Finding my passion

[crazy-girl]

OK, I talked about hating my job in another posting. Now I'm scared about another thing. I have NO idea what would make me happy. I spent all of college thinking that a career in broadcast journalism would make me happy. I thought I'd be helping people and saving the world. Now I am totally disillusioned and feeling almost betrayed. My dream turned out to be a nightmare. My nerves are shot, I can't sleep, I can't eat.

Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone else have a hard time figuring out what they want to be when they grow up? What if I never find another thing I'm passionate about again?

I don't want to go to my high school ten year reunion and say "Uh, right now I'm just in between jobs" when they are all managers and higher-ups.

How the hell do I figure out what I'm going to do with my life? !

[Burned out social worker]

Hi,
You and I are in the same boat sister! It's a shitty place to be when you go to school and start working in your field and find out you hate it.
I've been out of school almost 2 years and I am currently working at a mental health clinic for 4 months. The health benefits are great and the salary is entry level but high for the field. Unfortunately I hate what I do and my emotional, mental and physical health is starting to suffer.
Let me to tell that we are destined to find our passions! As long as we do not settle.

My advice is to call or email Mike Stoller, life coach off of quarterlifecrisis.com
I made a free 30 minute phone appointment with him this morning and it was great. You have nothing to lose. His number is 773-728-4554 and I can't think of his email address.
I'm contemplating setting up a 3 month committment with his services. He's inspiring and loves what he does. It's intoxicating.
Good luck and I hope to hear from you.
"burned out"

[AnnaD]

I am in the same situation. I majored in Criminal Justice and was told that there would be all kinds of exciting jobs waiting for me upon graduation. Federal Agent, Detective, Victim Advocate, Investigator, Researcher...HA!

What I found out was to get a "good" job you have to be A-physically perfect (specifically eyesight), B-willing to relocate anywhere in the country at any time, C-willing to have a limited family life and D-many agencies want degrees like accounting, foreign language, social work, and not criminal justice, for these wonderful and exciting positions.

I started doing background checks-to get experience in the criminal justice field. I hate it-it is absolutely the worst job that I have ever had. I can't quit without first finding another job because my husband is in school and we depend on my paycheck and health insurance.

What I am learning is that I worked my butt off to graduate with honors and received a degree that qualifies me for NOTHING.

I have considered going back for another degree-but in what? After working in this hideous profession for 2 years I am completely devoid of passion and even can't even imagine finding a job that I might enjoy. I have taken personality tests, aptitude tests and none of them have really helped me.

My best advice is to hang in there...it's got to get better, right?

[crazy-girl]

Isn't it interesting that most of the jobs that we hate have to do with having a limited family life? My job right now is such that I need to ask off for a day just to be able to go out to dinner with my boyfriend. There's no way I will ever be able to get married on this schedule and I could see a marriage easily falling apart because of the demands the job plays on my time.

I think I don't have the patience for it because my dad had one of those jobs when I was in high school. He was always travelling and I never saw him. I realized that it was for the good of the family but I would have rather had him there at home. I don't want my kids to ever go through that and I don't want my husband to sit at home all the time feeling like a single parent because I'm at work.

I want a job I can leave at work. My job is not my life!

[Anonymous]

I agree with that "My job isnt my life" statement...y'know, somehow, somewhat naively????!!! I thought when I got out of school I'd be free to live the life that I wanted (now at the time it was about becoming a writer and looking hip etc) while still enjoying my career as an electrical engineer....I dont particularly hate my job, but I realize that the "rest" of my "real" life is suffering because of some stinkin' job.....the joke is on us .."go to school, get a career...and basically become mom and dad all over again..." I'm with you..on the "job is not my life"...I am so with you...

[Anonymous]

I got a degree in business because I thought it would be practical. Then I worked in advertising for 5 years and got everything I wanted... promotions, money. The problem was that I was miserable and didn't have any time for a life outside of work. I quit for something more rewarding like teaching in the inner city and I find it dreadful. I worry I'll never be happy doing anything.

[crazy-girl]

yeeesh. This does suck. I was thinking of teaching at an inner city school. I saw an Oprah episode about it and these folks seemed do happy.

Just out of curiousity---what don't you like about it?

[YELLOWTUD]

Let me tell you, i feel the same way. I am working at a good job, i am so lucky to have a job in this market. I am totally making good money, i don't have to work overtime, and i like most of my co-workers. there is nothing wrong with my job, but i feel so not fulfilled by it. sometimes i feel so lost, like what would make this annoying cloud over me go away??? I am so lucky to have this job, i am totally making good money, what is wrong with me???? /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif I hate this feeling.

[Baritone2]

I hear you guys...I have the good job with the decent pay check and the boss NOT breathing down my neck...yet every morning I lament having to go drag my ass, because there is indeed a "cloud" over my head that I cant get rid of...the passion is not there...I think having a job should be like being in love....you want to spend all day with it, you want to touch it, you want to live inside of it, and then at night you want to...well...you know what I mean...

[Goodgrief]

[Goodgrief]

[seasan]

I worked in broadcast journalism too--- I loved it but I had such bad self-esteem I didn't put my all in it! Now I am afraid to get another job in that field cuz I think I won't be able to get recommendations (I wasn't good but there could have been people who'd done worse)...
Now I am brainstorming and wanting to put my all into something and do it well. But I am confused.

[crazy-girl]

seasan,
it's hard to bounce back from having your ego bruised but don't worry about the recommendations. Did you have any friends at your last TV station? Ask them to be your references. I have been references for many of my TV friends and they have helped me out too. Don't feel like you need to put the News Director down---a reporter, producer or even a photographer would be fine.