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Gotta vent a little bit. I totally broke down today. I feel like ****. I deactivated my Facebook account because I get so depressed signing in and seeing my friends who are enjoying their 20's because they're in good careers with good futures and good money and they can just cruise confidently through life, while I feel like right now I'm starting my life over and I'm going to have to waste my 20's rebuilding from square one. I feel like I'm right where I was when I graduated high school. I'm living in my old room in my parents' house. I'm becoming a recluse because I feel like such a loser. I applied to work at several warehouses in the area. This'll help me pay my bills, but it's not getting me anywhere towards a good career and actually making something of my college education. I feel like all the doors to good careers have been shut off to me. I always thought I was smart, but I guess I just don't have what it takes to succeed in the world.
Gotta vent a little bit. I totally broke down today. I feel like ****. I deactivated my Facebook account because I get so depressed signing in and seeing my friends who are enjoying their 20's because they're in good careers with good futures and good money and they can just cruise confidently through life, while I feel like right now I'm starting my life over and I'm going to have to waste my 20's rebuilding from square one. I feel like I'm right where I was when I graduated high school. I'm living in my old room in my parents' house. I'm becoming a recluse because I feel like such a loser. I applied to work at several warehouses in the area. This'll help me pay my bills, but it's not getting me anywhere towards a good career and actually making something of my college education. I feel like all the doors to good careers have been shut off to me. I always thought I was smart, but I guess I just don't have what it takes to succeed in the world.
If it makes you feel any better, I know people in their 50s who have stagnated in their careers, tried to change careers and failed, and have not been able to find jobs for years and they are living with THEIR parents. Others are still living in shared rooms of houses by themselves.
Oh ... and are divorced, widowed, or never married.
These are all people with college degrees.
It's a tough world. That's why I NEVER question a person's efforts to better themselves, no matter how unconventional the path might be. And I never judge people for their success/failure. Because it could easily be me too.
Hang in there. You're a puppy. Figure out where you want to be in 10-15 years, and take the steps to make it happen.
I am sorry you are feeling this way. A lot of people are in your situation. Instead of looking at it as wasted time since you graduating can you try to learn from the mistakes and move forward? What did you get a degree in? What made you pick a warehouse position and are there any other type of positions that can help you get employment with what your degree is in?
I always thought I was smart, but I guess I just don't have what it takes to succeed in the world.
Get a pet. Something to "look after", and that will be happy to have you around. Focus on something outside of yourself. A cat or dog would cheer you up.
jobaba has a great point about people being in similar positions. You're young. You can recover from this. I know that's easy to say, however, I'm going through a lot of the same issues myself. What I do to keep from falling into the trap of despair is I keep busy either exercising or going back over my old college textbooks and relearning what I've forgotten.
You can't become a recluse. You still need to be getting out there. If anything, being out and about will make you feel more normal, more human.
My advice is pretty simple. The one thing I wish I had done when I was your age -- and it wasn't as easy then as it is now -- is network myself to people outside of my peer group. I was comfortable with my peer group, but when I was in my 20's, I viewed people in their 30's and 40's and even 50's as people that couldn't really help me.
But trust me, THOSE are exactly the kinds of people that can help you, and even better, ENJOY helping people in their 20's just starting out. Yes, there are times it is easier to meet them when you are employed, but even if you're not, it is still manageable.
My advice is pick out an industry (or even better, a company) that you have an interest in. Sign up for LinkedIn, and then send invites to people in that company. Lay it all out for them -- tell them you are a recent college grad, and are interested in a career in whatever field it is, and ask them if they would consider "Linking In" to you and helping you with your job search. Sure, some will say no, but the large majority of people that are presented with an opportunity to be helpful in a situation like that will do it. A lot of times they will think back to when THEY were first starting out.
Don't become a recluse, because unless your name is Howard Hughes (ask your parents about him), it doesn't pay the bills. You have to get yourself out there and the more you do that, the faster it will happen. There are several employment groups in the Triangle that are just can help you make connections as well.
And on a serious note (and perhaps the pic you used was in jest), be careful about self-medicating yourself through the bottle. I owned a bar for 7 years, and had a front row seat to a lot of movies just like yours. As I used to tell my own bartenders, "Drink to celebrate, not to drown your sorrows."
Been through it just like you but I always had something to keep me happy- like my uncle, my dog, or just sitting with my grandmother to watch TV. I agree- don't become a recluse.
My advice is pretty simple. The one thing I wish I had done when I was your age -- and it wasn't as easy then as it is now -- is network myself to people outside of my peer group. I was comfortable with my peer group, but when I was in my 20's, I viewed people in their 30's and 40's and even 50's as people that couldn't really help me.
But trust me, THOSE are exactly the kinds of people that can help you, and even better, ENJOY helping people in their 20's just starting out. Yes, there are times it is easier to meet them when you are employed, but even if you're not, it is still manageable.
My advice is pick out an industry (or even better, a company) that you have an interest in. Sign up for LinkedIn, and then send invites to people in that company. Lay it all out for them -- tell them you are a recent college grad, and are interested in a career in whatever field it is, and ask them if they would consider "Linking In" to you and helping you with your job search. Sure, some will say no, but the large majority of people that are presented with an opportunity to be helpful in a situation like that will do it. A lot of times they will think back to when THEY were first starting out.
Don't become a recluse, because unless your name is Howard Hughes (ask your parents about him), it doesn't pay the bills. You have to get yourself out there and the more you do that, the faster it will happen. There are several employment groups in the Triangle that are just can help you make connections as well.
Get a pet. Something to "look after", and that will be happy to have you around. Focus on something outside of yourself. A cat or dog would cheer you up.
I'm starting my life over and I'm going to have to waste my 20's rebuilding from square one.
You're a lucky guy. You're starting over. You're in your 20s. You live at home fairly cheaply. Presumably you're happy. You have friends. Your life is ahead of you.
You have 97% of what comprises happiness.
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