Who's Feeling Average?!

[Bracknaphobia]

I know "personal threads" don't usually fly around here, but I was just curious to see some thoughts/insight as to what's going on with me, and might be going on with some others near my age.

I'm going to be 22 in a month, and I graduate college in May. I'm studying communications and public relations. I don't **** it, but I don't love it. My problem is that I don't feel...special? Okay that sounds dumb, but I just get the sensation all the time that I'm just an average dude with nothing significant to offer to the job market/the world, what have you. I don't have any "dreams" or really any big aspirations. I don't have a clue what I want to do with the rest of my life, and all of this pressure from parents, professors, and the like really gets to me. It stresses the shit out of me but I don't do anything. I just kind of coast and don't really know what to do because I'm okay at a lot of things, but not particularly good at anything.

Maybe this is some sort of 'transitional period' for me? I'm not sure, but any insight/relatable stories might help me get a grasp on things.

[Average_Jerk]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bfITFo_9og"]YouTube - Life Of Agony - Ugly - 03 - Lost At 22[/ame]




This kind of thing happens to almost everyone. starting in the "real world" isn't easy. once you actually get into a field, you may find one aspect of it that you excel ate

[Bracknaphobia]

That song is pretty old school Dave.

I guess my insecurity, whatever you want to call it is amplified by the job market being a disaster. It also sucks going to a school where I'm surrounded by rich kids who either have shit planned out, or are already set for life.

[Rally]

I totally understand the feeling you're trying to describe and I think it's a fairly common emotion at that stage in life. I know my friends and I went through the same "funk" after college. You know you're supposed to do impressive things, but you're not sure what it is yet. Your entire life you always knew what the next step would be. Finish first grade, go to second grade. Graduate highschool, go to college. Graduate college, _______.....uh oh.

The best advice I can give is to just not rush yourself. You're 22, you have a LONG time to figure out and do something with your life. Right now, enjoy your friends, family, and passions/hobbies. Grab a job, even if it's average, to pay the bills You'll find something you're passionate about, and that passion will drive you to do the best you can at whatever you choose to attempt.

Besides, you've got a package on its way to you That stuff should make you far cooler than average

[Han]

I've been feeling fairly average pretty much all my life, but in the past few years, I've been trying to change that.

[Petis]

I was feeling average, then I dropped out of conventional college to go to culinary school. . . graduated from there and still felt pretty average. Kicked around job to job and thought all was lost in my culinary life, but then got a pretty awesome phone call that changed everything. Now I'm way over my head on a restaurant build and I love it.

Get a job, do well at it, pay your bills, and wait until you either get fired/laid off, get promoted, get a better opportunity, or truely realize your calling and say 'fuck it, I'm out!'. It will happen, just gotta be in the right place at the right time.

My whole situation was driven by a string of lay offs that had me pretty down.

[Bracknaphobia]

Thanks guys, it really means something to have some situations to relate to.

And thanks Rally

[birdy]

You should see the movie "It's kind of a funny story"

[And2TheRepublic]

Im 30 and spent most of my young adult life at parties and clubs living the life and not really going anywhere. The idea that so many young people have to have fun while you're young is the worst idea you can have.

Sure, you should enjoy life, but there is a thin line between enjoying it and wasting it. If you are just an average guy like i am. You are capable, smart, and resourceful. Get ahead now.

Find the best jobs you can. Work on your business practices. Earn your money while you're young and save as much as you can, so that when you are older you can really enjoy life better, and be able to provide for your family with a lot less worry.

Dont wake up 15 years from now and then decide to get a career and start saving. You will find yourself behind the power curve. Don't rely on Social Security or Medicaid to take care of you when you retire, because those things won't be there when you reach that age.

[Urkel.S]

Your not special? Well we cant all be

[M.Burroughs]

I sit and ask myself "A degree in photography? What the FUCK are you going to do with that, you retard?"

[vdubkid]

hey man, at least you're still at school, not in your parent's basement like somebody you know. nor did you just break off an engagement and are living on some girl's couch, like somebody else you know.

chin up, broseph goebbels.

[Kielan]

Cole you will be just fine, you should come live in CT. We can start a business, that I have been thinking about for a while.

[hi its me alec]

Alright I'll bite... I'll be 22 in may. Went to school to be a graphic designer for 1.5 years, dropped out because I didn't want to take more loans out and didn't like the school at all (U of MN design school.)

My dad was laid off (for pension reasons..) about 5-6 years ago and that completely ruined my parents' finances. My mom is freaking out that my dad and I don't have a job right now, but we don't want to work at McDonalds either. We're about to start selling cars and other sad things to get some more money. So that's been my overall 'average' situation since high school. It was nice working at a BMW dealer in my senior year of high school, the car was a bit more affordable back then.

After stopping school, I worked at a sign shop for $12/hr doing graphic design work.. designing/cutting vinyl, making illuminated signs, full car/truck/bike wraps, magnets, business cards, store banners, etc. etc. Learned a lot there too and it was definitely an awesome 5 months. I've been doing graphic design work online for 5 or 6 years now, mainly car/picture photoshops and web banners, so it was really fun to do it in the real world and do a good job for people. The store went under because the boss threw a lot of money away on useless stuff, I really don't think he paid taxes either. He was Tunisian and a little shady, idk.

After that, I worked an $11/hr detailing job for 9 months, did a really good job and learned a lot, and was 'let go' for being late too much the last week I worked there; the weekend before, I let my friend drive my car and he ended up nailing a pothole that broke 2 lug bolts out in the hub, and stripped a 3rd lug completely out. So I was late a few times that week, was in contact with my direct boss and coworker the entire time, the shop didn't miss a beat and my car was driving again on the friday I was 'let go' by the manager of the shop, strictly because of that week. So that sucked hard.

Now for the past few months I've just been sitting here at my computer all day, no car or money, $2000 in debt, hopefully I can get some detailing done once all this snow melts. My only spending money since I lost that job has from selling car parts and online graphic design work. So that's sucked as well.

Life goes on though, just go with the flow and don't hesitate if your calling comes. I'm thinking about going to school for welding, or maybe working a couple years for my uncle's construction company up in the oil fields of North Dakota, kinda close to Montana. I figure I just need to make money right now, so school might be secondary. Something will make sense eventually, but I feel like the key is to be as excellent as possible all the time, and especially when your 'calling' comes. Hopefully I didn't sound too ghey there

[Urkel.S]

I sit and ask myself "A degree in photography? What the FUCK are you going to do with that, you retard?"

Well you can go to the less fortunate places of the world and take pictures, and show them to the media?