Where Is My Life Actually Going?

[PaRtZ]

A few weeks ago I had a sort of panic attack basically because something triggered the fact and feeling that I had no idea where my life is heading.

I mean we all have those cute childhood speeches: "When I grow up Im going to be an astronaught" or whatever. Fact is at that age in our lives, we don't realise NASA dont want the fat, unhealthy lard-arse we turn in to when its time to start a career. I felt (last week) as though I never actually focused on a single career that I wanted to do. Because what if shit hit the fan and I couldn't do it?

Example, I wanted to be an electrician (at one point) but then I was told that my colourblindness, however slight it is, AUTOMATICALLY prevents me from doing it.

Recently I've gained a place at swansea university for mechanical engineering. Yay. 4 more years of being taught complicated, awkward formulae and logic with the possibility or leaving with a degree. Oh and about £20,000 of debt. But tonight I've been talking with a mate, once I leave uni, what's going to happen?

If I got a sponsorship then I could have a job sorted out already, but I'd be tied to the company. However if I don't think quick Im going to be screwed when I leave.

Also, I want a mechanical sort of job now before I go to uni in the hope that it keeps my mind mechanically fresh and active. But I can't get into anywhere without specific qualifications for machining etc. and even if I leave uni with a degree, its still not the same as these qualifications.

Don't get me wrong Im not moaning saying lifes shit. I love life and go for everything I can, its just in order for me to keep doing so and staying on the straight and narrow I've got no idea what to do now

After this so called panic attack I was told by my lovely ex girlfriend (pics for those who need a wank on request)

to do what I wanted. So I did, I quit at morrisons. Simultaenously I was made redundant at my other job in a toy shop so im a bit buggered unless someone can suggest something for me

I tried a year in industry website, but Im too late, next entry is this time next year (when Ill be in swansea) All I can do is work, but where?

Anyone else feel in a similar situation? share here we can all be a mess together

PaRtZ xxx

Edited September 5, 2006 by PaRtZ

[RicH_87]

yeh i'm totally f**ked over at the moment too,

been a year since i left school, being working at my previous part time job doing more hours but it's bullshit and i feel like i'm on the bottom rung of society every time i go in.

i got good grades, and i'm smart enough to get any job i want really and probably stick at it, but i'm a massive cynic and i can see the bad side to everyone and everything. I literally hate most things i see, or read or hear about, i have strong opinions and i think way to deeply about stuff.

for example, what's the point in getting a regular job and living a 70 year life of worthless bullshit just to rear another generation to do the same? I think about the fact that there are no real genius' and pioneers today in any aspect of life. No one is original or unique, humanity is going backwards in my opinion and sometimes i don't even want to be associated with it.

don't get me wrong, i'm not suicidal or anything, but i just can't see that there is anything worth dedicating my life too.

I stayed in education as long as i could, left with 9 GCSE's and 3 A-levels but i managed to talk myself out of going to uni. All i could think of was me wasting another 3 years of my life and money, be-friending more self-rightious, nieve, typical students and just making bad decisions. I would almost certainly be where i am now, but 3 years older and 12k poorer.

A lot of my old school freinds talk about uni as-if it's some kinda of utopia, but when i ask them what they plan on doing afterwards they have no idea. They simply just went to uni becasue 'that's what everyone else does'...

anyway, i've applied for a few trainee jobs in architecture and things, which if i get i hope will bring me to my senses and i'll live a long and happyish life doing something i have a vague interest in.

however if i don't get a new job soon i ain't sure what i'll do.

I think i'm turning into a kind of megalomaniac,...the bad kind.

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I reccomend you stop trying to look for an engineering type job, and just ask around companies you know of, offering to be a volunteer/work eperience student.

I know you won't be getting paid and everything but it's a good way to keep busy and interested in the subject you are already studying, plus if you do well and are keen it might easily lead somwhere.

[Mark W]

I had the same thing when I finished my A-levels, and having had my year out now I know that I want to go to uni. £20K of debt is nothing, try my £30K debt Ideal. Obviously uni's not going to be for everyone, but it helps a lot of people out. Even if you don't do a job relating to your degree, a degree is still a super handy thing to have just for applying for other stuff.

