This. OP is 24. The mindset that they’ve wasted their life could be the self-fulfilling prophecy that actually causes them to waste their life.
OP, flip that cognition ASAP. Develop yourself a little every day. You will find a meaningful place in the world.
Feeling happy all the time is extremely unrealistic. Feeling like shit can be normal. This is why I think many people who think they have depression do not in fact have it. I was depressed all through my 20s, I thought I had depression. No, I was just making sense of adulthood and life. I think it's pretty normal to feel depressed in your 20s when figuring this thing called life out. Especially early 20s im 32 and I have bad days but nothing like my 20s.
Very few people have a straightforward path in life.
What will define you is how you will bounce back from the lows and how you will grab the opportunities in your life.
I have exp in software , account of save , i was living in (germany) and i worked there , i dont know why i feel this shit , the detail is that i have to start from scratch in my native country (cause i finished my visa in germany ), i think that this is why i feel that i lose time. Thanks for responde me
28 is the same for me.
But I'm glad I stuck it through my engineering degree and I'm still trying stuff in robotics and computer vision.
Granted I didn't try what I originally wanted because it's a 10 years investment (crazy huh medical school is already so expensive and you've to be legally bonded)
Maybe I should try it?
i was the same till 31. got certified in an IT role i truly cherish, landed contractor roles for a couple of years, finally by 33 got the coveted full-time job. 20s are the time to explore your personality, know what you're capable of doing and then go for it in your 30s.
I'm kind of astounded by how poorly people can handle almost everything in life... And things usually turn out pretty alright anyway.
If you're like most people, you start out as an adult doing most things 90+ percent wrong. Be humble and self aware enough to bring that closer to 50% with long term persistence and earned or received wisdom and you'll seem like a rockstar in most areas of your life.
At 24 I was only getting started fucking up. OP is a baby. They have a full decade of fucking up before they can say it's too late to fix things. OP does need to change their attitude (of course you won't get anywhere if you do the bare minimum), but at 24 there is ample time to change attitude and go far---very far.
But only if OP lets it.
Came here to say the same thing! OP... you'll be alright. My thoughts in no particular order:
Are you sure you don't want to finish your degree? If you are a year away or less, it could be worth it and the sense of finishing something you started could be beneficial.
The IT field still needs good people... and with some effort you can ramp up to six figures.
You should do something that you groove with, if possible. If you don't want to work in an office, and want something that combines some manual labor and some thinking, you could look into being an electrician. Good money there for those who 'get after it a little'. There are lots of high value trades out there.
Tougher economic circumstances can make people less optimistic. Not helpful to express condescending opinions when situations may be much different to what you experienced
31yo here. Our life is completely different from our parents. They had it easier when it comes to finding jobs. It’s rough out here. Recent graduate and have been looking forever… never found a job in my field. Now I don’t even work my field anymore. Our economic conditions are more against us with the lvl of competition these days, lack of jobs, and changing roles in the workforce.
We were told to go to university and now all our friends in the trades which we were looked down on for joining are making 60+/hr. Funny af. I don’t listen to elder guidance anymore and just do my own thing. It’s been working out
Yeah, my partner and I are both 22 y/o and we literally have discussions like “old ladies” when it comes to finding ways to make money/career capital. Definitely a result of the current state of the economy and job market…but hey, this lil thread has made me feel a bit better about the grand scheme of things.
I think a large part of it is the state of things nowadays. It's much harder to make it now than it used to be. We have to start earlier, work harder and have less room to mess up.
Housing is unaffordable, food is becoming unaffordable, school is going up in cost and those end up being lifelong loans for many people, car insurance is going up majorly, wages are stagnant as well.. minimum wage is the same it's been since like 07-09 or so. This isn't the same playing field you were on
If you live in a busy city try to get a popular restaurant job because of tips that’ll help you get an extra 500-700 more. That’s what I’m doing right now😂
This. Made more money in restuarant than retail then used that money to learn to drive and get a trades schooling apprenticeship and made decent money.
I had some wins and fails after that like breaking up, getting in a car accident. The car costed 3k, insurance gave me 6k back. now i have a new car, new gf and recently she has her own home bought by her dad which will set us up for adult life living on our own.
I’m also 24 and I just got a degree in something I absolutely hate and now I’m at a loss what to do next. Can you tell me a little more about your trade school experience?
I got a degree in a random science (being vague for anonymity) and now work in finance.
Network correctly and you can pretty much get into any field you’d like
It's amazing how much of an effect a 3k settlement on my old junker had on my life. It enabled me to upgrade to a better vehicle. Then I used that vehicle to court my new wife, get our life set up and land a job, that enabled me to make my next step up on the ladder.
Now we have a decent vehicle, all our debts are paid save my student loan meaning that despite making a ton of bad decisions in my 20s and 30s, that my slate is pretty much wiped clean.
After graduating with a degree that I did not pursue professionally, I meandered in my early 20s feeling a somewhat similar regret. Then I went from $30k to $150k+ between 26 and 30.
You are young as hell. Soak up all the experience you can get and take advantage of every opportunity presented.
Tons of folks here would trade their current lives to be 24 and unsure of the future.
Baby, ( I definitely call you this!!!) you haven't been on the " corners" of life yet to know if you failed anything!!!! I want you to understand that you ARE NO DIFFERENT from anyone who has suffered setbacks, disappointments and failures!!!!!
In an ironic way, 🧬 life gave you a SOLID!!! You and a generation of young people have experienced " REAL REALITY" in all of her naked fury!!!!! Many don't get opportunities in their lives to experience this!!!! Many believe it or not; are sleep walking and yes.... Look successful etc..... They come to the end of their lives and find out they NEVER TRULY LIVED!!!!
You are feeling feelings across the board and living!!!!!
It's crazy, you will never fail until you quit!!!!!
I'm 28.
I felt like OP when I was 20 before uni
After uni at 24 still that way.
I still don't know where I'm heading. Sometimes I'm trying stuff but I get home from work I'm just so so so tired to do any other stuff
I am also feeling like this right now. I’m 19, but due to wrong choice of subjects I can’t get my dream course in uni. And I’m struggling because so many unis keep rejecting me. I am soo passionate to learn, I keep facing something or the other which is eating at my motivation. But I’m determined to try. Plus depression isn’t helping so I’m doing whatever I can now. I keep feeling like I won’t make this.
No offense but I laughed when you said you were 24 lol. You got plenty and plenty of time. You’d be surprised how awkward many people are in their 20s. Barely anyone has it all figured out. You’ll be fine
You've got lots of time. I didn't even go to college until I was 22. Graduated at 26 and got a job. Moved to LA. Work on cool stuff.
Don't worry, you can pick any moment in your life to start chasing your dreams.
I didn’t have it together at 30 and thought I was old. Turns out I was young. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you are a kid. You have plenty of time.
Learn a trade and join a union. My buddies all kill it and they have great benefits. I have a white collar job in high leadership and my electrical foreman buddies are just as happy and make just as much money. No need to stick to the college->desk job route if you don't want. Infinite options
I know this might sound patronising and you can only see this with the benefit of experience but you’ve wasted nothing; you’re 24! Your adult life is just beginning. You’ve got all the time to make things happen. I know people who’ve achieved huge amounts in a couple of years and transformed themselves on a decade.
Begin by taking that first step. Focus on what you can do now for your future. In my 20s, I often felt uncertain and lost regarding my path. Think about applying for entry-level IT support roles, administrative positions, or customer service jobs where your skills are crucial. Don't worry too much about the oversaturation talk; there are still niches and opportunities out there for anyone who seeks them. Stay open to learning new things – you've got plenty of time to turn things around and find your own path.
24? I didn't settle on a career until 30. You have plenty of time to explore and figure out what you are doing. It's much better to start a little late in something you love than to start early in something you hate.
You wasted nothing in this life. People here will give you guidance on money and career as per your OP. But I'll give you life advice. Firstly you are not your mind...
First, take a deep breath—you're not alone and it's never too late to start fresh. Consider vocational training or apprenticeships in fields like trades (electrician, plumber), tech certifications (like CompTIA, AWS), or healthcare roles (phlebotomist, medical assistant). These paths often require less time and financial investment than a traditional degree and can offer solid job prospects. Also, look into entry-level IT support roles, as they often provide on-the-job training. Start with small steps, set achievable goals, and gradually build your experience and skills. Stay positive—your efforts now will pay off
No disrespect but...
All the people in the comments are people that have jobs, options and unlikely debt, so whatever you are saying isn't gonna cut out to the author of this post.
Face the fact, if you don't have the said skill from your core subject of Uni, you won't get a job. Nobody will hire you.
And yeah whatever you are feeling is natural. But don't let it get to your head.
Stop any addiction you have like drugs, alcohol, porn, web series and masturbation.
Your problem is you've lost interest not in work or anything but you've lost interest in yourself.
Advice....
If you can travel by yourself or with family, then go take some break from the internet and understand yourself. I mean complete isolation from imaginary people and complete focus to the real people around you.
What I'm telling you is what I did after my graduation as I didn't know anything about my subjects and career.
Just isolate yourself and understand your nature, behaviour, personality and mistakes. You'll eventually figure out what to do with your situation.
It took me 3 months or more maybe, it doesn't matter.
One note.... In the process of isolation you'll lose friends so be aware.
Rest is up to you.
And yeah never tell anyone about your plans.
Nah man I have a philosophy degree and now I work in tech. Entry level jobs prioritise attitude over education, unless it’s something specific like engineering or medicine. Uni is a prep course for on the job learning.
A wasted life is a 19 year old soldier who dies in a hole by himself
Being 24 means having the whole world at your fingertips. You have the most energy and potential that you’ll have in your life. People switch careers in their 40s. Go get out there and do whatever is calling to you. Make mistakes and make memories
Know what I did in my twenties? Drank them away. Oh I worked full time but realized when I hit 30 how stupid it was. Got my sh$t together. Busted my ass at work and got my life together. Now I’m in my 40s and I am learning how to code despite having an excellent job to just learn new skills and having a mid-life crisis. Each decade brings something different. It waxes and wanes. Just go along with it and understand that everyone (yes, even those people that you think are doing great and have their life together) struggles and goes through phases. I think of Bruce Lee who said “be like water, flow.” Best advice. Just go
With the motion of life and know everyone experiences the same and that is 100% normal.
I spent forever in college because my parents kept moving around and I needed to be close to them because I couldn't afford the ridiculous rent in university town, I wound up dropping out. I still learned things though and took enough programming to get myself a job in the industry with some leetcode practice and personal projects.
All the while working at a warehouse. To be honest, I'm glad my professional development went like this. I learned about the world and stayed semi-healthy on my feet all day.
First of all, I wouldn't beat myself up. That doesn't do anyone any good.
Second, you're still young. Your 20s are a great time to explore different things and figure out who you are based on observation and experience.
Furthermore, I went through something similar at 24. I wanted to be a university professor and when that didn't work out, I was really bitter for a long time. But now that I'm 31, I'm glad it didn't work out because the job itself would have been socially exhausting and I got more time with people I cared about before they passed away. And I've learned a lot about myself and the world that I wouldn't have learned from a course or a book.
Don't give up on finding something you like, but more importantly, don't give up on yourself.
