What would you do with your life at this point?

[Thedude22]

I'm 22, single, graduated at the top of my class with a liberal arts degree in december, have 40k of funds, and am living at my folks for free now.

 

I have a pretty decent set up but I'm not getting any job interviews and I really want to move my life forward in some way, be it personally, or professionally.

 

I've considered traveling, moving to a new city even though I don't have a job waiting for me, getting my own business, investing in stocks I think will blow up, and just sitting on my hands until something changes for me.

 

I'm currently practicing for the LSAT so if I do well on that I will likely just save my money for law school and get some menial but rewarding job somewhere until i can go in 2012. But I have a lot of options and very few restrictions. I'm not much of a risk taker though, one of the reasons I have 40k instead of being in debt. Still, have no idea what to do with so many possibilities before my eyes. Any advice?

Edited March 30, 2011 by Thedude22

[josie54]

Think back to when you were 8 or 10 or 13 years old. What were your biggest dreams for yourself? Think back to those dreams, and now do them. Right now. No waiting. You will never have a better time to do them.

 

For instance, my biggest dreams were:

 

-become an astronaut

-live in New York and Paris at least a year each

-learn French and Chinese

-write a book

 

I'm now in my 40s, and I haven't done a single one! Now, you might ask how on earth could I become an astronaut? Well, I can't be an astronaut, but I could spend a week going to Space Camp, I could attend lectures on space travel, I could blog about it, or what have you. That would be true for any talented-oriented dream. If you wanted to be a singer, but can't sing, take lessons. If you wanted to be an Olympic athlete, take part in your sport of interest. It's not THE dream, but it's a good part of it.

 

Living in great cities: You will never be in a better position to "test drive" other parts of the world. You are 22 and unattached. And you have the funds to get you there, and the brains to get a job there to make up your expense.

 

Learning a language: This is one of my greatest regrets. I could still learn a language, but it will be more difficult now.

 

Write a book: That's still a possibility, even now!

 

You mention that you're not a risk-taker. You don't have to take risks for any of these things. You don't have to move to test-drive a new city or even a new country. You can spend a week there and see what you think.

 

Obviously, having 40K in the bank is great, but don't let the pleasure of just having the money keep you from allotting a little of it to having EXPERIENCES while you're young. For just $2,000 you could take the trip of a lifetime. For a few hundred, you could take lessons in an activity you've always wanted to try. For $0, you could get a job in a different area and see the world through new eyes.

 

Research shows that people to take the time to have experiences during their lives are happier and more fulfilled than those who spend their money on material possessions or who just sit at home and watch their money grow. I'm not saying to be foolhardy with money, but only to look at it in a balanced way.

 

So back to my original question. What were your biggest dreams for your future when you were a child?

[Eve]

I would do a bit of traveling but link it to something humanitarian.. but not dangerous, where I still get paid.

 

Maybe try and set some sort of business up linked to your artistic talents? I think being your own boss is the way to go nowadays. If you are at home still this could be the opportune time to try a business idea.

 

Whatever you do, make sure it's something that makes you feel excited about life.

 

All the best,

Take care,

Eve x

[Thedude22]

 

So back to my original question. What were your biggest dreams for your future when you were a child?

 

I wanted to make movies. But I know quite a bit about the movie business and I simply don't have the talent or the passion to do something like that. As I got older my dreams were always vague. I was going to be rich, respected, and loved by women with no particular reason why that was going to happen for me.

 

Traveling has never been a huge passion of mine, I recently went to Japan and had a horror story of an experience(s) and so my traveling jones is a bit down lately. Going to Europe would be nice though. I have very poor/job restricted friends though and so whatever I did I'd have to go alone, and being the non-traveler with a horrible experience the first time I left North America, I'm very wary of doing that.

 

I always wanted to live in California honestly, the west has nice weather and is politically minded the same as I am. I'd like to live there, but without any friends or a job there, that is very intimidating for someone who has never even lived on his own before. My plan has been to go to law school and be a media lawyer, which combines my young goals of working in movies with older realism.

[GorillaTheater]

Law school's not a bad choice; that's the route I took and I've been a lawyer for 20 years now. I'm in a pretty cushy higher ed environment, but you know, this sh*t can get kind of old after a while.

 

I was in the Navy, and would recommemd some time in the USN or Coast Guard to anyone. Here's a few things I wished I'd done: work a term in Antarctica as a base contractor (doing most anything), run an outfitter's business for canoeing/kayaking/hiking, work on a cruise ship as a bartender, fire-fighting, etc.

 

It's a big world out there. Push your imagination.

