Original post by mxx454
Hi so I did my A levels in 2021 and achieved 3 A*s in Bio, Chem and Maths. I remember when I was thinking about uni it was mainly me wanting to leave home/have some freedom and I didn’t have a clue what to study. I picked biomed because biology was my easiest subject but when I went to uni I found it really dull and the 3hr labs felt like torture. I should’ve dropped out at Christmas but I tried sticking with it and just ended up dropping out before easter.
After that, I wish I had spent time thinking about what I wanted to do/looked at apprenticeships but I just ended up rushing to apply to uni again this time for computer science. I didn’t even like or care about comp sci but I didn’t really know what else to do. I went back to a different uni in 2022 to do it and tbh I didn’t even like much but it was better than biomed. I finished first year with minimal effort and 65% despite using chatgpt entirely when it came to projects and I went into second year doing the same thing and dropped out again in February.
I just feel really defeated, I wish I could go back to being 18 and make myself think harder about what I wanted to do. I just genuinely don’t like anything, my A levels were fine I liked them well enough but not enough to actually want to get a degree in any of the subjects. I’m relatively smart i’d say but I just have no interest in anything, I’m looking to apply to apprenticeships in the next cycle but i’m really worried about making a wrong choice again. I guess i’m just looking for advice on how to make sure I’m successful in finding the right career for myself at this point?
After that, I wish I had spent time thinking about what I wanted to do/looked at apprenticeships but I just ended up rushing to apply to uni again this time for computer science. I didn’t even like or care about comp sci but I didn’t really know what else to do. I went back to a different uni in 2022 to do it and tbh I didn’t even like much but it was better than biomed. I finished first year with minimal effort and 65% despite using chatgpt entirely when it came to projects and I went into second year doing the same thing and dropped out again in February.
I just feel really defeated, I wish I could go back to being 18 and make myself think harder about what I wanted to do. I just genuinely don’t like anything, my A levels were fine I liked them well enough but not enough to actually want to get a degree in any of the subjects. I’m relatively smart i’d say but I just have no interest in anything, I’m looking to apply to apprenticeships in the next cycle but i’m really worried about making a wrong choice again. I guess i’m just looking for advice on how to make sure I’m successful in finding the right career for myself at this point?
The fact that you "just genuinely don’t like anything" isn't ideal. Maybe you're just bored of education and need to get out into the world and do something?
If someone held a gun to your head and said you need to spend the next six months doing some charitable work, unpaid, what would you opt to do? It wouldn't have to be working for one of the big charaties, it could be helping some local community project, or helping protect some endangered species, or some marginalised section of society, or anything else really.
No pay. No requirement that it lead to a career. What would you do?
Original post by DataVenia
The fact that you "just genuinely don’t like anything" isn't ideal. Maybe you're just bored of education and need to get out into the world and do something?
If someone held a gun to your head and said you need to spend the next six months doing some charitable work, unpaid, what would you opt to do? It wouldn't have to be working for one of the big charaties, it could be helping some local community project, or helping protect some endangered species, or some marginalised section of society, or anything else really.
No pay. No requirement that it lead to a career. What would you do?
If someone held a gun to your head and said you need to spend the next six months doing some charitable work, unpaid, what would you opt to do? It wouldn't have to be working for one of the big charaties, it could be helping some local community project, or helping protect some endangered species, or some marginalised section of society, or anything else really.
No pay. No requirement that it lead to a career. What would you do?
If I had to volunteer I would either do something with kids like maybe volunteering in a kids hospital ward or working with women e.g at a shelter or something. One big issue is I have social anxiety so even if I have an interest in a particular career or volunteering, having to work with people makes it harder for me, It’s one of the reasons I picked computer science. In terms of a career interest i’ve been thinking recently something in politics/law because I find it interesting. I’ve also looked at project management but more because it seems like a relatively chill/less stressful career which I would like to have.
Original post by mxx454
If I had to volunteer I would either do something with kids like maybe volunteering in a kids hospital ward or working with women e.g at a shelter or something. One big issue is I have social anxiety so even if I have an interest in a particular career or volunteering, having to work with people makes it harder for me, It’s one of the reasons I picked computer science. In terms of a career interest i’ve been thinking recently something in politics/law because I find it interesting. I’ve also looked at project management but more because it seems like a relatively chill/less stressful career which I would like to have.
Understood. Just to dispell a couple of misconceptions first...
A Computer Science degree wouldn't have negated the need to interact with users, testers, business analysts, project managers etc. Most software developers are not isolated creatures.
Similarly, I'm not sure you'd find many projects managers who would describe their career as "relatively chill/less stressful". They have to handle changing requirements, budgets, deadlines, etc. - often with limited resources at their disposal.