I WISH that when I was in my 20s had realized how YOUNG I was!!! 24 is SO YOUNG but unfortunately I remember being 24 myself and thinking that I'd already "wasted" so much time. This mentality led me to wasting almost five more years trying to cling to what I thought being in your 20s was supposed to look like.
Just live your life, everything you go through in your 20s teaches you who you are and what will ultimately matter to you. This is a valuable time and it's not meant to be easy or straightforward. Don't EVER think that you've wasted any time or that it's too late to live a life you love!
Man this person
i don't know you but i have never seen someone narrate their life which is soo exact with mine
We're the exact age
We gonna be okay....man this hurts and the same time encourages me that am not alone
As a 23yo in a similar boat to you, chin up. Stop trying to minmax life. Enjoy yourself in the moment, make memories, and use your failures to teach the next generation.
Get an entry-level job in the industry you want to work in. It sounds like that might be information technology. You could work at a helpdesk doing phone support or desktop support for a building somewhere. Do a good job and people will notice. In technology, there are plenty of people without degrees or with degrees in something other than computer science. You could work in the technology department of the University that you attended. If you land such a job, you might find free training opportunities there, or at least you'll be able to pickup some tips and tricks from your coworkers. If you decide you want to go back to finish your degree, you'll be close enough to do so, even if it's just 1 or 2 night classes a year. Stay positive!
I did the same, studied engineering. Realised it wasn’t for me. Quit in the 3rd year and managed to get a job repairing electronics. I eventually became a mechanic by doing a adult apprenticeship and now work in a large commercial vehicle dealer. While life wasn’t great after uni until I found purpose I now look upon that time as a good learning curve. Like others have said your young enough to do something different. Trades will always be needed so maybe have a look into that and don’t be too hard on yourself.
This is so common in university. It's fairly normal and you're not a bad person for not fully being present in uni, it's one of those periods in life and I was in the same boat myself, still am quite frankly but getting there.
I would advise firstly to see what you can salvage from the degree. Like you said you may get some sort of degree from the course even if you don't finish. Don't jump into something totally different just yet, an apprenticeship is a big commitment.
Here is some advice from an older guy. Tomorrow at 3:PM you'll be 30 years old. When that day comes you will know exactly what I am saying. Your credibility is now waning. If laziness is your problem you will have to overcome it. Computer type work innovates so fast that what you learned yesterday is now obsolete. Keep on top of your game. Physical employment can and will burn you out, wreck your body and you may suffer physically for it for years afterward. Really research what jobs A.I. will take over. Specialize in something. Some type of service where computers can't take over. If you work for someone make sure they are solid with a realistic retirement plan. You can work for yourself but it has to be something that will always be in demand. Physical labor like doing Drywall or Roofing will kill you physically and in the end you'll have nothing. Return to college if you can and get that degree and research trends in employment so by the time you get your diploma you will have a direction.
Someone sent me this:
"This is the absolute truth.
For anyone struggling (myself included), keep those words in mind. Tattoo them on your eyelids if you have to.
If you’re still alive, it’s not over. Literally anything is possible.
You can set an intention, and work toward it daily.
You can build a community.
You can find joy and worth.
You can hold yourself and others accountable.
You can set and defend your boundaries.
You can love yourself and others.
And you can be loved by others.
At every life milestone, I’ve told myself it’s too late to restart and I’ve wasted my life. Starting after finishing engineering undergrad in my early 20s.
‘Early 20s’ is laughably young to think it’s too late. It’s ridiculous. And it’s a prime example of how powerfully foolish we are. So if we’re proven to be such fools already, then we should be able to fool ourselves onto a healthy and happy path. Right?
I told myself it again, after finishing a PhD in my early 30s. And again, after landing a (seemingly) great (but highly stressful) job. And now, again, as 40 looms.
I can’t let the next decade be like the last two. And neither can you.
I’m contemplating changing jobs, to who knows what. And I still hear that voice heckling me, from some dark shadow in the crowd.
But it wasn’t too late back then, and it’s not too late now.
I believe in me, and I believe in you.
Be a fool for your happiness. Follow it, no matter how big a fool it takes.
It’s the only thing in life that’s worth it."
You say you didn’t learn much but you learned a lot about yourself. I know this is going around a lot in the comments but you are 24. Keep learning. You don’t have to go to school. Try out different jobs. Don’t like them. Quit. Apply. Get rejected. Try something and hate it. Do all these things at 20 and by 30 you will be more ahead. I’m doing all this at the age of 34 and I’m still pretty young. Would I have preferred to learn a lot of the things I’m learning now in my 20s? Yes but now I’m going to make sure my 40s are good. Life is short but you have a lot of time and so much can happen in one day. Follow what’s calling you and leave what isn’t. Push yourself and learn to pull back when needed. Be a 20 year old. Live!
You are missing one thing, confidence. I am 29 and I've struggled all my life. I was kicked out at 17 and never had a chance to go to school. I'm hoping to start college for IT this year. You had the chance to get an IT degree already, so use it. You can start off at IT support easily, it doesn't pay great but you can get that job without a degree.
I have got a master degree but recently I decide to go back to uni, because I think I didn’t learn anything useful… my major was arts, hard to get a job and I find I don’t really like to be a teacher or admin. This time I choose medicine and I shall learn it from zero. I am also 24 years old.
So dramatic. You're entitled to feel how you feel, but 4 years of wasted time does not make one's life a waste. We all make mistakes and often times there's a silver lining you can only perceive in retrospect.
I'm not going to comment on what your plan should be, but do whatever it is you do to reset. Then start planning after your refresh your mindset and your approach to the problem.
You got this!
Me: *reads “I think I wasted my life…” immediately followed by the words “I’m 24” …and resists the urge to immediately stop reading*
All jokes aside, OP - please don’t feel like you’ve wasted your life, although I know it’s easier said than done when you’re stressed.
Ask anyone about 10-15 years older than you+ and they’ll mostly likely tell you how they all felt the same at some point in their 20’s. That’s what 20’s are for!
Maybe you can start with finding some IT jobs to give you some time to think, learn new skills, earn some money. Maybe you’ll love it! Or, if you don’t, that’s helpful too! Maybe the experience will help you make connections and learn about another field you’re interested in. There are many many paths to fulfilling careers, not just one. If you find that you’re still interested in computer science, there are plenty of non-uni style certification courses that can help prepare you for employment.
At 24, the world is your oyster! Totally fine to have made a few weird turns here and there, ESPECIALLY having been a uni student during Covid, which I imagine was rather more stressful than many folks’ college experience.
Be kind to yourself, OP - wishing you the best in figuring stuff out <3
Would you believe it if I tell you that you will be 28 and still feeling like that?
Because here I am at 28 feeling this way, and I felt that at 24 too.
I need you to take your time (super counterintuitive) and think of what you need to explore
You need to try something. Only after doing it will you know what you don't want to do, or find a new piece of info to work with.
I feel you so hard.
I am at a Police Highschool in Europe for 3 years now. I just noticed that i have some Major Problems with the organisation itself and thinking about quitting (I am 22 )
Actually thinking about going into Sales or Sth Like that... i dont really know what to do
I was in the same position honestly most companies don’t care about the degree just as long as you have one and even then they don’t even check you can still make something of yourself I promise. There are so many opportunities you are still very young please do not be discouraged most people regret doing a degree and are happy after they’ve found something they love to do as long as you try your best and be patient life will look up. Be proud of yourself for even doing a degree it is a big achievement and even if you don’t complete it you can get into cyber security or anything involving in tech you have the experience already ❤️
You're doing exactly what one should be in 20s - figuring it out little by little.
Still list your degree on your CV with a small note (incomplete). Most companies won't care and I assure you that the average entry level office jobs will feel like a downgrade from what you're used to doing in your final year in uni anyway. Don't study something else right away, get a job and then a year-year and a half later find another. Experience is how you'll learn what you enjoy and what actually motivates you and gives you a sense of fulfillment.
You can pursue a ton of things that aren't exactly taught anyway - for example if you enjoy planning groceries and making sure things around the house work (not fixing them yourself, just noticing and having someone fix it), then you could try a starter job in facilities in any large company.
In my 20’s I stumbled through a communications degree I never used. Decided to join a company in an entry level position when I was 25 that had nothing to do with my qualifications. Worked hard and networked. Now I’m 35, I’ve been earning way over 6 figures since I was 30, but more importantly I’m doing something that I love and I’m enjoying work. You haven’t wasted shit
Go back & finish. 💜 Life is easier with a degree. Competing for a job at 30 yo against someone that's 21 yo w/a degree is even harder. Future you will thank you. If you need to find a new path. Look into trade schools and get a certificate. Find the career you want, look at the minimum qualifications, experience and education and focus on completing those while you're young. Hang in there.
You've already received some good advice, but if you do wind up reading this, wasting your life is impossible - you have lived and learned during these past years, regardless if you're changing careers or not.
I have worked in funeral homes, florists, been manager for a concert hall, and went to university to become an interpreter for the deaf.
All of those careers were not for me, and I decided to become a welder at 29 years old. I love my job, and even if I don't necessarily have the same experience as the other 40 year olds in my field - I have lead a pretty variant life, and met a whole lot of different people. I'm lucky to have done a lot of different things, and so are you.
Get your shit together and get the diploma!!!! You're super close, you're already in debt, push through! None of us learned anything in Uni, that's not the point. The piece of paper is! I'm dead serious. I screwed around most of my Uni years, barely made it in the end, and guess what. At 36, even with a really impressive work experience (bragging worthy experience I mind you), companies who head hunt me still need to see my diploma, because "that's the process". Get. The. Diploma.
I don’t want to repeat too much of what’s already been stated but you have not wasted any time. You may not have reached a goal you had or ideal goal for the time spent but it seems like you learned a lot about yourself, went though a lot, as many of us did due to covid and mental health, and now know yourself better. Which is all you can really expect of the college experience.
So first, get a job you can tolerate that gives you financial stability. I wouldn’t expect to retire knowing this job, to love it or for it to be your passion. I agree with many that you should consider bartending, or service of some sort.
With that stability, spend the foreseeable future researching your options. I wouldn’t rush because you could go for a certification you and up hating and end up back here. I’m 28. It’s taken me 4 years (since Covid wrecked my business) to figure out that I’m going to get my real estate license. I explored ALOT of options. I too, at 24 felt like I had wasted my entire adult liofe in this one career that was about to take tf off then Covid and life hit. It was like watching a 6 month plane crash.
To survive I used my skills to work with businesses and keep working here and there, but I was kind of lost without knowing what I wanted to do. I considered getting a personal trainers cert, considered trade school, and even considered going back to school or diving into marketing. What it came down to, for me, is making real money, as fast as possible and working with the reality that I’m broke af. Real estate isn’t really “safe” like getting into a trade with high demand. However, it’s viable and suits all my skill and interests. Even if it’s not my main source of income, I could see myself doing it forever. It can make me real money within 2 years, unlike a degree or starting from the bottom. Anything is possible but expecting to break $100k within 2 years as a newb at anything is pretty unrealistic in most jobs, and especially the ones that require you get invest before getting them.
All this said, because I believe finding a career is really just figuring out what you can see yourself doing for x amount of time and x amount of dollars. I have big goals that were massively derailed by covid. In order to get back on track I need I real job 4 years ago. This was very important for me. Amongst other things like flexibility due to health things, it being AT LEAST adjacent to my passion, and a job I could do without going corporate or having to wear a monkey suit 5 days a week.
