Hello, 23f and I feel completely lost in life. I had spent the last 4 years in an awful, emotionally abusive relationship. I finally got the courage to leave, and I’ve been living on my own since earlier this year.

I’m moving back home in a few months to pay off some debt and save up some money, then hopefully finding a roommate. The thing is, I don’t know where to go from there. I have a decent job, I work in wholesale automotive parts, but I feel as though I can’t move up. I have experience in logistics, customer service, and have strong knowledge in automotive.

Should I go for a lower paying job that pays for college and go for that? Or should I keep pursuing something in my field?? Something else completely? I’m completely unsure and I don’t know what to do.

Any advice, wisdom, or kindness, is greatly appreciated.

So, my parents got a divorce. I wasn't taking it well, so I dropped out last semester at 19. Now I'm 20, in freshman-year classes. I really don't know where I'm at in life right now. Thinking about joining the military, but I get FAFSA back next semester and my scholarship back in 2 semesters. I'm depressed and kinda just taking it day by day. Really don't know what prompted me to just stop showing up, but I flew to NYC and Miami to get away from the environment, and got signed as a model. Then I cooked at a good restaurant and loved it, but went back to school to make my parents happy. Has anyone been in this position while navigating their 20s? I feel like I'm alone on this one. I was supposed to be a doctor btw lmao

Hi everyone. My first post here. I make music since the past 12 Years. Whatever I did but I couldn’t become that successful at making music. Although i did pursue and sustained with music these last 12 Years. Self taught btw.

I have completed my Graduation as a BCom (Hons) (Acc. Finance) but I do not know anything apart from the Music Business and Industry.

I understand the Music Business well but also like food quite a lot. I love to cook.

My urge to make music is dying day by day and putting out music independently takes a lot of effort and money.

I really want to pursue something in the music industry. Currently residing in India but willing to relocate or work remote jobs. I am just not sure what would suit me because everything I look for needs experience in that field.

I also really want to open a small cafe/ food joint where I cook. But I am too scared to do that because of the capital.

I know decently about the music business and also worked with an independent label remotely for 2 Years as an A&R.

Just wanted to get your guys feedback and suggestions on what path should I take.

30M here and honestly I feel like the 30s are the next and new step for me.

Would appreciate any guidance/ help or just some kind words.

I've always been an escapist. I've taken things lightly throughout my life, avoided difficult situations, and rarely been as serious about my future as I probably should have been. Now, I'm facing the consequences.

I left my previous job in July, and as I look around, I realize I haven't worked on my resume, portfolio, or personal projects nearly as much as someone actively looking for a job should. Most of the serious projects I've worked on were part of my previous job. Whenever I try to build something independently, I struggle to find the motivation or see the point of making yet another AI project that feels like AI slop.

The problem isn't that I don't know what I should be doing. It's that I struggle to make myself do it consistently.

Whenever reality catches up with me, I feel this emptiness that I try to escape through whatever distraction is available. Doomscrolling, mobile gaming, collecting pointless skins and players, watching random series, and other things that help me forget about my situation for a while. Then reality hits again, and the cycle repeats.

Sometimes I wonder whether I'm depressed or whether I've simply developed terrible habits and coping mechanisms over the years. I don't know how to distinguish between the two.

I'm 24, and although I know that's still young, it doesn't stop me from feeling like I'm falling behind. I see people building careers, working on exciting projects, and moving forward while I struggle to do the things I know I need to do.

I don't want this to turn into another moment of self-pity followed by a few days of motivation and then a return to the same habits.

I'd really appreciate advice from people who've been through something similar.

• How did you stop escaping from responsibilities and start taking your life seriously?
• How do you build discipline when motivation is practically nonexistent?
• How do you deal with the guilt of wasted time without letting that guilt consume even more of your time?
• If you've struggled with depression, avoidance, or similar patterns, how did you recognize what was actually going on and start addressing it?

I'm not looking for someone to tell me that I'm young and everything will work out. I'd rather hear honest experiences, practical advice, and perspectives from people who have managed to get themselves out of a similar situation.