[josie54]

I always wanted to live in California honestly, the west has nice weather and is politically minded the same as I am. I'd like to live there, but without any friends or a job there, that is very intimidating for someone who has never even lived on his own before. My plan has been to go to law school and be a media lawyer, which combines my young goals of working in movies with older realism.

 

Well, then, why not take steps in that direction? Again, you can move yourself toward a goal like this without taking huge risks. Just start looking into media law programs in the California area. Get the application materials. Check out other media law programs in other parts of the country to see what else is out there.

 

Then, find out what firms specialize in this area of law and see if you can set up an informational interview with someone, by phone or in person, to see what the field is like and what it takes to break into it.

 

Take a trip to California for a week or two to see whether or not you like it. If you have friends there, maybe you can bunk with them, or just get a good hotel rate on Priceline or somewhere and invest in your trip as "educational."

 

It's OK to travel alone. I can see why it would be unappealing for an overseas trip, but for in-country travel, it's no big deal. In fact, it can be MORE pleasant because you can set your own itinerary.

 

Just see what it will take to get you to where you want to go. No real risk...just experiences--possibly very good ones.

 

Sorry about your Japan trip (hope it wasn't during the earthquake!), but don't swear off all travel because of one bad trip. You're due for a good one!

[Thedude22]

I would do a bit of traveling but link it to something humanitarian.. but not dangerous, where I still get paid.

 

Maybe try and set some sort of business up linked to your artistic talents? I think being your own boss is the way to go nowadays. If you are at home still this could be the opportune time to try a business idea.

 

Whatever you do, make sure it's something that makes you feel excited about life.

 

All the best,

Take care,

Eve x

 

My ideas could really change if I don't end up doing well on the LSAT. A Law degree will cost me around 90k if I'm lucky so I will need that cash.

 

If I don't go though, yeah I have some money to take a few risks with. Open a bar etc. I've considered the Peace Corps myself, but I've never been the charitable sort and living in third world countries has very little appeal to me. Other than that very few jobs abroad unless you work for the military.

[Thedude22]

Well, then, why not take steps in that direction? Again, you can move yourself toward a goal like this without taking huge risks. Just start looking into media law programs in the California area. Get the application materials. Check out other media law programs in other parts of the country to see what else is out there.

 

Well the first step to all of that is the LSAT, which I take June 6th. After that point I think I'll start to see how my future is going to shape up. I want to work with free speech issues which directs me to media firms on the west coast or the ACLU on the east coast. Still that whole thing is in the air as law school is very difficult and competitive to get into. If I don't get in I'm going to have to take some risks with my money because I can't stand to be a slave with a white collar myself. But then again no one wants to, yet it seems they all end up stuck in that same cubicle no matter how smart they are.

 

Yes the Japan earthquake was literally the ONLY terrible thing that didn't happen haha. I think Europe is better because many of the people speak english, although I did recently see a story about a 22 yr old disappearing in Spain which gives one pause.

[Eve]

.. but what about your liberal arts degree? Sorry, I don't know what that is.. but it sounds cool. I LOVE artsy people. If you are that way inclined are you sure being a legal person will be satisfying?

 

Take care,

Eve x

[Thedude22]

.. but what about your liberal arts degree? Sorry, I don't know what that is.. but it sounds cool. I LOVE artsy people. If you are that way inclined are you sure being a legal person will be satisfying?

 

Take care,

Eve x

 

Liberal Arts encompasses History, English, Literature, Philosophy, and to some extent Political Science. My official degree is in History though I am basically also an English major with the amount of creative writing/professional writing courses I've had. Liberal Arts people's critical thinking and writing skills often make them great lawyers and considering the great amount of prestige and salary that come from law, it's hard for it not to be appealing.

 

The really artsy people are the Fine Arts people. Poetry, Creative Writing, Sculpting, Theatre etc. They have an even tougher time of it because those markets don't care about your degree just the quality of your work.

 

*sigh* You have no idea how many idiots tell me about my degree "What are you gonna do with that be a teacher? That's why you ain't getting a job." Charlatans...

[Dust]

I'm years older than you and I still ask this question. Life is journey, just do something you are proud of. If there is something you really want to do but are just scared... then get through the fear and do that.

[highviolet]

Starting a business is one of the riskiest things you could do, I wouldn't suggest doing that if you don't like taking risks or at least have some background/ education in business, management, etc.

 

I think if the law thing doesn't pan out, you could still consider continuing your education. Look at universities in California with graduate programs that interest you. It helps to know people when moving to a new city, but if you're in school, you will meet plenty of people if you don't.

 

Good luck!