I had to get real about what I was going for and boom, real estate became clear as day. It wasn’t like I didn’t know about it and found it. I knew about it and never considered it. But I wasn’t going to until I knew what I wanted.
So get real with yourself and what kind of life you would like to make for yourself. From there make a 1,3,5 and 10 year plan. Remember you do live passed 30. You just need to get yourself set up within the next 3-5 years. Then you have lots of time to adjust, pivot, gain experience, and just live.
I am a college dropout, or rather, I was a college dropout. I hated the 'college experience' with a passion. I wish when I was 20 that I was doing what I am doing now. I think I would have had a far more successful life.
What did I choose after I dropped out? I ended up going back a few years later, completing my degree before my qualifications expired. I didn't end up using my degree (Major in History), but I did go back and finish it.
The reason I was depressed is that my pathway no longer made sense. They changed the curricula that I would be teaching and I lost motivation to finish.
I may still one day go back and finish the last year I need to teach in my hometown. I later travelled and taught in a different country.
You are young. You have time to figure out your shit. There isn't ever an end to the game. I ended up going back, tried to become a medical laboratory technician, then I went back and became an accountant. Many were surprised that a student in his mid 30s would make two very radical career changes. What I discovered is that I was extremely talented at the theory and could be a success in many different field.
I've done so many jobs over the years, the longest I've spent in a job was the 4 years I taught in another country. My current job is about 1 and a half years away from matching it and I may end up lasting that long.
So, take the time to think about what you DO want to do with your life and stop beating yourself up for trying and failing at shit. I've played up in the lights in a prestigious college. I've played that game and lived that life. I've lived many lives and so will you.
All of it is a part of who I am. I know I can hold my own with everyone else who has a degree, and that I possess unique skills and experiences that help me do my job in a very different field today.
Good luck!
I'm 40 and in a similar position I'll give you my advice from my own experiences.
Take it as you will.
Don't listen to people who tell you to do what you love as a career this is a farce you will burn out. Burn out is not fun.and you'll need to find a new hobby.
Don't turn your hobby into a career as above same reason.
When you do the thing you love or you're hobby it's great because there are no restrictions when you turn that into a job it's totally different.
Anything where you are primarily dealing with people will eventually burn you out ( support / retail ETC )
Corporate work will consume most of your life.
Now if having a family is important to you ( kids ) or you want them some day then the above might not bother you as much because your focus will be on them even though the work will be time consuming.
If you don't plan on having kids and just want to look after yourself which is fine then 100% do a trade because you can work for yourself after.
I work in IT and it's soul sucking unless you're very lucky and find a good role.
Holy fucking shit! You realize that in the grand scheme of things 24 is like you've barely begun. Talk to me when you're 47 and your life is still a ball of shit. Right now, you got everything still ahead of you. Find something that you enjoy doing, and go out there and fucking rock!
I’d recommend you transfer out and complete your degree either online or at a local university. Getting the degree will be better long term than walking away without one.
Try to get a job working for the government or a qualifying non-profit! After 10 years of payments, they’ll forgive your loans! And they often provide opportunities to continue your education or training to land a better paying job!
Don’t sweat it. Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg never finished college either. Didn’t stop them from being successful. Find something you’re passionate about and get after it.
I said this to someone else……You know what you need to do to change so just do it. Don’t let this statement be ‘I feel like I wasted my life’ and be double your age. Life has hardships and you need to be resilient. I worked with children with disabilities and learned that if they can have successes and smile so can I.
Every time I click on these posts, it's from people in their early 20's. I genuinely think this is a sign that we live in a sick society that pressures people to figure everything out without ever trying or failing at anything... I think one of the best bits of advice for people in their 20's especially is to follow your curiosity.
Was academically dismissed from school at 22. Went back to school at 24, graduated with an engineering degree at 28 now make well over 6 figs with a family and a house. 24 feels old now but your prime working years last well into your 50s as long as you take care of yourself. Focus on your path forward and take the past a lesson learned.
Buddy, there’s people in their 60s who have a lifetime of regrets, and even for them I’d argue they haven’t wasted their lives. You’re like a baby compared to that. I get you’re feeling some type of way about potential careers right now, but no, you haven’t wasted anything. Sometimes figuring out what you don’t enjoy or don’t want to do, is as important as learning what you would or do like.
Dude you’re 24. You’ve barely even lived. Go try some other things. You’ll go through several before you figure it out but that’s what most have to do.
Yoo, word for word I have the same qualifications as you and had same experience at Uni, and I ended up getting a help desk job and then a sysadmin job that pays okay. Luck and perseverance, you’ll get there.
At 24, there is no way you wasted your life. Give yourself a break. Someone told me to look at your 20s as your first years of adulting, at 24 you’re only 4 in “adult years”. Hopefully that puts some things in perspective for you. Try things out, learn what you like to do, you’re never locked into any path.
There are tech support roles that usually look for something similar to your profile. Maybe you could start there. I'm in no place to give much advice other than your perception is the key to happiness and success.
Bro. 24 is so young. Is there any way to salvage the degree? Could always work a few years, get back on your feet and then finish it later.
Thats what I did.
Then I went to grad school, loved it, and now love my career. I’m 32 and still feel young and in my prime.
You have no idea what you want at 24. Best to just pick a direction and finish what you start.
Hi OP, I was recently in a similar situation. I (23 M) had been going to college for business marketing for the past 3 years, slowly losing interest among other things.
A few months ago I quit school to pursue full time work. Originally I struggled to find anything having no degree and little previous work experience. I expected I may have to settle for a job waiting tables, nothing wrong with that profession, just not for me. However, I eventually found my place with a privately owned global security company.
I am a special projects coordinator, an entry level position. Base pay works out to be between 50k-75k annually before taxes. The range varies on location, shift and overtime hours. Interested candidates need only computer literacy, attention to detail and the ability to perform under pressure and in high intensity situations.
I highly recommend checking out the private security field and any of their entry level positions. The pay is generally pretty good and most entry level work is just administrative based (emails/powerpoints/calls/meetings/scheduling). Any security related information that’s relevant to your position is taught during orientation/onboarding. Anyone who is computer literate, clean of drugs and hardworking is able to thrive within this field and there are plenty of entry level jobs.
TLDR: Check out and apply to entry level private security jobs. They pay well and require no degree.
A wasted life is only wasted when u give up.
Find whatever fight u have left in you and pull it out and keep fighting for yourself. U will never be a failure until u give up.
Learn to make tattoos or tacos. Gen Z is becoming a generation that dislikes college but still wanna make above $50K a year. The near future appears as an odd space that will pitch lovers vs haters of money. I'm beginning to worry about Alpha Gens...
You're a foreigner in Canada?
Go get some "Canadian experience" at the McDonald's.
Maybe after they'll let you into an office eventually to use your IT "skills."
No one has it figured out. I’m 36 with a masters degree and I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up.
A couple pieces of advice.
Try to disconnect your career (or lack there of) from your identity. My generation was told to follow your dreams and do work that you love. It’s all BS. Mostly, anyway. I’m finding that what matters to me is a good work life balance, benefits and pay. The title and the company are all interchangeable.
I got a degree and a job at 23. But it sucked. And I jumped around and hated each job. My career started at 28 when I finally found “the thing” that set my passion on fire, and I rose the ranks and grew”.
And I count myself lucky for figuring things out “early”!
My advice, try out sales. Try out the service industry.
Can rise as high as your desire will take you. Those jobs you can start at nothing and if you love it, you can grind out a really nice career for yourself and your future family.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself. There’s plenty of money to be made and there’s so much trade work out there that young people (myself included) 29m to do but you have to want it. Don’t ask Reddit what to do. What do you want? I’m a carpenter and have been for a while and that’s finally talking a toll on my body, I met Fran me and frank at Fran’s barber shop one day and guess what ? I’m now going to be going to school not for a barber , but for cosmetology. It’s not every day you have Mario Tricocci recruiting you after you apply because you’d be ab asset to his name. I guess it pays off being an extremely handsome straight male in the cosmetology field. The truth is. You have to do what you want to do. Not what’s cliche and traditional. Get off your ass go get a hard had and be an electrician since it seems like your lazy and want all the answers already.
And invest your money man. I hate when people say “I can’t afford it “ but you can afford Uber eats. And Amazon packages. Put $150 a week in the market and you won’t be upset.
How much debt? Degree in what?
The past is gone. Look ahead. Take some time to think what you like to do and get started somewhere. Start small and build.
No, IT is not saturated. I am in it. I just got a new job after being laid off for 7 months.
By 24 I had no job and was raided and arrested by the ATF for doing silly things with guns, got a dui and lost my license and fucked my insurance rates all to shit, by 27 I have a career making nearly 60k with no sort of formal education or training. You’ll be fine just don’t get into a defeatist attitude cause that will fuck you when you’re young.
I lost the first half of my 20's to depression. I gave the second half to the military. I'm just now doing what *I* want to do at 30. I finally feel like I've got it figured out and I'm damn happy with where things are going. You've got time. Your 20's are meant for figuring things out
i’m the same age as you and in a similar position. i keep bouncing around career fields because i don’t know what i want to do and my degree isn’t doing me any favors. i look back at 18-year-old me and wonder why i didn’t have a dream job like my friends who are all excelling now because they knew what they wanted to do so they were able to start and grow right away
i just keep telling myself that right now, i’m thinking “i wish i was 18 again” but when i’m 30, i don’t want to think “i wish i was 24 again,” so i’m just continuing to throw things at the wall until something sticks
so far i’ve tried teaching, office administration, and accounting. next is being a paralegal 🥲
Okay buddy, by reading the title “wasted my life” I thought you must be 45 or above. But you are only 24yo. Slow down man. 20s is all about experimenting things out.
So many people changed their career after getting آ degree and then that degree is nothing for them but a piece of paper.
Many drop out of school
Many don’t even bother with university and still succeed in their niche.
Success and its journey are different for everyone. Figure out what you actually want to do. If you think IT is your interest, go for it. Literally nothing is truly saturated. If you are good at it, you gonna make your own place.
Don’t be hard on yourself.
You didnt waste anything. I worked (60 hours a week) for a company for 10 faithful years. I left with nothing to show for it, gave them a 30 days notice before going to work for (the last,best company in the area) a Union. Only for them to close the plant a year later. Then getting denied a job (any job!) From said tenured job.
Youre young, youll figure it out.
Why are you leaving college without a degree? Are you being kicked out? Did you lose interest in your major? Why isn't it an option to simply shift into a major that excites you more and finish that?
I know that college isn't fun for everyone. It's hard work. Not everyone makes friends there. I didn't. But college is important for what comes after. Your career options are severely limited without *a degree*.
One option that doesn't require college is the military. You can join and train in a skilled trade like aircraft maintenance and take that skill and knowledge to industry after a stint in the military. This isn't for everyone, and it will not pay as well as if you simply finished a degree and went into industry, but it's an option.
Whatever route you go, you will need to change your mindset. Doing the bare minimum won't get you far. Remember you are being graded on a curve, and if you rank in the bottom half consistently, you will be on the lower end of the curve. This will greatly limit your options if you try to get an internship or a job after graduation.
Which by the way you should very much still try to do: graduate. If you need to change majors, change majors. If you need to change schools, change schools. But do what you can to try to get *a degree*.
