a problem because I am shouldering a mortgage and bills by myself so I couldn't afford to do that. I am seeing someone and think we are marriage-bound, but it would be awhile before we were in a situation where he could support me while I went back to school.

 

On top of all this, I am not career-minded anyways. Ultimately all I want out of life is to be a wife and stay-at-home mother, and maybe return to work when the kids are a bit older. So anything job-wise would just be something to do until I can start a family and would just be my fall-back. I don't know.... what to do?! what to do?! Sorry for the long post- thanks for listening!

[directx]

Oh boo-freak'n-hoo!

 

Welcome to real life hon!

 

I think the only craze you described is giving everything a meaningless label, like 'early life crisis'. I bet it was coined by some whiney, spoiled brat where things just don't go their way.

 

Figure out what you want in life (which I think you figured out), develop a plan, and be careful who you hook up with permantely because that other person could ruin your life for you.

 

You are in your 20's. That's nothing.

 

Avoid the excuse making, find someone that agrees with your plan, and work towards it.

[whichwayisup]

Do what makes you happy. Try different things and experience life while you can. If you hate your job, quit and find something else that will put a smile to your face...That is, if you can afford it and have support.

 

You are right about too many choices! That and how society in general pushes EVERYONE to be on the go go go 24/7. Take special time for you, destress yourself and enjoy the smaller things in life that mean ALOT more than working one's buns off making alot of $$.

[corazoncito]

If you want to pursue a nursing career, it wouldn't hurt to call up a local university that offers that kind of program. You could make an appointment with their advisor. They could answer your questions about the field your interested in and/or would surely know someone in the work setting that you could talk to.

 

Even if you aren't sure about pursuing it immediately, it doesn't do any harm to just do a bit of investigating. Plus, they may have some options/ideas for funding they you may not be aware of.