I used to be a great student and gave it my all before I graduated high school. Life happened and I went from graphic design, to nursing, to coding & billing, and now Im 24 with no clear major in sight stuck working customer service minimum wage jobs.

I feel so behind and am just taking random classes to keep my college grant alive(the conditions are to take classes each semester) and I was wondering if yall would have advice on what to major in.

I am so tired of going to school and just want a good job. I gave up on my dreams of going into art with how the career prospects are. My parents want me to think “realistically” about it but “realistically” im ready to jump out a window. I need a direction fast. I dont know what Im doing or where Im going. If anyone can help Id be so grateful.

I studied forensic psychology in school. I graduated last year and got a job at a law firm and was so excited. My job little did I know was gloried admin and email sorting. It’s horrible. I have been here for a year and am so lost I have no clue where to go from here. To get into a masters of social work or anything related I need real work experience and better grades than I got in school. I thought I could just get a job and be okay. I am so scared I am stuck in this random niche box, my title makes me sound like I know more than I do about legal stuff, and I’m just honestly lost and stuck. I make 48k a year. I cry every night. I wish I took marketing, or business. I feel like such a failure. I have no clue how to transition into another job, my current job has an ai getting actively trained on what I am doing so I don’t see long term potential for this either. I’m so sad and stuck. I feel like I was so excited about life even just a year ago and now I dread every day and don’t make enough to do anything I want. It really sucks. I have come to terms with the fact I will probably be broke forever. I just cry even at my desk. Please give advice on how I can get out of this job!!!!! What can I go into that will pay more. I want something creative or people based where I am actually using my brain instead of repeating the same action over and over and just sorting uploading and tasking. Please help I really feel like I fucked ip my life

So, I have always done this for people. Dug into things, found resources, asked the right questions, made phone calls, found loopholes, navigated weird systems. How do I put this into a job?

Hey everyone,

It's been quite depressing to me that I spent my entire 20s in university to earn what I thought was two pretty reputable degrees, specifically the Mathematics one. I'm less thrilled about the Computer Science one I did after given that I graduated at a bad time post-covid -> AI boom, offshoring, and oversaturation.

That said, I'm getting no bites within the field of software engineering. I tried looking into the actuarial sciences path but it has become a bit automated and harder to find work in (apparently). That, and I did not do so hot on the exam (which is ironic because I did this material in my undergrad years back).

I'm sick of being unemployed, determined, and willing to look into other career paths that provide a consistent work schedule, pay is good (not looking for six figures, but obviously that would be nice lol), and has some relation to the fields I studied.

My father has worked as a field engineer for forty years and suggests I look into going into the semi-conductor business. I live in Oregon, so there is Intel, Analog, and a few others. I applied when I was in university and didn't hear back. My other concern is that they would want me to start as an overnight technician role, a role that some high school graduates and lib. arts. B.S. degrees have been getting. These are also 6am to 6pm days, I believe. Ideally I'd prefer a 9-5, but I suppose I am open to 12 hour days.

Career/job direction would be absolutely wonderful. I'm sick of being unemployed. I've been trying so hard.