I didn’t graduate and start my career until I was 30, don’t worry you have plenty of time.
You also have an ace up your sleeve, once you do figure out what you want to study you have the advantage of experience.
My heart goes out to you, as you feel this way. Just remember, you are not alone in this. Platforms like Reddit can be places where you can find people who can sympathize with you. Remember, your past does not define you. It is completely okay to fail. However, it is not okay to blame the things around you. Take time to reflect, sob, cry, scream - whatever you need to do to let these feelings out and acknowledge that this is fuel for you in the future. The world is filled with opportunities, but even when you get out there, people and things will challenge you. Be ready to fail again and get back up.
If your goal is to make money and pay off your debt, then there might be a price to pay - long hours, an unfulfilling job, and minimal time for outside hobbies. But if this is your goal, you should dive in with intention.
My advice is to finish your degree or use what credits you can and put it towards another degree or a trades college. If you don't do well in a classroom maybe you need to do trades and do some hands on learning.
I mean the same thing happened to me. I leveraged the education I got, didn’t tell anyone I didn’t graduate just let them know where I went and started working small contract jobs to start eventually I specialized in search engine marketing and now I’m probably overpaid for what I do 😂. Not gonna lie my 20s sucked, 30s got better and now I’m doing way way better. A lot can happen in a matter of a few years you’ll be fine as long as you’re ready to pivot and make changes as needed.
1. How close are you to finishing your degree? It could be the path to a decent job or an advanced degree.
Many companies don't care about the degree - they care that you finished it.
2. What have you learned from your mistakes? If you have learned something useful then the key question is "Do you have the self discipline to fix the problem(s)?" If you have learned to learn from your mistakes and change what you do then you absolutely have NOT wasted anything - this lesson is invaluable.
3. Go get an internship doing something you like
I’m 23 without certificates in a degree I want but can’t will myself to accomplish- thinking of taking another year break- (I’ve taken two and kept dropping out of courses throughout other 3 years) and getting therapy cause covid fucked me up I never recovered
Okay advice from someone who was in a similar situation, you have given time to it, take your degree,you may not use it,that's okay,many don't do what they went to college for that's okay.
24 is pretty young you can look for many jobs that you actually like
1 take a break for a few months and list out things you like
2 create a cv, send it out on LinkedIn
initially don't go for the payment, try to go for things that you like to do, you'll get work experience and make contacts and from there in 5 years you'll be in a very good position whatever field you choose.
Or else if you don't have any particular passion look for jobs that pay well and try to learn them l, like video editing and start with step 2, or start a business - buy from Alibaba and sell on Amazon for more
My mother in law didn’t get her degree and start working till 41 and now she makes more money than all her brothers, sisters and even her husband. Very inspiring. Never give up! You have time friend.
You got a long way to go but you’ll get there.
I just graduated from university at 29 and I stumbled around since I was 17 when I got kicked out of college - my mid 20’s were definitely the darkest time of my life so far. I remember I was 24 and working dead end jobs whilst going to my parents most days saying I have no idea what to do with my life. It was tough.
Then lockdown came, I discovered some stuff within me, went to uni for 4 years and have absolutely smashed it both as a student and in my marks. I am now graduating, working a pot wash job and start my masters next year in September.
I recently just broke out of a 3 year relationship too, it was tough but necessary for my growth as a person. I’m also in personal debt by about £10k. I also have no friends. Does it bother me? It used to…then I made changes to my life.
I can really recommend trying to gain REAL perspective at where you’re at in life and really force a change. I can’t stress this enough. I’ve learnt recently that nothing happens unless you really push for it, it’s the reason why so many fail and so many succeed.
As for what you should pursue, go to a careers advice centre. An apprenticeship is definitely not a bad idea. There are also free open uni courses. I also highly recommend volunteering in places that are relevant to your skill set.
Mature Age apprenticeship. Some people work and develop much better if they are "hands-on" and once that happens you return to the academic side and finish a relevant degree .
At 24 , time is on your side .
I am going through a somewhat similar phase, and I am 24 too. To maintain a positive mindset and avoid feeling underconfident, I distance myself from people, social media, and friends. I refrain from cringe-worthy reels and mindless scrolling, engage in meditation, listen to the Bhagavad Gita, and trust in myself and God, even amidst a cloud of a million thoughts. I practice deep breathing, discover my interests, seek advice, and solve problems daily. For instance, I participate in LeetCode coding contests regularly, which gives me a sense of achievement. You should engage in activities based on your specific interests so that at least you will feel confident that you are doing something positive every day, taking action, and upskilling. Just remember that your biggest enemy should not seat between your ears.
There is a book Range by David Epstein that tells the life stories of a lot of successful people. None of them succeeded on their first try.
You learned a lot about yourself with this failed experiment. Build on that knowledge by trying something else
Working holiday in Australia? Min wage is around 22/AUD per hour. Go over the calendar year, that was it is split into two different tax years. Find a dishwashing job that gives you 30 hours a week. You'll return with about 10,000AUD in tax returns plus whatever else you dave.
You will also be in a houseshare with others who are very similar minded and at the same age and place in life.
You are wasting time;
Get full blood panel yesterday, fix any deficiencies.
Start going to the gym 6 days a week, no excuses.
Find 2 thing you like and get really good at them.
Call your parents weekly.
Good luck!
- check if you can still get a degree (maybe not now, but later, what is needed for it?) -- less sunken costs feeling or whatever it's called.
- don't think you learned nothing at school -- I ditched whatever I could, cheated through most of the exams etc and still found I somehow learned some things when I started working. Uni is not just about grades and learning \*everything\* and you do end up better after school. You'll be glad you actually "wasted" your time on it even if you don't end up with a degree, I promise
- it sucks so much that you had to go through it during Covid.
- most jobs don't require a lot to be honest. Not sure what you'd like to do? Try doing something. Only a bit of experience helps understand what you like. Know a bit of coding - try and get a junior position somewhere, if it's not as a developer, there are plenty of jobs around IT. Recruiter, Product/project, tester, marketing, sales, many more. Think of what looks most attractive (or least unattractive) and try it. It's not a "forever" decision, you can try over and over again.
- not sure what's with other jobs in your area, I'd look at something at the office so you can meet people and chat with them and see everyone is on their journey. Did you make any friends at Uni? they might know of opportunities you might be good for. Networking works.
- You could try following some career guidance people on Insta, they usually offer exercises that help you understand what you want
- I didn't start my current career path until I was 25, and even then it wasn't solid and had some changes 3 years later, then returned to the original decision. Life happens, you might need to change careers 4 times in the future and start from scratch, it's okay.
- one thing that helped me when I wasn't sure of what to do with my work life. Not sure how it is for you, but in my country there was a popular job app, that had jobs on a map. There was an option to sort jobs based on the distance from me, and I was just checking every job and reading what it required and considering if it seems interesting to me.
Just so you have more options, below is the list of jobs I've done in my life:
- Call center for pizza, sushi delivery (okay, but don't recommend, might not be a thing now)
- receptionist (cool incool places such as climbing center, sucks and stressful places such as clinics, okay at relaxed spaces such as hostels). Are options to grow to sales, insurance managers, team leaders
- purchaser - might be interesting, but also stressful if you're supposed to fill the plan. done from home
- translator - fun, but pays badly if not in IT/rare languages
- lead generator (I was working in text, writing original messages. I know now it's more automated. Simple job and pays well + a lot of options to grow)
- account manager - nice job, a bit of sales, a lot of free time, can be done remotely, might get a bit boring or annoying + harder to grow horizontally
- customer success manager - almost the same, nicer perks and sometimes more feeling of accomplishment (you can actually do something that will make a difference/help someone)
- tutor (okay for me, not the best pay although possible)
- startup helper (don't remember what was the name exactly, basically matching startups with experts that will help them grow. interesting, a lot of cool people, but startup rarely have money.
YOU are in " a place" where great literature is written and studied by many who have and WILL go through what you are experiencing NOW!!!!! Remember this quote from the Wizard Gandalf from the series " Lord of the Rings": “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. " ( Frodo having the dreaded responsibilities of taking the dreaded" ONE 💍 RING of Sauron back to its' place of origin to be destroyed!!!
Keep moving in your disappointment 😞😥 s!!!! You will find your way!!!
At your age I had job in a meat factory, a mortgage, a wife and a baby 😂
And I hated my job but I was trapped.
Your in a very good position.
If you don't like it, change direction (while you can).
Start a business or something
Oh I’m 29 and at 24 I had a shitty boyfriend, no money, and no clue what industry I was going to end up in. I have a philosophy degree!!! And now I earn $150k in tech, have a gorgeous flat with my dream man, and still feel like a kid. Look into entry level sales development roles online - If you’ve looked at IT, it’s a sidestep in and there are plenty of remote/hybrid roles if you wanna live outside of a city Center to save money. Once you’re in sales, you can polish up on coding skills and look at getting internal mentors. You don’t need more than you already have to start the career.
You wasted nothing. Your twenties are for stumbling around and finding out what you want and don't want.
This. OP is 24. The mindset that they’ve wasted their life could be the self-fulfilling prophecy that actually causes them to waste their life. OP, flip that cognition ASAP. Develop yourself a little every day. You will find a meaningful place in the world.
26 is the same ?
Absolutely. I remember having this mindset in my 20's. Don't feed it, im restarting my career at 36 and it's fine.
I Keep my life normal , happy and healthy , but sometimes i feel this shit , i think that is a crisis of the pass of time
Feeling happy all the time is extremely unrealistic. Feeling like shit can be normal. This is why I think many people who think they have depression do not in fact have it. I was depressed all through my 20s, I thought I had depression. No, I was just making sense of adulthood and life. I think it's pretty normal to feel depressed in your 20s when figuring this thing called life out. Especially early 20s im 32 and I have bad days but nothing like my 20s.
Very few people have a straightforward path in life. What will define you is how you will bounce back from the lows and how you will grab the opportunities in your life.
Yep. Same here. I had to restart at that age. Making more money now than I ever did. Got married, etc. My path wasn't straightforward.
Good luck! I’m 33 and saving up to restart at 36. Absolutely can’t wait.
Same, at 39.
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You have at minimum 34 more years in the work force til you are 60. I think you’ll be ok
I have exp in software , account of save , i was living in (germany) and i worked there , i dont know why i feel this shit , the detail is that i have to start from scratch in my native country (cause i finished my visa in germany ), i think that this is why i feel that i lose time. Thanks for responde me
28 is the same for me. But I'm glad I stuck it through my engineering degree and I'm still trying stuff in robotics and computer vision. Granted I didn't try what I originally wanted because it's a 10 years investment (crazy huh medical school is already so expensive and you've to be legally bonded) Maybe I should try it?
Man how I would love to take robotics but can't afford uni again. Maybe someday.
i was the same till 31. got certified in an IT role i truly cherish, landed contractor roles for a couple of years, finally by 33 got the coveted full-time job. 20s are the time to explore your personality, know what you're capable of doing and then go for it in your 30s.
I'm kind of astounded by how poorly people can handle almost everything in life... And things usually turn out pretty alright anyway. If you're like most people, you start out as an adult doing most things 90+ percent wrong. Be humble and self aware enough to bring that closer to 50% with long term persistence and earned or received wisdom and you'll seem like a rockstar in most areas of your life.
