Completely clueless as to what to do with my life.
Hi all,
I'm 17 years old from Scotland and left school in September last year, a year earlier than most, as I had had enough of it and was desperate to get out into the real world. I hated highschool from the very start and have never wanted to go to Uni, as I think the only two things it's good for is the socialising aspect and the credentialism you receive - Unless you're going for a course with a subject that you are really passionate about. My aim was to get an apprenticeship of some sort but have been unsuccessful so far. I think this is mainly down to the fact that I am not really passionate about the roles I have applied for. (And because I absolutely suck at interviews)
Since the beginning of March, I've been working a part time job in retail. I'm thankful that I at least have that because otherwise I would be even more bored, lonely and lacking direction than I am now, which I feel a lot in my days off to be honest. I also don't have a social life. My days consist of lying in bed, occasionally checking instagram, and pretty much watching the sun go down. I talk to some friends online while we're playing a game but that's my only real connection to people. A few of them are also in my position as they have now left school as well.
The truth is, I have absolutely no idea what I want in terms of a career or life in general. I definitely think some sort of trade apprenticeship (e.g plumbing, joinery) would be my best bet right now but I'm finding it quite difficult to find any in my area. I was also thinking about starting a small business but again, there's nothing I'm really passionate about.
I am seriously considering just going travelling for a year but I'm not sure this is a wise decision, especially considering I've already technically taken my 'gap year'. Can anyone give me any insight or advice as to what I should do? I'm both bored and stressed at the same time and it's really starting to make me feel quite ill.
I'm 17 years old from Scotland and left school in September last year, a year earlier than most, as I had had enough of it and was desperate to get out into the real world. I hated highschool from the very start and have never wanted to go to Uni, as I think the only two things it's good for is the socialising aspect and the credentialism you receive - Unless you're going for a course with a subject that you are really passionate about. My aim was to get an apprenticeship of some sort but have been unsuccessful so far. I think this is mainly down to the fact that I am not really passionate about the roles I have applied for. (And because I absolutely suck at interviews)
Since the beginning of March, I've been working a part time job in retail. I'm thankful that I at least have that because otherwise I would be even more bored, lonely and lacking direction than I am now, which I feel a lot in my days off to be honest. I also don't have a social life. My days consist of lying in bed, occasionally checking instagram, and pretty much watching the sun go down. I talk to some friends online while we're playing a game but that's my only real connection to people. A few of them are also in my position as they have now left school as well.
The truth is, I have absolutely no idea what I want in terms of a career or life in general. I definitely think some sort of trade apprenticeship (e.g plumbing, joinery) would be my best bet right now but I'm finding it quite difficult to find any in my area. I was also thinking about starting a small business but again, there's nothing I'm really passionate about.
I am seriously considering just going travelling for a year but I'm not sure this is a wise decision, especially considering I've already technically taken my 'gap year'. Can anyone give me any insight or advice as to what I should do? I'm both bored and stressed at the same time and it's really starting to make me feel quite ill.
All I can say is I’m in a very similar boat and deciding between two massively different career choices with business and radiography
Original post by Moneyman1266
All I can say is I’m in a very similar boat and deciding between two massively different career choices with business and radiography
Hey,
I don't know about business (unless you have a clear business plan in mind) or if you're thinking of combining it with something e.g. Business and management. I've just finished my degree in Diagnostic Radiography and answered someone else's question on this so I thought id share. Here are some pros and cons from my experience.
Pros:
- There's a lot of variety meaning every day/week is different. You can be rota'd to A&E, fracture clinic, or mobile x-raying on wards, imaging in theatre, in NICU/PICU/HDU/ICU, you see in-patients and out-patients so if you're someone that is interested in working in a varied environment with all kinds of patients it's a good option. Some hospitals change the rota weekly and some daily.
- Career progression - you can pick a speciality further into your career like CT/MRI/Ultrasound or even work in dental or neuro hospitals. During my course I got to go to all of these areas and specialist hospitals so when applying it's good to look at the clinical sites that are available at each uni. If you wanted a 9-5, Mon-Fri job in the future then ultrasound is good, if you're happy doing nights and weekends then CT is good - so plenty of future options.
- Lots of jobs - there's a shortage, so you will be able to get a job easily.