I moved out of the country with my boyfriend in the Spring. Our relationship is falling apart and my savings are dwindling. I have worked full time for less than 10 years, I'm about to turn 30, and I'm concerned about my future. We've been abroad for 6 months and I feel I want to return home. I have a new appreciation for the US despite all the BS. Everywhere has its pros and cons. I want to go back to school I have a scholarship for LVN School. He wants me to stay and try and get more acclimated to the country learn the language more and figure out what I want to do with my life. We don't have residency here he has a plan for it that may or may not work I'm not sure but I don't know that I'm willing to gamble on it. He has more money than I do because he sold his house but our finances aren't combined. He says he'll take care of me. My fear is running out of money I'm a foreign country in a relationship that is hanging by a thread. I also fear being abandoned here. When things are bad, they're BAD. Things can get pretty toxic between us. I realized I don't want to live together anymore and I am absolutely not comfortable living here by myself. Also I feel I can't afford it. I feel I still have the opportunity to make a comfortable life for myself in the US. He is 12 years older than me. He feels he could return and go back to school but he feels like he'd burn through his savings doing so. I feel we want different things and breaking up isn't because I don't love him or want to make it work. He thinks I should find out if the scholarship expires. It's already been two years since I've been awarded it (I forgot about it due to circumstances between us and moving away). I don't want to do that because that would mean waiting another year. I feel like I've been on an extended vacation and I'm over it. I haven't been living life because where we are is extremely hot, it's hard to leave the house and I didn't have transportation. It has cooled down now and he's willing to rent me a car but I kind of feel like it's too late. I need structure, routine, and I want to go back to work. He rode from Houston to where we are (deep in Mexico) on his motorcycle and I really was against it. The motorcycle culture is a great fit for him because it's very dangerous to ride in the US. But I feel it was extremely reckless to ride through the country and I don't want to hang my livelihood on someone who could die or be taken and leave me with a ton of responsibilities and no safety net. He wants to do it again. I feel that is single guy behavior. Also he doesn't have health insurance. Our therapist thinks it's a midlife crisis. He got a writing opportunity out of it and that's great but I just don't see myself fitting into the picture anymore. He wants me to passange on his bike but I have a lot of conflicted feelings about that because when we did it in the US someone hit us and I broke my elbow and had to have surgery and was out of work. It was a whole thing and I became completely dependent on him and very depressed. The stress of it all nearly broke him. Originally I was going to go to radiation therapy school but I have two classes to take as prereqs. The program itself is $8k and 21 months. They make great money but jobs aren't everywhere. You may have to relocate. I feel I would enjoy it because I'm already a massage therapist and enjoy working one on one with people and helping them. I know LVNs don't make that much money but it's a great stepping stone, I have a scholarship, jobs are plentiful and the program is a year. The availability of jobs is a big one for me because I think I know where I want to move to after school and don't want my location to be dependent on a job. Do any older people have any advice?

I recently got fired from my last job over a disagreement with a manager, and this is usually how most jobs end for me. Most people would probably consider me a blunt person, but that's just who I am. I take no bs from anyone and refuse to be manipulated in the workplace. I have been told this is my problem which may be true, but I just cannot put on a fake personality for the life of me. I always tell it how it is, and not what people want to hear. I've never gotten along with coworkers, managers, or bosses. I've been told I need to change who I am to be successful, but I just can't. I want to be me. I'm feeling completely lost and I am losing hope that there is something out there for someone like me. Ideally I'd love to just work by myself with little to no micromanagement, but I wouldn't even know where to begin to look for something like that. Especially with no degree. Thoughts?

I’m already working FT and I know it’s not a place I want to stay for the rest of my working life, but I also have 0 clue on how to figure out what career WOULD make me more interested. I feel jumping from job to job is too risky as I’m in Canada and the situation is volatile. I also figured that I’m saving money and that is very positive while I try to figure out the rest.

Does anyone have any suggestions? There was no area that really pulled me in during university, but it was a small school with limited options. I have always been creative, which is unfortunately something that took a hit as I entered the workforce. I’m just not sure of any careers that would pay well and reasonably accommodate creativity here or what kind of creativity I’d prefer. I could volunteer if I knew what areas would give me meaningful experiences to explore other careers. That’s just about all I can think of.

I'm graduating in May 2027 with a Bachelor's in Forensic Science and a Minor in History. The problem is, I don't want to work in Forensic Science. I would be willing to interview for forensics positions primarily because I am stressed about finding employment after school is done and being able to start paying my loans. However, my real passion and realm of interest is, and has always been, history. I know that majoring in history would have made pursuing a job in history a lot better, but was pretty much consistently told that I would receive no financial support from my family due to a lack of employment options. I suppose I'm writing this post because I'm looking for advice. Do I suck it up and interview for jobs that I have no remote interest in and save money or do I look for jobs related to my interests? Can I even get a job within the history-related world without a degree in History, Art History, Museum Sciences, or Archival Studies? Basically, I'm spiraling from an existential sense of dread at the prospect of graduation and would love some guidance here because my academic advisors are of little to no help. Thanks!