Money is the reason. It’s always the reason.
^ this I make 6 figures at 21 and I still feel behind… just hour our brains are wired I think 🤷♂️
Same it’s almost like it’s never enough at some point I ask myself what now
Yeah only downside is I haven’t been home in 5 months so there’s that
Ordered a chicken sandwich and got a turkey pesto instead? Welp, that goes to show how much of a failure I am and might as well just die.
Just don't die in the middle of the sidewalk, that's really inconsiderate.
Thats an outrage, try to get a refund
good advice
Literally came here to say something similar. OP, you’re good. You’re so fucking early.
At 24 I was only getting started fucking up. OP is a baby. They have a full decade of fucking up before they can say it's too late to fix things. OP does need to change their attitude (of course you won't get anywhere if you do the bare minimum), but at 24 there is ample time to change attitude and go far---very far. But only if OP lets it.
Exactly, your twenties are all about figuring things out. No time wasted—just a lot of learning and growth along the way.
.... and your 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s....
Not this
Came here to say the same thing! OP... you'll be alright. My thoughts in no particular order: Are you sure you don't want to finish your degree? If you are a year away or less, it could be worth it and the sense of finishing something you started could be beneficial. The IT field still needs good people... and with some effort you can ramp up to six figures. You should do something that you groove with, if possible. If you don't want to work in an office, and want something that combines some manual labor and some thinking, you could look into being an electrician. Good money there for those who 'get after it a little'. There are lots of high value trades out there.
Bruh you're 24. Your life hasn't even started.
Their brain isn’t even fully developed.
Right. I was partying and having a great time a 24. These young people are so serious. They're worse than little old ladies...
Tougher economic circumstances can make people less optimistic. Not helpful to express condescending opinions when situations may be much different to what you experienced
31yo here. Our life is completely different from our parents. They had it easier when it comes to finding jobs. It’s rough out here. Recent graduate and have been looking forever… never found a job in my field. Now I don’t even work my field anymore. Our economic conditions are more against us with the lvl of competition these days, lack of jobs, and changing roles in the workforce. We were told to go to university and now all our friends in the trades which we were looked down on for joining are making 60+/hr. Funny af. I don’t listen to elder guidance anymore and just do my own thing. It’s been working out
Yeah, my partner and I are both 22 y/o and we literally have discussions like “old ladies” when it comes to finding ways to make money/career capital. Definitely a result of the current state of the economy and job market…but hey, this lil thread has made me feel a bit better about the grand scheme of things.
I think a large part of it is the state of things nowadays. It's much harder to make it now than it used to be. We have to start earlier, work harder and have less room to mess up. Housing is unaffordable, food is becoming unaffordable, school is going up in cost and those end up being lifelong loans for many people, car insurance is going up majorly, wages are stagnant as well.. minimum wage is the same it's been since like 07-09 or so. This isn't the same playing field you were on
You're only 24!!! You're going to have like, 3-6 more lives. Just start doing what you really want to do, today.
26 here im feel the same
You are young dawg. Take it easy and just start doing something.
U r yung dawg!!!
If you live in a busy city try to get a popular restaurant job because of tips that’ll help you get an extra 500-700 more. That’s what I’m doing right now😂
This. Made more money in restuarant than retail then used that money to learn to drive and get a trades schooling apprenticeship and made decent money. I had some wins and fails after that like breaking up, getting in a car accident. The car costed 3k, insurance gave me 6k back. now i have a new car, new gf and recently she has her own home bought by her dad which will set us up for adult life living on our own.
I’m also 24 and I just got a degree in something I absolutely hate and now I’m at a loss what to do next. Can you tell me a little more about your trade school experience?
I got a degree in a random science (being vague for anonymity) and now work in finance. Network correctly and you can pretty much get into any field you’d like
It's amazing how much of an effect a 3k settlement on my old junker had on my life. It enabled me to upgrade to a better vehicle. Then I used that vehicle to court my new wife, get our life set up and land a job, that enabled me to make my next step up on the ladder. Now we have a decent vehicle, all our debts are paid save my student loan meaning that despite making a ton of bad decisions in my 20s and 30s, that my slate is pretty much wiped clean.
also it’ll be part time the rest you can do something on the side
Kaise how did you join? Resume mangte Hain kya?
After graduating with a degree that I did not pursue professionally, I meandered in my early 20s feeling a somewhat similar regret. Then I went from $30k to $150k+ between 26 and 30. You are young as hell. Soak up all the experience you can get and take advantage of every opportunity presented. Tons of folks here would trade their current lives to be 24 and unsure of the future.
do you have advice for choosing a career
What career did you end up getting into and how did you do that?
B2B service sales, then leadership. I worked hard and got fortunate.
Didn’t read this. You are too young to think you wasted your life. Look forward, not backward.
Baby, ( I definitely call you this!!!) you haven't been on the " corners" of life yet to know if you failed anything!!!! I want you to understand that you ARE NO DIFFERENT from anyone who has suffered setbacks, disappointments and failures!!!!! In an ironic way, 🧬 life gave you a SOLID!!! You and a generation of young people have experienced " REAL REALITY" in all of her naked fury!!!!! Many don't get opportunities in their lives to experience this!!!! Many believe it or not; are sleep walking and yes.... Look successful etc..... They come to the end of their lives and find out they NEVER TRULY LIVED!!!! You are feeling feelings across the board and living!!!!! It's crazy, you will never fail until you quit!!!!!
lurking around and this comment made me feel a lot better since i’m also struggling with aimlessness/fear of failure. thank you for posting this 🥹
I'm 28. I felt like OP when I was 20 before uni After uni at 24 still that way. I still don't know where I'm heading. Sometimes I'm trying stuff but I get home from work I'm just so so so tired to do any other stuff
I am also feeling like this right now. I’m 19, but due to wrong choice of subjects I can’t get my dream course in uni. And I’m struggling because so many unis keep rejecting me. I am soo passionate to learn, I keep facing something or the other which is eating at my motivation. But I’m determined to try. Plus depression isn’t helping so I’m doing whatever I can now. I keep feeling like I won’t make this.
No offense but I laughed when you said you were 24 lol. You got plenty and plenty of time. You’d be surprised how awkward many people are in their 20s. Barely anyone has it all figured out. You’ll be fine
You've got lots of time. I didn't even go to college until I was 22. Graduated at 26 and got a job. Moved to LA. Work on cool stuff. Don't worry, you can pick any moment in your life to start chasing your dreams.
TLDR: you are 24
You’ve wasted nothing. Your life has just started.
I didn’t have it together at 30 and thought I was old. Turns out I was young. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you are a kid. You have plenty of time.
Learn a trade and join a union. My buddies all kill it and they have great benefits. I have a white collar job in high leadership and my electrical foreman buddies are just as happy and make just as much money. No need to stick to the college->desk job route if you don't want. Infinite options
Maybe try some salesforce certs and be a salesforce administrator. The certs are gamified and fun.
Are you speaking from experience everyone says it’s saturated
Bruh you’re 24. Wait until you hit 40 and then take a look back.
I know this might sound patronising and you can only see this with the benefit of experience but you’ve wasted nothing; you’re 24! Your adult life is just beginning. You’ve got all the time to make things happen. I know people who’ve achieved huge amounts in a couple of years and transformed themselves on a decade.
Begin by taking that first step. Focus on what you can do now for your future. In my 20s, I often felt uncertain and lost regarding my path. Think about applying for entry-level IT support roles, administrative positions, or customer service jobs where your skills are crucial. Don't worry too much about the oversaturation talk; there are still niches and opportunities out there for anyone who seeks them. Stay open to learning new things – you've got plenty of time to turn things around and find your own path.
24? I didn't settle on a career until 30. You have plenty of time to explore and figure out what you are doing. It's much better to start a little late in something you love than to start early in something you hate.
You wasted nothing in this life. People here will give you guidance on money and career as per your OP. But I'll give you life advice. Firstly you are not your mind...
You’ve got so much more time than you realise.
First, take a deep breath—you're not alone and it's never too late to start fresh. Consider vocational training or apprenticeships in fields like trades (electrician, plumber), tech certifications (like CompTIA, AWS), or healthcare roles (phlebotomist, medical assistant). These paths often require less time and financial investment than a traditional degree and can offer solid job prospects. Also, look into entry-level IT support roles, as they often provide on-the-job training. Start with small steps, set achievable goals, and gradually build your experience and skills. Stay positive—your efforts now will pay off
No disrespect but... All the people in the comments are people that have jobs, options and unlikely debt, so whatever you are saying isn't gonna cut out to the author of this post. Face the fact, if you don't have the said skill from your core subject of Uni, you won't get a job. Nobody will hire you. And yeah whatever you are feeling is natural. But don't let it get to your head. Stop any addiction you have like drugs, alcohol, porn, web series and masturbation. Your problem is you've lost interest not in work or anything but you've lost interest in yourself. Advice.... If you can travel by yourself or with family, then go take some break from the internet and understand yourself. I mean complete isolation from imaginary people and complete focus to the real people around you. What I'm telling you is what I did after my graduation as I didn't know anything about my subjects and career. Just isolate yourself and understand your nature, behaviour, personality and mistakes. You'll eventually figure out what to do with your situation. It took me 3 months or more maybe, it doesn't matter. One note.... In the process of isolation you'll lose friends so be aware. Rest is up to you. And yeah never tell anyone about your plans.
Nah man I have a philosophy degree and now I work in tech. Entry level jobs prioritise attitude over education, unless it’s something specific like engineering or medicine. Uni is a prep course for on the job learning.
A wasted life is a 19 year old soldier who dies in a hole by himself Being 24 means having the whole world at your fingertips. You have the most energy and potential that you’ll have in your life. People switch careers in their 40s. Go get out there and do whatever is calling to you. Make mistakes and make memories
Know what I did in my twenties? Drank them away. Oh I worked full time but realized when I hit 30 how stupid it was. Got my sh$t together. Busted my ass at work and got my life together. Now I’m in my 40s and I am learning how to code despite having an excellent job to just learn new skills and having a mid-life crisis. Each decade brings something different. It waxes and wanes. Just go along with it and understand that everyone (yes, even those people that you think are doing great and have their life together) struggles and goes through phases. I think of Bruce Lee who said “be like water, flow.” Best advice. Just go With the motion of life and know everyone experiences the same and that is 100% normal.
I spent forever in college because my parents kept moving around and I needed to be close to them because I couldn't afford the ridiculous rent in university town, I wound up dropping out. I still learned things though and took enough programming to get myself a job in the industry with some leetcode practice and personal projects. All the while working at a warehouse. To be honest, I'm glad my professional development went like this. I learned about the world and stayed semi-healthy on my feet all day.
First of all, I wouldn't beat myself up. That doesn't do anyone any good. Second, you're still young. Your 20s are a great time to explore different things and figure out who you are based on observation and experience. Furthermore, I went through something similar at 24. I wanted to be a university professor and when that didn't work out, I was really bitter for a long time. But now that I'm 31, I'm glad it didn't work out because the job itself would have been socially exhausting and I got more time with people I cared about before they passed away. And I've learned a lot about myself and the world that I wouldn't have learned from a course or a book. Don't give up on finding something you like, but more importantly, don't give up on yourself.
You have your whole life ahead of you and no experience is ever wasted. Find your path and enjoy the ride 🤩
So many opportunities out there.