Just try and think about what you enjoy doing, then try and go for that. Even if it doesn't end up with the job you want, settling for an apprenticeship or something which isn't what you want to be doing just 'cos you can "get work easily" isn't a sound idea. I don't fully know what I want to do in future, except I'd like it to involve photography in some way. As a result, I've got myself onto a photography degree course. It'll probably end up that I just wind up with a degree, but not doing anything related to photography and have to just get a regular job. However, that's not necessarily the end of the world. At the moment, I'm working at Somerfield. I really enjoy working there. The people I work with are all amazingly cool ('cept the majority of the day staff), I can push myself and be satisfied that I've done a good days work or I can just slack a bit if I'm not feeling it. Yes, it's "Just working in a supermarket", but I enjoy doing it, it's a decent wage for the amount of work I have to do, it's fairly flexible, and it's just not a bad place to be, really. Don't go into the World of Work™ with preconceptions of what certain jobs will be like. I've heard many people say that just working in a supermarket is a shit thing to do, how it says a lot about your character and all that crap, but to be honest the 3 years I've worked there I've largely enjoyed. It's not the hardest job in the world, but it doesn't need to be because I enjoyed doing it. I'm leaving it this Sunday and I'll be pretty gutted when I go, just 'cos I've liked the routine and the work I've done. Either way, any job is what you make of it. Just find out how you prefer to work and go with that (e.g. I prefer to know at the start of the day what needs doing, then working through it 'til it's done. As such, Somerfield suits me. If you like more spontaneous stuff, maybe working at a different place would be better).

I opened this post and typed up to now about 15 minutes ago so I've totally forgotten where I was going with it, so I'll try and remember and edit it in...

[Guest]

I know how you feel, and I am still working out wether or not I want to go to Uni. The idea of having a Degree is very appealing, the idea of having debt which will probobly equal my first working years salary is not.

With regard to trying to get machining jobs now, the reason you wont get any is because your qualifications are purley academic.

I left school after my GCSE's for that very reason, went to college and did an AVCE in Mechanical Engineering, the course also ran an NVQ along side, aswell as City and Guilds CAD.

While we both have 3 A-levels and spent the same time doing them, what I did was specifically Engineering, and we had time in a workshop each week using Lathe's, Milling Machine's and any other workshop tools. In my eye's, those who stay on at school are those who are absoutley certain they want to go to Uni, these days GCSE's and A-levels are not enough to set you apart from the crowd, and as such it's unlikely that you get a well paid job.

I wasn't, and still am not sure just what I want to do, did you consider doing an HND? Im doing one now because I didn't want to start working at the bottom of the ladder, and didn't want to commit to Uni just yet. When I get the HND, i'll hopefully be in a better position to get a job which would have a better starting salary than those with A-levels, or if I decide to, go to Uni and enter in the second year as the HND basically covers first year of Uni.....

It's a sad reality that no matter what you do, your going to have to work in order to survive, what do you enjoy? I've allways maintained that no matter what, i'd rather have a low paid job that I love, than a high paid job that I hate, everyone wants to get paid for doing what they like.....

[Dan6061]

I feel like this.

I regrettably did basically nothing in school. Thinking I could get away with it.

I was so wrong.

Did my GCSE's, and didn't even get a C or above. I probably could've done in English, but I f**ked up the exam. I missed one of the questions (like 20+ marks?)

I left it way to late to apply for any Colleges. My mum was always moaning at me about applying, but I didn't know what I wanted to do.

All I got round to, was photography, and possibly something like web-design, and learning how to use photoshop and other media applications.

These are just my interests though, I don't know what kind of career I want to get into.

So yeah, ballsed that up.

Everyone else in my year have started college, 6th form, work etc.

I work part time at Halfords too, which is ok, but i'd rather work full time.

My life seems to be going no-where too.

[Heatsink]

I think that all of us wonder and worry about the future. The main moments being as you're approaching leaving home, ending studies. I can remember clearly how worried I was about this unclear path I was following with my studies, and kept thinking that with so many engineers graduating each year surely all the jobs would be taken when I finally was looking.