- As a student you really get stuck in, you might observe here or there but most of the time they expect you to do things solo and supervise you. I've found this to be really good, its given me confidence and I feel prepared to work.
- Pay is good (for newly qualified band 5's), it goes up with London weighting, I'll get paid more than junior docs and if you think of the comparative hours/stress/responsibility you have compared to a junior doctor it's worth it. In terms of the pay going up as you get more experienced it's limited.
- A lot of people think it's just about pushing buttons and making sure the patient is ok. In reality you have to justify every single examination you do, so you have to know a lot about the conditions patients have, and you do have to think more about these things that people assume.
- In the UK we have a similar degree to Australia/New Zealand/Dubai (you should double check this) so there's opportunity to travel and work in the future.
Cons:
- The uni you pick will make a huge difference, whilst the content is probably similar everywhere, the rules about clinical placement will vary. It's a huge component of the course and you should think about: how strict they are with having to make up hours if you miss them (even if you're sick), the amount of hours you have to do in a week, how flexible they are with doing the hours on another day, how regularly they check-in with you, if you can change your placement site if there are problems, and also how long it will take you to commute to their placement sites. (I went to LSBU and I've had mostly good experiences with this).
- You don't spend much time with patients in the same way you would with medicine or midwifery, you don't really get to follow their journey, you see them for a tiny fraction of their care, and most of the time they'll be behind a lead screen or you watch them through a window.
- It is a physical job. Whilst all health care jobs will give you moving + handling training and have you on your feet, as a radiographer you will have to move people in and out of scanners, transfer them to/from wheelchairs/beds/scanners all day everyday.If you have anything like a bad back or anything like that I'd avoid.
I hope this helps and gives you more of an insight. let me know if you have any more questions!
Original post by pateli4
Hey,
I don't know about business (unless you have a clear business plan in mind) or if you're thinking of combining it with something e.g. Business and management. I've just finished my degree in Diagnostic Radiography and answered someone else's question on this so I thought id share. Here are some pros and cons from my experience.
Pros:
- There's a lot of variety meaning every day/week is different. You can be rota'd to A&E, fracture clinic, or mobile x-raying on wards, imaging in theatre, in NICU/PICU/HDU/ICU, you see in-patients and out-patients so if you're someone that is interested in working in a varied environment with all kinds of patients it's a good option. Some hospitals change the rota weekly and some daily.
- Career progression - you can pick a speciality further into your career like CT/MRI/Ultrasound or even work in dental or neuro hospitals. During my course I got to go to all of these areas and specialist hospitals so when applying it's good to look at the clinical sites that are available at each uni. If you wanted a 9-5, Mon-Fri job in the future then ultrasound is good, if you're happy doing nights and weekends then CT is good - so plenty of future options.
- Lots of jobs - there's a shortage, so you will be able to get a job easily.
- As a student you really get stuck in, you might observe here or there but most of the time they expect you to do things solo and supervise you. I've found this to be really good, its given me confidence and I feel prepared to work.
- Pay is good (for newly qualified band 5's), it goes up with London weighting, I'll get paid more than junior docs and if you think of the comparative hours/stress/responsibility you have compared to a junior doctor it's worth it. In terms of the pay going up as you get more experienced it's limited.
- A lot of people think it's just about pushing buttons and making sure the patient is ok. In reality you have to justify every single examination you do, so you have to know a lot about the conditions patients have, and you do have to think more about these things that people assume.
- In the UK we have a similar degree to Australia/New Zealand/Dubai (you should double check this) so there's opportunity to travel and work in the future.
Cons:
- The uni you pick will make a huge difference, whilst the content is probably similar everywhere, the rules about clinical placement will vary. It's a huge component of the course and you should think about: how strict they are with having to make up hours if you miss them (even if you're sick), the amount of hours you have to do in a week, how flexible they are with doing the hours on another day, how regularly they check-in with you, if you can change your placement site if there are problems, and also how long it will take you to commute to their placement sites. (I went to LSBU and I've had mostly good experiences with this).
- You don't spend much time with patients in the same way you would with medicine or midwifery, you don't really get to follow their journey, you see them for a tiny fraction of their care, and most of the time they'll be behind a lead screen or you watch them through a window.
- It is a physical job. Whilst all health care jobs will give you moving + handling training and have you on your feet, as a radiographer you will have to move people in and out of scanners, transfer them to/from wheelchairs/beds/scanners all day everyday.If you have anything like a bad back or anything like that I'd avoid.