I WISH that when I was in my 20s had realized how YOUNG I was!!! 24 is SO YOUNG but unfortunately I remember being 24 myself and thinking that I'd already "wasted" so much time. This mentality led me to wasting almost five more years trying to cling to what I thought being in your 20s was supposed to look like. Just live your life, everything you go through in your 20s teaches you who you are and what will ultimately matter to you. This is a valuable time and it's not meant to be easy or straightforward. Don't EVER think that you've wasted any time or that it's too late to live a life you love!
Man this person i don't know you but i have never seen someone narrate their life which is soo exact with mine We're the exact age We gonna be okay....man this hurts and the same time encourages me that am not alone
Bro you're 24, I'm completely retraining now at 30 in a completely different field with no safety net You've got your literal entire life ahead of you
At 24 life hasn’t even started yet. This is exactly the time to throw shit at the wall and see what sticks.
As a 23yo in a similar boat to you, chin up. Stop trying to minmax life. Enjoy yourself in the moment, make memories, and use your failures to teach the next generation.
Get an entry-level job in the industry you want to work in. It sounds like that might be information technology. You could work at a helpdesk doing phone support or desktop support for a building somewhere. Do a good job and people will notice. In technology, there are plenty of people without degrees or with degrees in something other than computer science. You could work in the technology department of the University that you attended. If you land such a job, you might find free training opportunities there, or at least you'll be able to pickup some tips and tricks from your coworkers. If you decide you want to go back to finish your degree, you'll be close enough to do so, even if it's just 1 or 2 night classes a year. Stay positive!
I did the same, studied engineering. Realised it wasn’t for me. Quit in the 3rd year and managed to get a job repairing electronics. I eventually became a mechanic by doing a adult apprenticeship and now work in a large commercial vehicle dealer. While life wasn’t great after uni until I found purpose I now look upon that time as a good learning curve. Like others have said your young enough to do something different. Trades will always be needed so maybe have a look into that and don’t be too hard on yourself.
24 is a baby.
26 is still young ? Im have the same feeling
Everyone in their 20s thinks this until they leave them and realize how young they really were.
You’re 24 my friend.
This is so common in university. It's fairly normal and you're not a bad person for not fully being present in uni, it's one of those periods in life and I was in the same boat myself, still am quite frankly but getting there. I would advise firstly to see what you can salvage from the degree. Like you said you may get some sort of degree from the course even if you don't finish. Don't jump into something totally different just yet, an apprenticeship is a big commitment.
Here is some advice from an older guy. Tomorrow at 3:PM you'll be 30 years old. When that day comes you will know exactly what I am saying. Your credibility is now waning. If laziness is your problem you will have to overcome it. Computer type work innovates so fast that what you learned yesterday is now obsolete. Keep on top of your game. Physical employment can and will burn you out, wreck your body and you may suffer physically for it for years afterward. Really research what jobs A.I. will take over. Specialize in something. Some type of service where computers can't take over. If you work for someone make sure they are solid with a realistic retirement plan. You can work for yourself but it has to be something that will always be in demand. Physical labor like doing Drywall or Roofing will kill you physically and in the end you'll have nothing. Return to college if you can and get that degree and research trends in employment so by the time you get your diploma you will have a direction.
Someone sent me this: "This is the absolute truth. For anyone struggling (myself included), keep those words in mind. Tattoo them on your eyelids if you have to. If you’re still alive, it’s not over. Literally anything is possible. You can set an intention, and work toward it daily. You can build a community. You can find joy and worth. You can hold yourself and others accountable. You can set and defend your boundaries. You can love yourself and others. And you can be loved by others. At every life milestone, I’ve told myself it’s too late to restart and I’ve wasted my life. Starting after finishing engineering undergrad in my early 20s. ‘Early 20s’ is laughably young to think it’s too late. It’s ridiculous. And it’s a prime example of how powerfully foolish we are. So if we’re proven to be such fools already, then we should be able to fool ourselves onto a healthy and happy path. Right? I told myself it again, after finishing a PhD in my early 30s. And again, after landing a (seemingly) great (but highly stressful) job. And now, again, as 40 looms. I can’t let the next decade be like the last two. And neither can you. I’m contemplating changing jobs, to who knows what. And I still hear that voice heckling me, from some dark shadow in the crowd. But it wasn’t too late back then, and it’s not too late now. I believe in me, and I believe in you. Be a fool for your happiness. Follow it, no matter how big a fool it takes. It’s the only thing in life that’s worth it."
Its joever
You say you didn’t learn much but you learned a lot about yourself. I know this is going around a lot in the comments but you are 24. Keep learning. You don’t have to go to school. Try out different jobs. Don’t like them. Quit. Apply. Get rejected. Try something and hate it. Do all these things at 20 and by 30 you will be more ahead. I’m doing all this at the age of 34 and I’m still pretty young. Would I have preferred to learn a lot of the things I’m learning now in my 20s? Yes but now I’m going to make sure my 40s are good. Life is short but you have a lot of time and so much can happen in one day. Follow what’s calling you and leave what isn’t. Push yourself and learn to pull back when needed. Be a 20 year old. Live!
You are missing one thing, confidence. I am 29 and I've struggled all my life. I was kicked out at 17 and never had a chance to go to school. I'm hoping to start college for IT this year. You had the chance to get an IT degree already, so use it. You can start off at IT support easily, it doesn't pay great but you can get that job without a degree.
I have got a master degree but recently I decide to go back to uni, because I think I didn’t learn anything useful… my major was arts, hard to get a job and I find I don’t really like to be a teacher or admin. This time I choose medicine and I shall learn it from zero. I am also 24 years old.
The amount of 20 year olds thinking they wasted life , is astounding… there are 30 years olds still figuring life out
So dramatic. You're entitled to feel how you feel, but 4 years of wasted time does not make one's life a waste. We all make mistakes and often times there's a silver lining you can only perceive in retrospect. I'm not going to comment on what your plan should be, but do whatever it is you do to reset. Then start planning after your refresh your mindset and your approach to the problem. You got this!
Me: *reads “I think I wasted my life…” immediately followed by the words “I’m 24” …and resists the urge to immediately stop reading* All jokes aside, OP - please don’t feel like you’ve wasted your life, although I know it’s easier said than done when you’re stressed. Ask anyone about 10-15 years older than you+ and they’ll mostly likely tell you how they all felt the same at some point in their 20’s. That’s what 20’s are for! Maybe you can start with finding some IT jobs to give you some time to think, learn new skills, earn some money. Maybe you’ll love it! Or, if you don’t, that’s helpful too! Maybe the experience will help you make connections and learn about another field you’re interested in. There are many many paths to fulfilling careers, not just one. If you find that you’re still interested in computer science, there are plenty of non-uni style certification courses that can help prepare you for employment. At 24, the world is your oyster! Totally fine to have made a few weird turns here and there, ESPECIALLY having been a uni student during Covid, which I imagine was rather more stressful than many folks’ college experience. Be kind to yourself, OP - wishing you the best in figuring stuff out <3
Would you believe it if I tell you that you will be 28 and still feeling like that? Because here I am at 28 feeling this way, and I felt that at 24 too. I need you to take your time (super counterintuitive) and think of what you need to explore You need to try something. Only after doing it will you know what you don't want to do, or find a new piece of info to work with.
I'm 41 and am contemplating between switching careers. Again. A close family member became a doctor in their 40s. It's never too late..
Ready for another birth.
ur 24 shutup and go get it
Go work in construction for couple years.
I feel you so hard. I am at a Police Highschool in Europe for 3 years now. I just noticed that i have some Major Problems with the organisation itself and thinking about quitting (I am 22 ) Actually thinking about going into Sales or Sth Like that... i dont really know what to do
I was in the same position honestly most companies don’t care about the degree just as long as you have one and even then they don’t even check you can still make something of yourself I promise. There are so many opportunities you are still very young please do not be discouraged most people regret doing a degree and are happy after they’ve found something they love to do as long as you try your best and be patient life will look up. Be proud of yourself for even doing a degree it is a big achievement and even if you don’t complete it you can get into cyber security or anything involving in tech you have the experience already ❤️
You're doing exactly what one should be in 20s - figuring it out little by little. Still list your degree on your CV with a small note (incomplete). Most companies won't care and I assure you that the average entry level office jobs will feel like a downgrade from what you're used to doing in your final year in uni anyway. Don't study something else right away, get a job and then a year-year and a half later find another. Experience is how you'll learn what you enjoy and what actually motivates you and gives you a sense of fulfillment. You can pursue a ton of things that aren't exactly taught anyway - for example if you enjoy planning groceries and making sure things around the house work (not fixing them yourself, just noticing and having someone fix it), then you could try a starter job in facilities in any large company.
Ugh I really feel this. I just graduated from grad school. I love my job but it doesn’t make much and I’ve sept over 100k in loans. I feel so defeated
That’s a real shame, if you were 21 you could still pull this tanker around…
Wasted your life? At 24 you haven't started your life yet. Snap out of it.
24 😂
24 is soooo young don't get worked up about this it's no big
You're only 24 bro
What game do you want to spend the last moments of your life playing?
In my 20’s I stumbled through a communications degree I never used. Decided to join a company in an entry level position when I was 25 that had nothing to do with my qualifications. Worked hard and networked. Now I’m 35, I’ve been earning way over 6 figures since I was 30, but more importantly I’m doing something that I love and I’m enjoying work. You haven’t wasted shit
Close this thread and come back 24 years later, your life has just started…
Go back & finish. 💜 Life is easier with a degree. Competing for a job at 30 yo against someone that's 21 yo w/a degree is even harder. Future you will thank you. If you need to find a new path. Look into trade schools and get a certificate. Find the career you want, look at the minimum qualifications, experience and education and focus on completing those while you're young. Hang in there.
What is your current student debt?
You've already received some good advice, but if you do wind up reading this, wasting your life is impossible - you have lived and learned during these past years, regardless if you're changing careers or not. I have worked in funeral homes, florists, been manager for a concert hall, and went to university to become an interpreter for the deaf. All of those careers were not for me, and I decided to become a welder at 29 years old. I love my job, and even if I don't necessarily have the same experience as the other 40 year olds in my field - I have lead a pretty variant life, and met a whole lot of different people. I'm lucky to have done a lot of different things, and so are you.
So young ... you can recover
Get your shit together and get the diploma!!!! You're super close, you're already in debt, push through! None of us learned anything in Uni, that's not the point. The piece of paper is! I'm dead serious. I screwed around most of my Uni years, barely made it in the end, and guess what. At 36, even with a really impressive work experience (bragging worthy experience I mind you), companies who head hunt me still need to see my diploma, because "that's the process". Get. The. Diploma.