I was pretty worried just like all of you. Fortunately the real world turned out to be much more straight forward than all the hype. I must only use about 5% in my job of anything I've ever studied. I threw out all my Uni folders the other day after holding onto them for 6 years without consulting them.

The hardest thing I've ever done was A-levels and passing my driving test. I think the most important thing is just to focus on striving to be the best person you can be, and if stick true to that then you'll pick up soul mates along the way and make your own luck to find the jobs which are the best match for you.

Just follow the path which seems the best match for you, and don't worry about set-backs like missing a course or having to repeat a year somewhere. I repeated a year at Uni after being supremely lazy, and it hasn't mattered at all. Looking back there's no need to worry when avenues turn into dead ends, knowing what you don't want to do is incredibly useful as you gradually find your niche.

It'll all come good

Steve

P.S. Some corny sounding advice which I've found to be true when I was gathering up the last shreds of motivation to recommence my 2nd year at Uni: "The journey is the reward"

[Jaffacakes]

I did f**k all in school aswel.

I didnt even go to my English lessons in year 11 (I got a U or something shit) , my drama lessons were all fun and games aswel, when we had months to work on a play we would leave it until 5 mins before we were onstage and basicaly do it then... (got a U) Maths I actualy tryed in so I was pissed I got a E. R.S was a fun one. I took the complete piss in the exam saying the most sarcastic things and I got a C (which made me laugh) science I sort of tryed in and got a double D. Oh yeah I got a NVQ 1 in catering aswel

Least im in college and doing the course I wanted to anyway, which is woodwork. I left it pretty late to apply but all is good... Hopefully I end up getting a couple of NVQ's and then get an aprentaship (when I finnished the course they help me find one) and start work with a building company as a qualified carpenter.

[Connor]

my advice chill, ull end up being alright in the end

[N.Wood]

I'm planning on going to uni to find out what i want to do.

I have a pretty open 'Applied Geology' degree which could take me in many directions.

I know that geology is what I'm good at, what i enjoy and what can make me money (which, coincidently, is why we work... Don't lose sight of that fact).

I guess I'm lucky as i know which area i want to aim for.

[Si-man]

Im the same, got my ND in manufacturing engineering, spent an hour the other day with apprenticeship advisor ringing places and asking, theres nowhere to go!

I have about as much enthusiasm at the moment as a pebble, and I just cannot be arsed!

I have lathe, milling, surface grinding, gas welding and sheet metal skills, but just no jobs for it.

Also got a distinction in CAD aswell, no jobs round here for that either.

I really wish I learnt how to drive when i was 17...

[Ben Cox]

I basically did sod all at school.got drunk, smoked drugs, i was a right little shit, i bollocked up my school life

completely.

gcse's come around, managed to scrounge a double D in sience after i managed to complete one piece of coursework which i handed in way after the deadline doing it after school for a week.

i thought i didnt have the grades to get into college so i didnt bother looking into it

all i did until the end of the "summer holidays" (id finished school) was go out get drunk and high in a park with a bunch of emo fags, until one day i thought, wtf am i doing i dont like what ive become. so i gave all that shite up and sorted myself out a job in maccyds. it will be 2 years ive worked there on friday, also i started riding which helped me shape my life up, im starting to enjoy work but yet i still feel im stuck in another rut, as soon as i move into my dads place (sunday) im gonna look for a new job and try and dig myself out.

Ben

woah i went completely off topic right there

[BONGO]

this is a post i made today about apprenticeships... Not directly relavent, but if you read it it could have some pull on a choice you may make. From my experiences as a 23 years old with lots of friends who went to Uni and myself who did not, i cannot see the point in Uni unless you have a focused target to aim towards like a doctor etc, which requires uni. I have done the best financially out of my friends and also in enjoyment and fulfilment at work. I am secure for my career, and have over £10,000 in my pension at 23! I have several thousand shares in BT etc. Have a think. Uni isn't the way anymore in my eyes... I know handfuls of people with degree's that have gone travelling or got silly pub jobs becasue they still do not know what they want to do, or they cannot get jobs.

some serious advice i can give you, from experience, which could prove invaluble in the long run, is to look towards national/international companies that are rquired by the country, ie. BT, British Gas, United Utilities, Sky, Telewest etc.

