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at 18 what can i do if idk if college is for me/don't know what career I want?
I think that college isnt really for everyone and my mom has been constantly talking about my older cousins who graduated as plastic surgeons. I dont really have a passion for medical/health careers . My strongest subject in highschool was journalism , where I use Canva to creating fake magazines and ads for companies like Pepsi or NYX. tbh, rn I'm learning how to do basic CSS/HTML, video editing, making Roblox assets. and I spent most of my highschool years on social media. But when picking a major or even a career, I hesitate because I just don't know what I want rn. Idk if I should stay in community college for another year (I'm freshman) or transfer straight to a far away college to avoid my parents.
idk, I just don't feel like I'm having any options: transfer or drop out. also here are some side hustles I tried when I graduated but they sorta failed. e-commerce was hard bc every week a new product would rise and fall + ads were expensive, day trading was calm bc it depended on me and no one else but I had a 45% wr. I tried to learn about freelance brand scaleing bc it seemed similar to making stuff with Canva but quit cus I was confused. then I started doing freelance graphic design. I was super cautious bc of scams and one time I refused an actual client who offered $200. I tried doing clipping for streamers which paid a little but I enjoyed it. I tried getting into memecoins but they're very volatile and I couldnt tell which coins were trustworthy. I sometimes get very unique dreams and I kinda wanna turn it into a video game?
also, another thing that might help me know what to do... apps on my phone. I have Roblox.sims, depop, Netflix, Instagram/TikTok, YouTube, capcut, Canva,discord, Pinterest my love, Uber. bank apps. ig that's it. if anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it! <3
6 answers
Updated
Misha’s Answer
Hi Favour! Here are some thoughts offered via Cloudera new hires: Alex, Dylan, and Irvan
Learning is *incredibly* important, but formal education may not always be the best way to achieve it (changing fast due to AI). Find low-stakes ways to try different paths and spaces (free online bootcamps, makerspaces, clubs, community college, city/county continuing education…) and see what suits you.
RESEARCH and decide whether or not the opportunity cost of attending college is worth it depending on the field that you are interested in and then take next steps based on the identified path.
Learning is *incredibly* important, but formal education may not always be the best way to achieve it (changing fast due to AI). Find low-stakes ways to try different paths and spaces (free online bootcamps, makerspaces, clubs, community college, city/county continuing education…) and see what suits you.
RESEARCH and decide whether or not the opportunity cost of attending college is worth it depending on the field that you are interested in and then take next steps based on the identified path.
ty I'll look into that! also, what is cloudera?
Favour
Hi Favour, Cloudera is the organization that I work for! We are a tech company that handles big data. We are a global, hybrid data and AI platform company that brings AI to data anywhere: in clouds, data centers, and at the edge.
Misha D'Andrea
Updated
Madeline’s Answer
Hi Favour!
First of all, I want to acknowledge that it is completely normal to feel uncertain about your career direction at 18. Many students at the transition from high school to college are still exploring who they are and what they want to do. Even college students and adults often continue to refine their career paths over time. Not having a clear answer right now does not mean you are failing—it simply means you are in the process of figuring things out.
It’s also very positive that you are aware of your own feelings toward different career fields. For example, hearing about your family members in healthcare helped you recognize that medical and health-related careers may not be the right fit for you. That kind of self-awareness is actually an important strength in career exploration.
From what you shared, it also seems like you are naturally drawn to creative and digital spaces—such as social media, design tools like Canva, video editing, and platforms like Roblox. These interests can be meaningful indicators of potential career directions in areas such as digital media, content creation, graphic design, game design, or other creative technology-related fields.
Instead of focusing on whether college is “right or wrong,” it may be more helpful to explore whether your current academic path is helping you build skills that align with your interests. Community college can be a great starting point, especially if you are still exploring different directions. You can also speak with an academic advisor about transfer options and courses that may better support skills in areas like digital media, communication, or technology.
Most importantly, try not to rush the decision. Career development is a gradual process, and it is normal for your interests to evolve over time. You are already doing the right thing by exploring different experiences and reflecting on what you enjoy. Keep paying attention to what feels engaging to you—that is often where clearer direction begins to emerge.