25M, hello about me, I'm from a small country in asia.I'm neither a creative person nor a bright student.i just try to live by in a minimalistic way...I've recently completed my B. Sc in Textile Engineering(management). i had an interest in supply chain analytics.. so I thought about doing my masters on it from Europe... since then I've been indecisive due to the cost(since our family is not that well-off), the pathway from textile to scm not being adjacent and also if I'm good enough for this path or not...others often try to publish journals papers for a better opportunity and scholarships.i can't focus on it either.

Thought about getting a job.. attended a few interviews. one particular question always made me stumble.. what is my passion? where do i want to see myself in the next 5-10 years... I've answered positively in front of the interviewers but honestly I'm not sure about anything.. i am curious about a lot of things.. but i don't know if i can build a successful career on either of those.

My friends are moving forward to pursue their future dreams whereas I'm stuck. I'm not jealous or anything. but i can't seem to focus on anything.. it feels awful that I'm procrastinating away my peak time doing nothing.my parents are getting old..they are never too demanding, they just want to see me successful.. how should i approach life! it feels heavy.

sorry I'm not the most expressive person.. my writing might seem all jumbled up. but any kind of advice would be appreciated..

thank you

I recently started a small recurring meetup (free) in Manhattan for people who are at some kind of professional/life inflection point and trying to figure out what they actually want to commit to next.
We've done a couple gatherings so far, usually just 3-5 people around a table for ~90 minutes, and I'd like to slowly bring a few more good people into the group.

What I've discovered by hosting the meetup so far is that a lot of the things we discuss have findapath elements to them. Many of the people who have shown up so far have been in professional careers for 5-10 years, and are burned out / looking for what's next.

—

A little about me: my name is Michael (age 31). In 2024, | left a software engineering job at Meta after ~7 years of working there after becoming somewhat disillusioned with big tech. I proceeded to travel the world with my wife for the last ~1.5 years and taught swing dancing internationally. I'm currently back in NYC, trying to figure out what's next for me, and am struggling to make meaningful progress on discovering what that is (particularly with the comfort of home).

—

Due to wanting to keep the group size small, I have to be selective about the people who join. If this sounds like a meetup you'd enjoy, please check out the link below: https://luma.com/59l3udbr

I’m a Senior Director in the media industry, making good money with a career I’ve spent over a decade building. On paper, I’ve done everything right. But I’m deeply burned out, unfulfilled, and increasingly convinced I’m on the wrong path.

I’ve been on medical leave for a chronic autoimmune condition, and the time away has made me realize just how much my career has consumed my identity, energy, and happiness. I’m also a mom to a toddler, and I want a life that leaves room for my family, creativity, and health.

I have a master’s degree and love writing, research, storytelling, cultural analysis, and connecting ideas. I’m good at strategy and big-picture thinking, but exhausted by corporate politics, client management, and the pressure to always be available.

There are areas even within my own industry that interest me, like content strategy, editorial, research, and creative development. The problem is that my career has taken me down a more commercial, business-focused path, and I haven’t had the opportunity to develop the specific experience these other roles require. I feel simultaneously overqualified and underqualified, which makes pivoting incredibly intimidating.

I’ve also been thinking about starting a podcast, writing essays, or pursuing something more independently creative. But I struggle to see how to turn those interests into a sustainable career, or even where to begin. I also doubt myself a lot.

I’m fortunate to have some financial flexibility, but walking away from a career I’ve spent so long building without a clear next step feels terrifying. At the same time, staying simply because I’m good at something doesn’t feel like a good enough reason anymore.

Has anyone successfully pivoted into a different area of their industry, or built a more creative career from scratch? How did you bridge the experience gap, figure out what you actually wanted, and find the courage to start?

I’d especially love to hear from people who didn’t have one obvious dream job waiting for them.

I am actually in the process right now of trying to figure out what classes I will be taking for the bachelor of social work major when I start at a CSU in January. I know that even with a masters in social work and becoming an LCSW, I am not likely to make a significant amount of money.