The reason I asked what you would do if you were to volunteer was try to and avoid the focus on a career, which can be a little suffocating. Trying to decide now want you want to do for the next forty years or more is slightly nonsensical. These days, many people don't stick with a single career anyway.
It seems to me (as a non expert - and I can't stress that strongly enough!) that your social anxiety is really getting in the way. It's already stopping you doing want you'd want to do ("something with kids like maybe volunteering in a kids hospital ward or working with women e.g at a shelter or something") and is pushing you towards things you don't really enjoy ("having to work with people makes it harder for me, It’s one of the reasons I picked computer science).
I assume you realise that "something in politics/law" is likely to involve interacting with people? (To be honest, unless you fancy manning a remote lighthouse, you're going to end up interacting with people whatever you do.) Is politics/law sufficiently interesting that your desire to do it might allow you to keep your social anxiety at bay somewhat?
Are you thinking of potentially returning to uni? (Third time lucky!) From what you've said above, you're unlikely get much in terms of a loan (it's likely that only your final year would be covered). Is that likely to be an issue for you, as it would be for most people?
Original post by DataVenia
Understood. Just to dispell a couple of misconceptions first...
A Computer Science degree wouldn't have negated the need to interact with users, testers, business analysts, project managers etc. Most software developers are not isolated creatures.
Similarly, I'm not sure you'd find many projects managers who would describe their career as "relatively chill/less stressful". They have to handle changing requirements, budgets, deadlines, etc. - often with limited resources at their disposal.
The reason I asked what you would do if you were to volunteer was try to and avoid the focus on a career, which can be a little suffocating. Trying to decide now want you want to do for the next forty years or more is slightly nonsensical. These days, many people don't stick with a single career anyway.
It seems to me (as a non expert - and I can't stress that strongly enough!) that your social anxiety is really getting in the way. It's already stopping you doing want you'd want to do ("something with kids like maybe volunteering in a kids hospital ward or working with women e.g at a shelter or something") and is pushing you towards things you don't really enjoy ("having to work with people makes it harder for me, It’s one of the reasons I picked computer science).
I assume you realise that "something in politics/law" is likely to involve interacting with people? (To be honest, unless you fancy manning a remote lighthouse, you're going to end up interacting with people whatever you do.) Is politics/law sufficiently interesting that your desire to do it might allow you to keep your social anxiety at bay somewhat?
Are you thinking of potentially returning to uni? (Third time lucky!) From what you've said above, you're unlikely get much in terms of a loan (it's likely that only your final year would be covered). Is that likely to be an issue for you, as it would be for most people?
A Computer Science degree wouldn't have negated the need to interact with users, testers, business analysts, project managers etc. Most software developers are not isolated creatures.
Similarly, I'm not sure you'd find many projects managers who would describe their career as "relatively chill/less stressful". They have to handle changing requirements, budgets, deadlines, etc. - often with limited resources at their disposal.
The reason I asked what you would do if you were to volunteer was try to and avoid the focus on a career, which can be a little suffocating. Trying to decide now want you want to do for the next forty years or more is slightly nonsensical. These days, many people don't stick with a single career anyway.
It seems to me (as a non expert - and I can't stress that strongly enough!) that your social anxiety is really getting in the way. It's already stopping you doing want you'd want to do ("something with kids like maybe volunteering in a kids hospital ward or working with women e.g at a shelter or something") and is pushing you towards things you don't really enjoy ("having to work with people makes it harder for me, It’s one of the reasons I picked computer science).
I assume you realise that "something in politics/law" is likely to involve interacting with people? (To be honest, unless you fancy manning a remote lighthouse, you're going to end up interacting with people whatever you do.) Is politics/law sufficiently interesting that your desire to do it might allow you to keep your social anxiety at bay somewhat?
Are you thinking of potentially returning to uni? (Third time lucky!) From what you've said above, you're unlikely get much in terms of a loan (it's likely that only your final year would be covered). Is that likely to be an issue for you, as it would be for most people?
I probably won’t be able to go back to uni, i’d have no way to pay for it. I’ve decided to apply for apprenticeships in the next cycle once i’ve figured out what to do. I know my social anxiety is the thing holding me back in general like even at university, I never really made friends or went out or anything. If i do apply for apprenticeships, it’ll be for 2025 so I figure between now and then i’ll try get help for my anxiety. If I had to pick a career now without any external factors it would probably be law. I thought about it after I dropped out the first time but I ultimately decided against it. For now, I’m planning to do those online courses on the forage website based on different careers e.g legal/financial etc and see what I find interesting. Hopefully I land in a career I actually enjoy, i’m just afraid of making another wrong decision.
Quick Reply
Latest
Trending
Last reply 1 hour ago
HELP! What do i wear to work experience at a primary school? It’s going to be 25°CLast reply 2 weeks ago
How to get through the year with a teacher that dislikes you?