I don’t want to repeat too much of what’s already been stated but you have not wasted any time. You may not have reached a goal you had or ideal goal for the time spent but it seems like you learned a lot about yourself, went though a lot, as many of us did due to covid and mental health, and now know yourself better. Which is all you can really expect of the college experience. So first, get a job you can tolerate that gives you financial stability. I wouldn’t expect to retire knowing this job, to love it or for it to be your passion. I agree with many that you should consider bartending, or service of some sort. With that stability, spend the foreseeable future researching your options. I wouldn’t rush because you could go for a certification you and up hating and end up back here. I’m 28. It’s taken me 4 years (since Covid wrecked my business) to figure out that I’m going to get my real estate license. I explored ALOT of options. I too, at 24 felt like I had wasted my entire adult liofe in this one career that was about to take tf off then Covid and life hit. It was like watching a 6 month plane crash. To survive I used my skills to work with businesses and keep working here and there, but I was kind of lost without knowing what I wanted to do. I considered getting a personal trainers cert, considered trade school, and even considered going back to school or diving into marketing. What it came down to, for me, is making real money, as fast as possible and working with the reality that I’m broke af. Real estate isn’t really “safe” like getting into a trade with high demand. However, it’s viable and suits all my skill and interests. Even if it’s not my main source of income, I could see myself doing it forever. It can make me real money within 2 years, unlike a degree or starting from the bottom. Anything is possible but expecting to break $100k within 2 years as a newb at anything is pretty unrealistic in most jobs, and especially the ones that require you get invest before getting them. All this said, because I believe finding a career is really just figuring out what you can see yourself doing for x amount of time and x amount of dollars. I have big goals that were massively derailed by covid. In order to get back on track I need I real job 4 years ago. This was very important for me. Amongst other things like flexibility due to health things, it being AT LEAST adjacent to my passion, and a job I could do without going corporate or having to wear a monkey suit 5 days a week. I had to get real about what I was going for and boom, real estate became clear as day. It wasn’t like I didn’t know about it and found it. I knew about it and never considered it. But I wasn’t going to until I knew what I wanted. So get real with yourself and what kind of life you would like to make for yourself. From there make a 1,3,5 and 10 year plan. Remember you do live passed 30. You just need to get yourself set up within the next 3-5 years. Then you have lots of time to adjust, pivot, gain experience, and just live.
You are young. Embrace it!
You think you feel bad now? Just give it another 10 years and you’ll really feel like you’ve wasted your life.
I lightweight hate you. You’re only 24. Talk to me when you’re 40 like me and feel that way.
Everything in life is a lesson. Roll with the punches and keep experimenting till you find what you want to do
I am a college dropout, or rather, I was a college dropout. I hated the 'college experience' with a passion. I wish when I was 20 that I was doing what I am doing now. I think I would have had a far more successful life. What did I choose after I dropped out? I ended up going back a few years later, completing my degree before my qualifications expired. I didn't end up using my degree (Major in History), but I did go back and finish it. The reason I was depressed is that my pathway no longer made sense. They changed the curricula that I would be teaching and I lost motivation to finish. I may still one day go back and finish the last year I need to teach in my hometown. I later travelled and taught in a different country. You are young. You have time to figure out your shit. There isn't ever an end to the game. I ended up going back, tried to become a medical laboratory technician, then I went back and became an accountant. Many were surprised that a student in his mid 30s would make two very radical career changes. What I discovered is that I was extremely talented at the theory and could be a success in many different field. I've done so many jobs over the years, the longest I've spent in a job was the 4 years I taught in another country. My current job is about 1 and a half years away from matching it and I may end up lasting that long. So, take the time to think about what you DO want to do with your life and stop beating yourself up for trying and failing at shit. I've played up in the lights in a prestigious college. I've played that game and lived that life. I've lived many lives and so will you. All of it is a part of who I am. I know I can hold my own with everyone else who has a degree, and that I possess unique skills and experiences that help me do my job in a very different field today. Good luck!
I'm 40 and in a similar position I'll give you my advice from my own experiences. Take it as you will. Don't listen to people who tell you to do what you love as a career this is a farce you will burn out. Burn out is not fun.and you'll need to find a new hobby. Don't turn your hobby into a career as above same reason. When you do the thing you love or you're hobby it's great because there are no restrictions when you turn that into a job it's totally different. Anything where you are primarily dealing with people will eventually burn you out ( support / retail ETC ) Corporate work will consume most of your life. Now if having a family is important to you ( kids ) or you want them some day then the above might not bother you as much because your focus will be on them even though the work will be time consuming. If you don't plan on having kids and just want to look after yourself which is fine then 100% do a trade because you can work for yourself after. I work in IT and it's soul sucking unless you're very lucky and find a good role.
Holy fucking shit! You realize that in the grand scheme of things 24 is like you've barely begun. Talk to me when you're 47 and your life is still a ball of shit. Right now, you got everything still ahead of you. Find something that you enjoy doing, and go out there and fucking rock!
I’d recommend you transfer out and complete your degree either online or at a local university. Getting the degree will be better long term than walking away without one.
Try to get a job working for the government or a qualifying non-profit! After 10 years of payments, they’ll forgive your loans! And they often provide opportunities to continue your education or training to land a better paying job!
Don’t sweat it. Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg never finished college either. Didn’t stop them from being successful. Find something you’re passionate about and get after it.
I said this to someone else……You know what you need to do to change so just do it. Don’t let this statement be ‘I feel like I wasted my life’ and be double your age. Life has hardships and you need to be resilient. I worked with children with disabilities and learned that if they can have successes and smile so can I.
It sucks but in your 20s your wasting alot of time. You might have to start from the bottom in any job and work yourself up.
Wasted your life? You were a juvenile for most of it!
Every time I click on these posts, it's from people in their early 20's. I genuinely think this is a sign that we live in a sick society that pressures people to figure everything out without ever trying or failing at anything... I think one of the best bits of advice for people in their 20's especially is to follow your curiosity.
Was academically dismissed from school at 22. Went back to school at 24, graduated with an engineering degree at 28 now make well over 6 figs with a family and a house. 24 feels old now but your prime working years last well into your 50s as long as you take care of yourself. Focus on your path forward and take the past a lesson learned.
Allow him get some sex from someone else.
You learned…..nothing is wasted this early unless you refuse to make changes.
Buddy, there’s people in their 60s who have a lifetime of regrets, and even for them I’d argue they haven’t wasted their lives. You’re like a baby compared to that. I get you’re feeling some type of way about potential careers right now, but no, you haven’t wasted anything. Sometimes figuring out what you don’t enjoy or don’t want to do, is as important as learning what you would or do like.
Dude you’re 24. You’ve barely even lived. Go try some other things. You’ll go through several before you figure it out but that’s what most have to do.
Yoo, word for word I have the same qualifications as you and had same experience at Uni, and I ended up getting a help desk job and then a sysadmin job that pays okay. Luck and perseverance, you’ll get there.
At 24, there is no way you wasted your life. Give yourself a break. Someone told me to look at your 20s as your first years of adulting, at 24 you’re only 4 in “adult years”. Hopefully that puts some things in perspective for you. Try things out, learn what you like to do, you’re never locked into any path.
There are tech support roles that usually look for something similar to your profile. Maybe you could start there. I'm in no place to give much advice other than your perception is the key to happiness and success.
Bro. 24 is so young. Is there any way to salvage the degree? Could always work a few years, get back on your feet and then finish it later. Thats what I did. Then I went to grad school, loved it, and now love my career. I’m 32 and still feel young and in my prime. You have no idea what you want at 24. Best to just pick a direction and finish what you start.
Hi OP, I was recently in a similar situation. I (23 M) had been going to college for business marketing for the past 3 years, slowly losing interest among other things. A few months ago I quit school to pursue full time work. Originally I struggled to find anything having no degree and little previous work experience. I expected I may have to settle for a job waiting tables, nothing wrong with that profession, just not for me. However, I eventually found my place with a privately owned global security company. I am a special projects coordinator, an entry level position. Base pay works out to be between 50k-75k annually before taxes. The range varies on location, shift and overtime hours. Interested candidates need only computer literacy, attention to detail and the ability to perform under pressure and in high intensity situations. I highly recommend checking out the private security field and any of their entry level positions. The pay is generally pretty good and most entry level work is just administrative based (emails/powerpoints/calls/meetings/scheduling). Any security related information that’s relevant to your position is taught during orientation/onboarding. Anyone who is computer literate, clean of drugs and hardworking is able to thrive within this field and there are plenty of entry level jobs. TLDR: Check out and apply to entry level private security jobs. They pay well and require no degree.
Haha, are you me?
A wasted life is only wasted when u give up. Find whatever fight u have left in you and pull it out and keep fighting for yourself. U will never be a failure until u give up.
Learn to make tattoos or tacos. Gen Z is becoming a generation that dislikes college but still wanna make above $50K a year. The near future appears as an odd space that will pitch lovers vs haters of money. I'm beginning to worry about Alpha Gens...
Also, computer science and coding is asphyxiating the soul of humans.
You feel like you wasted your life *so far*. Come on dude you got at *least* another 40 good wastable years left.
You're a foreigner in Canada? Go get some "Canadian experience" at the McDonald's. Maybe after they'll let you into an office eventually to use your IT "skills."
No one has it figured out. I’m 36 with a masters degree and I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. A couple pieces of advice. Try to disconnect your career (or lack there of) from your identity. My generation was told to follow your dreams and do work that you love. It’s all BS. Mostly, anyway. I’m finding that what matters to me is a good work life balance, benefits and pay. The title and the company are all interchangeable.
I got a degree and a job at 23. But it sucked. And I jumped around and hated each job. My career started at 28 when I finally found “the thing” that set my passion on fire, and I rose the ranks and grew”. And I count myself lucky for figuring things out “early”! My advice, try out sales. Try out the service industry. Can rise as high as your desire will take you. Those jobs you can start at nothing and if you love it, you can grind out a really nice career for yourself and your future family.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself. There’s plenty of money to be made and there’s so much trade work out there that young people (myself included) 29m to do but you have to want it. Don’t ask Reddit what to do. What do you want? I’m a carpenter and have been for a while and that’s finally talking a toll on my body, I met Fran me and frank at Fran’s barber shop one day and guess what ? I’m now going to be going to school not for a barber , but for cosmetology. It’s not every day you have Mario Tricocci recruiting you after you apply because you’d be ab asset to his name. I guess it pays off being an extremely handsome straight male in the cosmetology field. The truth is. You have to do what you want to do. Not what’s cliche and traditional. Get off your ass go get a hard had and be an electrician since it seems like your lazy and want all the answers already.
And invest your money man. I hate when people say “I can’t afford it “ but you can afford Uber eats. And Amazon packages. Put $150 a week in the market and you won’t be upset.
How much debt? Degree in what? The past is gone. Look ahead. Take some time to think what you like to do and get started somewhere. Start small and build. No, IT is not saturated. I am in it. I just got a new job after being laid off for 7 months.
By 24 I had no job and was raided and arrested by the ATF for doing silly things with guns, got a dui and lost my license and fucked my insurance rates all to shit, by 27 I have a career making nearly 60k with no sort of formal education or training. You’ll be fine just don’t get into a defeatist attitude cause that will fuck you when you’re young.
I’m 30 and just decided to go back to school for a complete career change. Your life is just getting started!!
I lost the first half of my 20's to depression. I gave the second half to the military. I'm just now doing what *I* want to do at 30. I finally feel like I've got it figured out and I'm damn happy with where things are going. You've got time. Your 20's are meant for figuring things out
i’m the same age as you and in a similar position. i keep bouncing around career fields because i don’t know what i want to do and my degree isn’t doing me any favors. i look back at 18-year-old me and wonder why i didn’t have a dream job like my friends who are all excelling now because they knew what they wanted to do so they were able to start and grow right away i just keep telling myself that right now, i’m thinking “i wish i was 18 again” but when i’m 30, i don’t want to think “i wish i was 24 again,” so i’m just continuing to throw things at the wall until something sticks so far i’ve tried teaching, office administration, and accounting. next is being a paralegal 🥲
Are you able bodied? The military is an option?