I had an apprenticeship with BT. These companies spend so much money training apprentices that they don't want them to leave when their term finishes. Although not contracted to, these types of huge companies almost always keep the apprentices for good. In BT i know of nobody who hasn't stayed on permanently, in 6 years.

These companies are also nationally relied upon and are so big they are pretty much self reliant and so have so many sectors within them, literally thousands of types of jobs, and in BT's case, hundreds of smaller companies that still come under the BT name.

Once into these companies you are free to move around and apply for most of these jobs. If your particular job becomes too low on work, they re deploy you to other jobs or other area's etc. Basically, you don't ose your job and will always have your money coming in.

Personally joining BT was the best financial and stress free choice i think i could ever have made. I am raking it in for low hours compared with other places (35.5 hr weeks) i have flexible hours, overtime available, really good pension, free shares in the company, 2 annual pay rises, guarenteed job for my whole career somewhere in BT.

BT apprentices start in Oct so you have missed this year but if you can get into BT i advise you do. Or other huge companies like i've said above.

Hope this helps and i hope you maybe listen to a little and see that it pays off hehe.

Bongo.

[munkee]

Im the same, got my ND in manufacturing engineering, spent an hour the other day with apprenticeship advisor ringing places and asking, theres nowhere to go!

I have about as much enthusiasm at the moment as a pebble, and I just cannot be arsed!

I have lathe, milling, surface grinding, gas welding and sheet metal skills, but just no jobs for it.

Also got a distinction in CAD aswell, no jobs round here for that either.

I really wish I learnt how to drive when i was 17...

My dad used to own his own company which pretty much dealt witht he type of skills you are using and i was planning on working for him and then moving up in the business. But he said it really is a dieing trade being taken over by automation etc. I went to uni.. currently 3rd year studying civil engineering, it was pretty much down to my dad that im doing it since i was good at engineering skills just had no clue what to choose. Its a really diverse subject with a crap load of jobs.. either way im not staying in the uk its f**king dieing on its arse here for every form of industry. Best bet would be to sod off to america if you ask me.

[Howard Hughes]

I did a photography ND at college and pretty much just worked my arse off for two years, got a triple distinction... and decided i'd have a go at getting a job (thinking it would be fairly easy with good grades and a strong portfolio), hopefully getting some real life experience.

It took me ages to find a job in the industry, but i eventually got one, ok so its not my dream job, but at the end of the day its a great way to build up experience in a working environment, dealing with clients etc.. the kind of stuff college/uni can't prepare you for.

Anyways... it would probably help to go to a job centre type place, that way they might be able to find you something you are remotely interested in, even if its not your dream job, its experience and a step in the right direction.

Hope that was of a little help, if not sorry.

[Si-man]

My dad used to own his own company which pretty much dealt witht he type of skills you are using and i was planning on working for him and then moving up in the business. But he said it really is a dieing trade being taken over by automation etc. I went to uni.. currently 3rd year studying civil engineering, it was pretty much down to my dad that im doing it since i was good at engineering skills just had no clue what to choose. Its a really diverse subject with a crap load of jobs.. either way im not staying in the uk its f**king dieing on its arse here for every form of industry. Best bet would be to sod off to america if you ask me.

I know what you mean.

Did CNC at college aswell, went to try an get an apprenticeship working for addisons engineering but they decided not to get back to me.

Future is actually looking good, place by the airport is looking for a apprentice to be a technician and to repair machines, change mold (thats for poopipe) dies, tools etc.

Tutor is going to see them and going to get me an interview. Should be able to get it since I got experience with machinery.

[Sam Nichols]

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life, the most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.

[Guest]

The sunscreen song! it's great i have that here, time to listen!

[PaRtZ]

The hardest thing I've ever done was A-levels and passing my driving test.

Does that include your uni course?

Also can I ask how Heatsink bikes started out? From the moment you left uni?

Just Im in awe of how well you've done for yourself