[Thedude22]

All of my dreams are fairly ridiculous, granted people do them but I am a realist and I know those kind of things are never going to happen. I recently found a site that said the first step is finding what you love to do. I think the main key to success is focusing on one life's dream and sticking to it. I can't find mine right now, at all. If one of these employers I was really interested in would give me a shot I maybe could but no such luck so far.

 

No one can figure it out but me, and being the indecisive non-risk taker that I am, it's very difficult to get moving on that. It's not really that I'm unconfident but my mind goes in a million places all the time making it hard to stick with one decision and as a staunch realist I have a hard time going crazy and living life just for life's sake. I feel like if I got a job in a cool city, even if I got fired as soon as I got there, it would at least be an excuse to move out of my parents house and start to live.

[Eve]

Liberal Arts encompasses History, English, Literature, Philosophy, and to some extent Political Science. My official degree is in History though I am basically also an English major with the amount of creative writing/professional writing courses I've had. Liberal Arts people's critical thinking and writing skills often make them great lawyers and considering the great amount of prestige and salary that come from law, it's hard for it not to be appealing.

 

The really artsy people are the Fine Arts people. Poetry, Creative Writing, Sculpting, Theatre etc. They have an even tougher time of it because those markets don't care about your degree just the quality of your work.

 

*sigh* You have no idea how many idiots tell me about my degree "What are you gonna do with that be a teacher? That's why you ain't getting a job." Charlatans...

 

Oh ok, thanks for the clarification.

 

I thought you were one of those alternative people, like e-mo types by your avatar you see. So could imagine that you would be an artsy type. H'mm, it does sound like you have a great deal of creativity with words.

 

My advice would be to continue job seeking and try out different things because generally people tend not to know what they really want to do until they hit about 30 anyway. I think this period of your life is just about that really, risk taker or not.

 

Try different things and please dare to do some of the more edgy stuff you may secretly think about doing. If you don't you may regret it later. It's all about the journey..

 

I also meant to ask how much your education will cost in total.. just out of interest.

 

Take care,

Eve x

[Eeyore79]

My recommendation is to do whatever training is necessary to get yourself into a professional career with good future earning potential. Ideally you also need to get some relevant work experience, because if you get to your late twenties and have loads of qualifications and no experience then it will be difficult to persuade an employer to give you a job. Law, accountancy, medicine - these are all stable, high earning careers. Starting your own business is also a good option, but more risky. I'd say the best option is to find a job where they'll sponsor professional training; if you decide to go back to school at least make sure you're training for a specific profession rather than doing a generalized qualification which isn't really applicable to any particular job.

 

I don't recommend you waste your money on traveling and bumming around; that money can be better spent getting you a good start in life, you can travel all you want later on when you're a wealthy professional. Spend as much as you need to on getting started in your career, and keep the rest for a deposit on a house.

[Eve]

I don't recommend you waste your money on traveling and bumming around; that money can be better spent getting you a good start in life, you can travel all you want later on when you're a wealthy professional.

 

Is this the usual view where you live? It is just interesting to see how different culturals do things. Where I live it is usual that young adults go and travel for a year either before going to University, take a year out or go once they have finished. It doesn't have to be expensive.

 

Once you have a job it is hard to take that level of time out and travel you see.

 

The OP doesn't want this but I thought I would ask.

 

Take care,

Eve x

[Dust]

Is this the usual view where you live? It is just interesting to see how different culturals do things. Where I live it is usual that young adults go and travel for a year either before going to University, take a year out or go once they have finished. It doesn't have to be expensive.

 

Once you have a job it is hard to take that level of time out and travel you see.

 

The OP doesn't want this but I thought I would ask.

 

Take care,

Eve x

 

Travel when you are young is a western value. I'm not sure where the poster is from.

[Eve]

Travel when you are young is a western value. I'm not sure where the poster is from.

 

I was just thinking that maybe because University fees are SO high in the USA (I assume the OP is from there, somewhere) the OP has no choices at the moment but to think about a career before even seeing the world. I think this is sad. Even though my daughter finishes University next year, I still regard her as being my responsibility until she has travelled and seen other cultures .. and lived. I would not want her to be worrying about careers right now, aged 21!

 

**** that!

 

She goes to Sweden shortly for a while to work and live and is having serious doubts about her choice of Degree, (film maker) but hey! It is about who you meet along the way and developing your sense of self, faith and belief in life, no?

 

I and her friends will stand by her a million times as long as she is truly searching.

 

What? is this just a European concept? .. all work and no play is utterly boring. We are here only once (I hope, can't stand the idea of reincarnation)

 

Anyhow, I don't expect a response from the OP or anything. This has been interesting to view.

 

Thank you,

Take care,

Eve x