I hope this helps and gives you more of an insight. let me know if you have any more questions!
I don't know about business (unless you have a clear business plan in mind) or if you're thinking of combining it with something e.g. Business and management. I've just finished my degree in Diagnostic Radiography and answered someone else's question on this so I thought id share. Here are some pros and cons from my experience.
Pros:
- There's a lot of variety meaning every day/week is different. You can be rota'd to A&E, fracture clinic, or mobile x-raying on wards, imaging in theatre, in NICU/PICU/HDU/ICU, you see in-patients and out-patients so if you're someone that is interested in working in a varied environment with all kinds of patients it's a good option. Some hospitals change the rota weekly and some daily.
- Career progression - you can pick a speciality further into your career like CT/MRI/Ultrasound or even work in dental or neuro hospitals. During my course I got to go to all of these areas and specialist hospitals so when applying it's good to look at the clinical sites that are available at each uni. If you wanted a 9-5, Mon-Fri job in the future then ultrasound is good, if you're happy doing nights and weekends then CT is good - so plenty of future options.
- Lots of jobs - there's a shortage, so you will be able to get a job easily.
- As a student you really get stuck in, you might observe here or there but most of the time they expect you to do things solo and supervise you. I've found this to be really good, its given me confidence and I feel prepared to work.
- Pay is good (for newly qualified band 5's), it goes up with London weighting, I'll get paid more than junior docs and if you think of the comparative hours/stress/responsibility you have compared to a junior doctor it's worth it. In terms of the pay going up as you get more experienced it's limited.
- A lot of people think it's just about pushing buttons and making sure the patient is ok. In reality you have to justify every single examination you do, so you have to know a lot about the conditions patients have, and you do have to think more about these things that people assume.
- In the UK we have a similar degree to Australia/New Zealand/Dubai (you should double check this) so there's opportunity to travel and work in the future.
Cons:
- The uni you pick will make a huge difference, whilst the content is probably similar everywhere, the rules about clinical placement will vary. It's a huge component of the course and you should think about: how strict they are with having to make up hours if you miss them (even if you're sick), the amount of hours you have to do in a week, how flexible they are with doing the hours on another day, how regularly they check-in with you, if you can change your placement site if there are problems, and also how long it will take you to commute to their placement sites. (I went to LSBU and I've had mostly good experiences with this).
- You don't spend much time with patients in the same way you would with medicine or midwifery, you don't really get to follow their journey, you see them for a tiny fraction of their care, and most of the time they'll be behind a lead screen or you watch them through a window.
- It is a physical job. Whilst all health care jobs will give you moving + handling training and have you on your feet, as a radiographer you will have to move people in and out of scanners, transfer them to/from wheelchairs/beds/scanners all day everyday.If you have anything like a bad back or anything like that I'd avoid.
I hope this helps and gives you more of an insight. let me know if you have any more questions!
Any advice for me or na? 😂
Original post by cyoung17
Any advice for me or na? 😂
If you mentally don’t feel well go to your GP, seek counselling, maybe speak with family ...
If you want to go travelling probably not ideal to be taking loads of days of work because otherwise how will you fund it. If you’re serious about travelling try to look at constructive things like World of Work or ICS maybe they will give you inspo for career options. You have nothing to loose by trying something new.
Don't worry about having already technically taken your gap year. If you've decided that travelling is something you'd like to do, make this year your gap year too. Many people do more than one gap year for various reasons. It gives you time and the perspective to figure out what it is you want to do in life, and you get life experiences and CV experiences at the same time. You have experience in retail so I'm pretty sure that if you wanted to you'd easily be able to work abroad for a few months. Or why not volunteer when you're travelling to give you a solid sense of purpose? Just ideas. Look for internships too 
And even if you find yourself in a job or internship that's not really linked with what career you want to go into in the future, it's fine - and even beneficial (as long as you're actually interested in what it is that you're doing, of course). Don't stress yourself out about planning your whole life; just think about the next year for now.
And even if you find yourself in a job or internship that's not really linked with what career you want to go into in the future, it's fine - and even beneficial (as long as you're actually interested in what it is that you're doing, of course). Don't stress yourself out about planning your whole life; just think about the next year for now.Quick Reply
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