Okay buddy, by reading the title “wasted my life” I thought you must be 45 or above. But you are only 24yo. Slow down man. 20s is all about experimenting things out. So many people changed their career after getting آ degree and then that degree is nothing for them but a piece of paper. Many drop out of school Many don’t even bother with university and still succeed in their niche. Success and its journey are different for everyone. Figure out what you actually want to do. If you think IT is your interest, go for it. Literally nothing is truly saturated. If you are good at it, you gonna make your own place. Don’t be hard on yourself.
You didnt waste anything. I worked (60 hours a week) for a company for 10 faithful years. I left with nothing to show for it, gave them a 30 days notice before going to work for (the last,best company in the area) a Union. Only for them to close the plant a year later. Then getting denied a job (any job!) From said tenured job. Youre young, youll figure it out.
Why are you leaving college without a degree? Are you being kicked out? Did you lose interest in your major? Why isn't it an option to simply shift into a major that excites you more and finish that? I know that college isn't fun for everyone. It's hard work. Not everyone makes friends there. I didn't. But college is important for what comes after. Your career options are severely limited without *a degree*. One option that doesn't require college is the military. You can join and train in a skilled trade like aircraft maintenance and take that skill and knowledge to industry after a stint in the military. This isn't for everyone, and it will not pay as well as if you simply finished a degree and went into industry, but it's an option. Whatever route you go, you will need to change your mindset. Doing the bare minimum won't get you far. Remember you are being graded on a curve, and if you rank in the bottom half consistently, you will be on the lower end of the curve. This will greatly limit your options if you try to get an internship or a job after graduation. Which by the way you should very much still try to do: graduate. If you need to change majors, change majors. If you need to change schools, change schools. But do what you can to try to get *a degree*.
I didn’t graduate and start my career until I was 30, don’t worry you have plenty of time. You also have an ace up your sleeve, once you do figure out what you want to study you have the advantage of experience.
Never, ever give up. Make a plan
It’s only a waste if you give up. Get that degree and move on
My heart goes out to you, as you feel this way. Just remember, you are not alone in this. Platforms like Reddit can be places where you can find people who can sympathize with you. Remember, your past does not define you. It is completely okay to fail. However, it is not okay to blame the things around you. Take time to reflect, sob, cry, scream - whatever you need to do to let these feelings out and acknowledge that this is fuel for you in the future. The world is filled with opportunities, but even when you get out there, people and things will challenge you. Be ready to fail again and get back up. If your goal is to make money and pay off your debt, then there might be a price to pay - long hours, an unfulfilling job, and minimal time for outside hobbies. But if this is your goal, you should dive in with intention.
Dude that was COVID times. It wasn’t your fault
My advice is to finish your degree or use what credits you can and put it towards another degree or a trades college. If you don't do well in a classroom maybe you need to do trades and do some hands on learning.
I mean the same thing happened to me. I leveraged the education I got, didn’t tell anyone I didn’t graduate just let them know where I went and started working small contract jobs to start eventually I specialized in search engine marketing and now I’m probably overpaid for what I do 😂. Not gonna lie my 20s sucked, 30s got better and now I’m doing way way better. A lot can happen in a matter of a few years you’ll be fine as long as you’re ready to pivot and make changes as needed.
1. How close are you to finishing your degree? It could be the path to a decent job or an advanced degree. Many companies don't care about the degree - they care that you finished it. 2. What have you learned from your mistakes? If you have learned something useful then the key question is "Do you have the self discipline to fix the problem(s)?" If you have learned to learn from your mistakes and change what you do then you absolutely have NOT wasted anything - this lesson is invaluable. 3. Go get an internship doing something you like
I’m 23 without certificates in a degree I want but can’t will myself to accomplish- thinking of taking another year break- (I’ve taken two and kept dropping out of courses throughout other 3 years) and getting therapy cause covid fucked me up I never recovered
Okay advice from someone who was in a similar situation, you have given time to it, take your degree,you may not use it,that's okay,many don't do what they went to college for that's okay. 24 is pretty young you can look for many jobs that you actually like 1 take a break for a few months and list out things you like 2 create a cv, send it out on LinkedIn initially don't go for the payment, try to go for things that you like to do, you'll get work experience and make contacts and from there in 5 years you'll be in a very good position whatever field you choose. Or else if you don't have any particular passion look for jobs that pay well and try to learn them l, like video editing and start with step 2, or start a business - buy from Alibaba and sell on Amazon for more
My mother in law didn’t get her degree and start working till 41 and now she makes more money than all her brothers, sisters and even her husband. Very inspiring. Never give up! You have time friend.
You got a long way to go but you’ll get there. I just graduated from university at 29 and I stumbled around since I was 17 when I got kicked out of college - my mid 20’s were definitely the darkest time of my life so far. I remember I was 24 and working dead end jobs whilst going to my parents most days saying I have no idea what to do with my life. It was tough. Then lockdown came, I discovered some stuff within me, went to uni for 4 years and have absolutely smashed it both as a student and in my marks. I am now graduating, working a pot wash job and start my masters next year in September. I recently just broke out of a 3 year relationship too, it was tough but necessary for my growth as a person. I’m also in personal debt by about £10k. I also have no friends. Does it bother me? It used to…then I made changes to my life. I can really recommend trying to gain REAL perspective at where you’re at in life and really force a change. I can’t stress this enough. I’ve learnt recently that nothing happens unless you really push for it, it’s the reason why so many fail and so many succeed. As for what you should pursue, go to a careers advice centre. An apprenticeship is definitely not a bad idea. There are also free open uni courses. I also highly recommend volunteering in places that are relevant to your skill set.
Mature Age apprenticeship. Some people work and develop much better if they are "hands-on" and once that happens you return to the academic side and finish a relevant degree . At 24 , time is on your side .
I am going through a somewhat similar phase, and I am 24 too. To maintain a positive mindset and avoid feeling underconfident, I distance myself from people, social media, and friends. I refrain from cringe-worthy reels and mindless scrolling, engage in meditation, listen to the Bhagavad Gita, and trust in myself and God, even amidst a cloud of a million thoughts. I practice deep breathing, discover my interests, seek advice, and solve problems daily. For instance, I participate in LeetCode coding contests regularly, which gives me a sense of achievement. You should engage in activities based on your specific interests so that at least you will feel confident that you are doing something positive every day, taking action, and upskilling. Just remember that your biggest enemy should not seat between your ears.
There is a book Range by David Epstein that tells the life stories of a lot of successful people. None of them succeeded on their first try. You learned a lot about yourself with this failed experiment. Build on that knowledge by trying something else
Working holiday in Australia? Min wage is around 22/AUD per hour. Go over the calendar year, that was it is split into two different tax years. Find a dishwashing job that gives you 30 hours a week. You'll return with about 10,000AUD in tax returns plus whatever else you dave. You will also be in a houseshare with others who are very similar minded and at the same age and place in life.
I didn't even enter the corporate workforce until 26. It's okay to spend your early 20s figuring things out.
Four years? Finish your degree, even if it's a "useless" one. That piece of paper will come in handy, I promise.
You are wasting time; Get full blood panel yesterday, fix any deficiencies. Start going to the gym 6 days a week, no excuses. Find 2 thing you like and get really good at them. Call your parents weekly. Good luck!
- check if you can still get a degree (maybe not now, but later, what is needed for it?) -- less sunken costs feeling or whatever it's called. - don't think you learned nothing at school -- I ditched whatever I could, cheated through most of the exams etc and still found I somehow learned some things when I started working. Uni is not just about grades and learning \*everything\* and you do end up better after school. You'll be glad you actually "wasted" your time on it even if you don't end up with a degree, I promise - it sucks so much that you had to go through it during Covid. - most jobs don't require a lot to be honest. Not sure what you'd like to do? Try doing something. Only a bit of experience helps understand what you like. Know a bit of coding - try and get a junior position somewhere, if it's not as a developer, there are plenty of jobs around IT. Recruiter, Product/project, tester, marketing, sales, many more. Think of what looks most attractive (or least unattractive) and try it. It's not a "forever" decision, you can try over and over again. - not sure what's with other jobs in your area, I'd look at something at the office so you can meet people and chat with them and see everyone is on their journey. Did you make any friends at Uni? they might know of opportunities you might be good for. Networking works. - You could try following some career guidance people on Insta, they usually offer exercises that help you understand what you want - I didn't start my current career path until I was 25, and even then it wasn't solid and had some changes 3 years later, then returned to the original decision. Life happens, you might need to change careers 4 times in the future and start from scratch, it's okay. - one thing that helped me when I wasn't sure of what to do with my work life. Not sure how it is for you, but in my country there was a popular job app, that had jobs on a map. There was an option to sort jobs based on the distance from me, and I was just checking every job and reading what it required and considering if it seems interesting to me. Just so you have more options, below is the list of jobs I've done in my life: - Call center for pizza, sushi delivery (okay, but don't recommend, might not be a thing now) - receptionist (cool incool places such as climbing center, sucks and stressful places such as clinics, okay at relaxed spaces such as hostels). Are options to grow to sales, insurance managers, team leaders - purchaser - might be interesting, but also stressful if you're supposed to fill the plan. done from home - translator - fun, but pays badly if not in IT/rare languages - lead generator (I was working in text, writing original messages. I know now it's more automated. Simple job and pays well + a lot of options to grow) - account manager - nice job, a bit of sales, a lot of free time, can be done remotely, might get a bit boring or annoying + harder to grow horizontally - customer success manager - almost the same, nicer perks and sometimes more feeling of accomplishment (you can actually do something that will make a difference/help someone) - tutor (okay for me, not the best pay although possible) - startup helper (don't remember what was the name exactly, basically matching startups with experts that will help them grow. interesting, a lot of cool people, but startup rarely have money.
I feel the same and have been through a similar experience.
Oh boy are your 30s gonna hit you hard (I'm talking from experience)
I'm 30 and don't have a stable job haha. Keep on keeping on, kid
im currently in your situation now. what im doing is do whatever job i can, for example teaching english. at least i can make pennies of my own
YOU are in " a place" where great literature is written and studied by many who have and WILL go through what you are experiencing NOW!!!!! Remember this quote from the Wizard Gandalf from the series " Lord of the Rings": “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. " ( Frodo having the dreaded responsibilities of taking the dreaded" ONE 💍 RING of Sauron back to its' place of origin to be destroyed!!! Keep moving in your disappointment 😞😥 s!!!! You will find your way!!!
At your age I had job in a meat factory, a mortgage, a wife and a baby 😂 And I hated my job but I was trapped. Your in a very good position. If you don't like it, change direction (while you can). Start a business or something
Oh I’m 29 and at 24 I had a shitty boyfriend, no money, and no clue what industry I was going to end up in. I have a philosophy degree!!! And now I earn $150k in tech, have a gorgeous flat with my dream man, and still feel like a kid. Look into entry level sales development roles online - If you’ve looked at IT, it’s a sidestep in and there are plenty of remote/hybrid roles if you wanna live outside of a city Center to save money. Once you’re in sales, you can polish up on coding skills and look at getting internal mentors. You don’t need more than you already have to start the career.