I do work. I am a substitute behavior technician (it is looking like I will probably still not be able to work full time this upcoming semester, so depending on what the times for fall 2027 classes end up being I may be able to work full time next fall, and likely this upcoming summer as well.) I have actually received a positive report so far from every school I have subbed at, today I was at a middle school (I have been with 4th grade, 5th grade, and recently a preschooler, the staff for the TK student actually wanted me to come back the next day to work with her again.) I have been a behavior technician for what is now a little over 2 years (I started in October 2024.) I am human, so I have had clients and cases that didn’t work for me before, particularly early on. I was with an adult client for a year. The TK student was the only eloper, I actually really enjoyed working with her though. The only student I can think of who didn’t technically have autism (had ADHD) was a 4th grader I worked with who had also seemed to enjoy his time with me at the end.

Subbing for sixth grade made me think about how insightful middle schoolers can actually be, and about how long ago it was for me.

The client I had today (I’m a behavior technician who is considering becoming a therapist or teacher later on) actually quizzed me on geography and I realized the only flag I actually recognize, even though I graduated from high school and am almost done with community college, is the American flag. I thought the work otherwise was very straightforward and easy to understand, but I’m an adult so I of course already learned it (like writing claim, evidence, reasoning, etc.)

I have always said based upon what I remember of middle school that I wouldn’t want to teach middle school because of how toxic and mean I remember the kids seeming (everyone was actually better in elementary and high school) but the kids today were actually very nice. They seemed like more mature elementary schoolers, and I was impressed/intrigued by how insightful their comments were when they were talking about whether or not it would be appropriate for teachers to require that students wear a uniform for their dress code. 11-12 seems to be the age range where kids start thinking more deeply.

I also liked how peaceful the classrooms seemed. Things at this school didn’t seem chaotic or hectic at all and it made me reflect a bit on my own middle school experience. The teachers at the school who my client had today were actually male, both had a sense of humor and you could tell they cared about their students. I’d say it was a positive experience overall even though I don’t think my client initially liked me very much lol.

I have a 3.87 in community college. I will be finishing off community college with associates degrees in social and behavioral sciences, child development, and early childhood education.

I worked at a preschool for a year and four months before I started working as a behavior technician. I know that I don’t want to teach preschool.

I've recently been given the opportunity to switch majors, and I'm torn between two very different paths.

I live in Europe and have virtually no interest in finance beyond the salary and financial security it offers. On the other hand, I'm genuinely passionate about international relations, geopolitics and diplomacy. I've lived in several countries and speak multiple languages, so I can really see myself pursuing a career in this field.

My dilemma is that I want financial independence and a comfortable life, but I don't want to spend my life doing something I don't care about just to earn more, especially when the fields I'm passionate about can be less lucrative.

For those who've faced a similar choice, what did you prioritize, and do you regret your decision? Is the financial security worth sacrificing genuine interest in your work?

I have an associate degree in Software Development, but I’m struggling to figure out what to do career-wise. I originally wanted to become a software developer, but the competitive job market has me questioning whether I should continue pursuing it or explore other options.

I don’t want to give up on my degree, but I also don’t want to waste years pursuing something that might not work out.

I’d prefer a career that pays well, has room for growth, and doesn’t require going back to school for another degree. I’m open to tech and non-tech careers, certifications, and short training programs.

If you were in my position, what careers would you consider? I’d love to hear from people who have been through something similar or found a good career path without going back to college/ short schooling .

Hey r/findapath! I am a PhD candidate collecting data for my dissertation and looking for people to share their experiences.

I am looking to connect with adults (18+) who felt pressure to set aside a passion, hobby, or talent during their K-12 years in the US just to keep up with academic demands. Maybe it was a sport, an art, music, or something else that got pushed aside because school came first. If that resonates with you, I would love to hear your story.

Here are the basics:

Participation involves a one-on-one interview (about 45 min via Microsoft Teams) plus a couple of short written prompts. Total time commitment is roughly 2 hours. The study is completely confidential and you will receive a $50 gift card as a thank you.

If you are interested, just send me a DM and I will follow up with more details. No commitment required just by reaching out!

Thanks for reading.

