I’m 21. Stop Asking Me What I Want To Do With My Life.
Really, I have no idea yet.
Look, we’ve all been there. Unless you are one of the few people who have known in their bones what they were meant to do from a young age and have followed that path into adulthood. We’ve all been there.
Once you’re in your junior year in high school, the questions begin, and people become restless in wanting to have an answer. No Aunt Jessica, my career aspirations haven't magically appeared since the last time you asked me, last week. And that’s okay.
If anything, I’ve regressed. At 17 I knew more about what I wanted to do with my life than I do now, at 21. And that’s okay too.
If you’re 30 and don’t know what you want to do forever, that’s okay too. It’s all okay. Screw anyone or any system that leads us to believe we have one shot to make one decision at one time to decide the rest of our lives. It’s bullshit.
Nowadays (bless us), most people try a few things out before finding what their passion is. Who cares if it takes a little longer if that means you’ll actually want to get out of the bed to do it for the years (or decades) ahead.
Here are a few things I’ve done that have tremendously helped me get closer to knowing what I want to do with my life.
- Make a list of what you want in a job, and what you don’t want.
Doing this has helped me tremendously when it comes to choosing jobs/internships/side hustles. I make sure before accepting a job that it aligns with some of my values and wants in a job, or if it doesn’t, that the job provides me with new opportunities to learn.
- Don’t be afraid to DIP IN!
When it comes to finding your dream job, or even just a good job, it’s incredibly helpful to just go for it! If you find a job opportunity that seems promising but does not completely fit with your vision, there is no harm in trying it out, even for a little bit. Even if you don’t stay long, I can almost guarantee that you will learn transferable skills and tools that would help you land another job closer to your niche.
- Everyone you meet is a networking opportunity
And I mean, EVERYONE. I have learned that people are connected in ways you don’t expect—this really is a small world. You might meet people in your current job, people in shops you like to go to, or simply meet someone new at a party. It is always interesting to know what people do or even hear their personal career paths. It may help you feel less lonely, and even better, open up new opportunities you didn’t even know existed.
- Start some side hustles
If you’re worried about making enough money to live—especially right now—why not start a side hustle in the meantime? Added bonus: I’ve heard of a lot of people making above a liveable wage on something that started as a side hustle! The benefit of side hustles is that there are SO many out there! Depending on your niche or what you’re interested in, there’s almost a side hustle for everything nowadays.
The takeaway from this article is that no matter what age you’re at, I am willing to bet you are 1 in a huge pool of people similar to you who don’t yet know what they want to do with their lives. And let me say it again; that’s okay. You’ll figure it out. Once I realized that literally everyone and I mean EVERYONE, doesn’t have it as figured out as they lead us to believe; it’s helped me accept that I’m just the same. There are probably more people like you than people who’ve got it all planned out. Just accept this stage of life that you’re in; experimenting can be the most interesting, knowledgeable and fun time you have. Enjoy it, and once you’re ready, go for the next thing.
If you liked this article, consider reading a few others from me! It is much appreciated.
