feeling lost!

[milestogo]

hi all--

I just needed to vent, and thought this would be a good place to do it.

things had been fairly quiet for me on the quarter-life-crisis front for a while-- the past year I've been taking prerequisite classes for grad school (occupational therapy) while working full-time, focusing on what I called "The Plan." I needed to have a goal in sight to work on to get through this lovely life chapter of post-college stuff.

Well....so I sent in my stuff for the grad program. I did the job shadowing hours, I've been working on chiseling down all these prerequisite classes. (lots of math and science stuff I avoided like the plague in undergrad years with my liberal arts studies) Now I'm just waiting to see if I got in.

I'm feeling lost about if this is what I should be doing. And I know there's no black and white answer, and the word "should" isn't helpful....but I can't shake this feeling that maybe it's not the best path. Maybe I shouldn't be an occupational therapist, but should be going to grad school to study english (one of my first loves, which I am more passionate about but in a different way). An old friend I haven't talked to in years just recently contacted me and suggested this, and it's thrown me into a tailspin, causing me to reevaluate what I've been working on these past couple of years, "The Plan!"

grah....I hate this. I think when it comes down to it, there's lots of things I could do with my life and I just need to not have blinders on, feeling like I can only ever do ONE thing....

[envirogal922]

I feel your pain. I have been out of school for a little over 2 years and have had a fairly winding path since graduation. Graduate school is on the horizon for me, but I have spent the past two years trying to "figure out" what program I want to enter. I am interested in public policy, but also interested in marketing and communications, nonprofit management, business administration, and environmental literature.

I swear it is the curse of a liberal arts education. I feel as though I will forever be a "jill of all trades, master of none." I don't know if I will ever be happy studying or practicing one trade for the rest of my life. In my short career path I've worked in environmental regulatory affairs and communications and development for environmental nonprofits. I fit in a lot of different worlds.

The only advice I have is "trust your gut." Think about why you are hesitating. Then talk to people who are actually working in your field. Go to coffee with a few people you know. Ask them questions that relate to your hesitations.

Grad school is a HUGE committment. I totally get where you are as far as questioning everything. I do this all the time. Hang in there. You will figure it out. And if you do, let me know. Maybe it will light a fire under my pants to get in gear and finally apply for grad school.

[Millenial]

i just had my first days of my first ever grad classes, it is like you are back in college all over again, except everyone is not around to mess around and the teachers are definitely not going to hold your hand and basically you have to figure out your way for yourself. to state the obvious.

it is overwhelming to know that you have more years ahead to land another job you have no idea what it will end up being. although most likely better paying and more related to what your interest is.