2 answers
Avery
Student
Independence, Kentucky
2
Questions
Asked
603 views
At 17, should I be worried that I have no idea what I want to do when I'm older??
I feel like everyone around me has their college major picked out, but I have no clue what I want to do. I'm also worried that I won't be able to survive properly after I move away from home.
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2 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1085
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Avery,
It's perfectly fine if you don't know yet, what you want to do in life. It's also completely fine to take a gap year, or to find a job and stay at home for another year. But you should definitely start thinking about your future and get more information about college majors and careers that sound interesting to you.
Think about subjects you were good at and you enjoyed in school. Are you more of a math and science person or a language person or a social science person? Research careers that would fall under those categories. Are there any jobs in your environment that you might enjoy doing? Could you imagine being a teacher or a doctor or a police officer or a welder or a nurse? Talk to people in your community who are in those jobs. Find out what qualifications are required to get into those jobs.
If you think you might want to go to college, college websites have a wealth of information about the different majors they offer and the possible career paths. If you are still not sure what you want to major in you can start out attending your local community college and earn an associates degree or a certificate that would allow you to start working. If you want to, you can transfer to a 4-year school later to get your bachelors (make sure your credits transfer).
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
It's perfectly fine if you don't know yet, what you want to do in life. It's also completely fine to take a gap year, or to find a job and stay at home for another year. But you should definitely start thinking about your future and get more information about college majors and careers that sound interesting to you.
Think about subjects you were good at and you enjoyed in school. Are you more of a math and science person or a language person or a social science person? Research careers that would fall under those categories. Are there any jobs in your environment that you might enjoy doing? Could you imagine being a teacher or a doctor or a police officer or a welder or a nurse? Talk to people in your community who are in those jobs. Find out what qualifications are required to get into those jobs.
If you think you might want to go to college, college websites have a wealth of information about the different majors they offer and the possible career paths. If you are still not sure what you want to major in you can start out attending your local community college and earn an associates degree or a certificate that would allow you to start working. If you want to, you can transfer to a 4-year school later to get your bachelors (make sure your credits transfer).
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Harry Moats
Vice-President
29
Answers
Woodstock, Georgia
Updated
Harry’s Answer
No, it will come. Many college students change their majors two or three times before they figure out what they want to do for a living. If you have certain interests seek out friends, family members or others who work in the areas that you are interested and discuss their jobs with them to see if there is a fit. Do research on specific careers that you may have interest and see if something is pulling you in that direction.