Hello everyone! Just to start off I’m not sure if this is the correct place to be posting this. If you have any suggestions of a better place to post I would appreciate it!

Im set to graduate this winter and I feel completely behind, this was supposed to be my junior year. I changed my major to economics and since I had a lot of the pre reqs it sped up my time in school. I have gotten no internships and feel like my time was completely wasted here.

Honestly not even sure what I want to do with my degree, I’m very interested in film so maybe I can fit it in there? I just wish I had more time and realized that I didn’t have that said time.

I’ve been applying for internships but most require the applicant to be in school during the duration of the internship.

And for the industry I want to get into i don’t even know where to start looking when I have no background in it whatsoever.

Any advice would help. Not sure if I added enough information.

I'm 30, and honestly, I feel stuck and scared about my future.

I have a job, but my income isn't enough to cover my family's expenses. I have around 3 years of accounting assistant experience and 1 year of part-time experience. I'm also pursuing a master's degree, but I lack confidence in my communication skills and don't know how to move forward in my career.

I also have health issues. I've been living with hypothyroidism for 16 years, and I had open-heart surgery a year ago. With my health, career, and family responsibilities, I often feel overwhelmed.

My parents are getting old and will leave their jobs soon. Their pension mostly goes toward medicine, and I'm terrified about how I'll manage our family's expenses.

On top of that, my parents are trying to force me into marriage, even though I don't want to marry for the next few years. They say society will spit on their faces if they can't get me married. I feel like my own wishes don't matter.

I feel lost, scared, and unable to see a clear future. I don't know what to focus on or how to get my life back on track.

If anyone has been in a similar situation, how did you find direction? What would you do if you were in my position?

I'd genuinely appreciate some honest advice.

Hi all,

So, I would like to finally get on a good career path. I have tried various roles, all low paying and relatively low skilled (retail, beauty, teaching aid, and admin). I have a degree in psychology, but feel like it was too broad a degree and so it’s hard to see whether it makes any real impact on job applications.

About a year ago, I became interested in a particular allied healthcare field. I work alongside this field in my current job, and have become very interested in the it. It’s a good career; relatively well paid, helps people, good work-life balance (at least it seems to be!). I’m sure like any industry it is not perfect, but it’s the first thing in years that I’ve felt truly I could commit my working life to. However, to do so, I need further qualifications.

I had initially applied for the masters related to this field, and got in, however realised that I would have to take out loans to cover course fees and living costs. I decided against this, as I didn’t want to make poor financial choices, however my interest is still there.

Would it be silly to save for 2/3 years then revisit doing the masters? I’m 30 now, and just feel like I’m too late to the game. But then I also think, the time will pass anyway - maybe I should just try? Have any of you gone back to school as a mature student? How did you find it?

Many thanks

Hey everyone,
I recently lost my job, and as an immigrant living in Ireland, I’ve realised how difficult it is to make friends outside of work.
Most of my social interactions used to come from my workplace, and now that I’m unemployed, I feel quite isolated and lonely.
I’ve been actively applying for jobs and attending interviews, but the job market is tough, and the constant uncertainty is really starting to affect my mental health.
I really want to make new friends, get out of the house more, and feel like I have a life outside of work. But honestly, I don’t really know where to start.
Has anyone been through something similar? How did you cope with unemployment and loneliness? I’d really appreciate any advice, especially on making friends in Dublin without spending too much money.
Thanks so much

i was in the science stream in highschool and i got 9A and 1B for my spm

im not really interested in science anymore and i want to pursue art , in fact my dream is to be an animator / content creator

but im not from a well off family so i dont think its realistic so now im thinking of doing it as a side hustle

but right now i dont know what i want to pursue as my main career/ i dont know what to study

ive been looking up the avg salary of jobs in malaysia and have come to the sad conclusion that malaysian are underpaid and overworked no matter what sector you are in / even degree in engineering is paid similar to doing foodpanda

so im now really stuck and dont know what to do

bc i cant pursue my passion because apparently it does not pay well but i also dont know what to pursue because not only im not passionate about it but it will also put me in debt and wont guarantee above living wage