First of all, I want to acknowledge that it is completely normal to feel uncertain about your career direction at 18. Many students at the transition from high school to college are still exploring who they are and what they want to do. Even college students and adults often continue to refine their career paths over time. Not having a clear answer right now does not mean you are failing—it simply means you are in the process of figuring things out.
It’s also very positive that you are aware of your own feelings toward different career fields. For example, hearing about your family members in healthcare helped you recognize that medical and health-related careers may not be the right fit for you. That kind of self-awareness is actually an important strength in career exploration.
From what you shared, it also seems like you are naturally drawn to creative and digital spaces—such as social media, design tools like Canva, video editing, and platforms like Roblox. These interests can be meaningful indicators of potential career directions in areas such as digital media, content creation, graphic design, game design, or other creative technology-related fields.
Instead of focusing on whether college is “right or wrong,” it may be more helpful to explore whether your current academic path is helping you build skills that align with your interests. Community college can be a great starting point, especially if you are still exploring different directions. You can also speak with an academic advisor about transfer options and courses that may better support skills in areas like digital media, communication, or technology.
Most importantly, try not to rush the decision. Career development is a gradual process, and it is normal for your interests to evolve over time. You are already doing the right thing by exploring different experiences and reflecting on what you enjoy. Keep paying attention to what feels engaging to you—that is often where clearer direction begins to emerge.
Thank you!
Favour
Updated
Patti’s Answer
It is great that you are considering this out loud and not just going to college because "it's the thing to do". I have two kids - one loved school, the other did not. My daughter knew she wanted college and went away to school for 4 years and got her Bachelor's degree. My son decided to go into the US Navy. He enlisted to be an Electronics Technician and after basic training, they sent him to Navy schools for training in that field. He is still in the Navy, currently stationed in Sasabo, Japan and he loves it!
It's natural to be unsure of what you want, but my advice is to do something. College, military, or a job (any job at first). Then you give yourself choices that you have looked into and narrow them down. And just because you choose one at first, doesn't mean you can't change your mind and pivot (well with the military, you can but you have to wait until the enlistment contract ends - it's usually a 2 or 3 year commitment at first).
It's natural to be unsure of what you want, but my advice is to do something. College, military, or a job (any job at first). Then you give yourself choices that you have looked into and narrow them down. And just because you choose one at first, doesn't mean you can't change your mind and pivot (well with the military, you can but you have to wait until the enlistment contract ends - it's usually a 2 or 3 year commitment at first).
Updated
Ashleigh’s Answer
If I could go back and tell my younger self anything it would be to try and enjoy the exploration part because knowing what doesn't make your heart sing is important information too. But at 18, you have time to figure out your path and even create a path for yourself that looks completely different than what you'd imagined or see your peers doing. Maybe you decide to take a gap year and do something like advocacy work and learn from those leaders in your community or decide you want to go get degree from a university abroad...there are so many possibilities and there isn't one way to go about getting where you want to go.
As someone who didn't always necessarily thrive academically in college and had a really hard time landing on a major in college, I would encourage you to stick it out if you can. (My first year of college was the hardest for me but it got easier.) I ultimately got a degree in journalism and now work in government healthcare operations and oversight (I never even worked as a journalist), but the degree has served me well. Some college degrees are really specialized like nursing or education, but a lot of them like journalism aren't and I wish I had known the different ways to leverage a degree when I was going through college. But my journalism degree gave me the baseline knowledge of writing, research, communication, and government administration to do the work I do now. And I think a big part of what makes having a college degree valuable is that it is an indicator that you can choose to dedicate yourself to something long term and see it through. Whereas high school is typically mandatory by our parents and the state, college is one of the first major life decisions a lot of us make as teenagers/young adults and that can feel daunting. But trust there's always time and opportunity to pivot, at any age.
As someone who didn't always necessarily thrive academically in college and had a really hard time landing on a major in college, I would encourage you to stick it out if you can. (My first year of college was the hardest for me but it got easier.) I ultimately got a degree in journalism and now work in government healthcare operations and oversight (I never even worked as a journalist), but the degree has served me well. Some college degrees are really specialized like nursing or education, but a lot of them like journalism aren't and I wish I had known the different ways to leverage a degree when I was going through college. But my journalism degree gave me the baseline knowledge of writing, research, communication, and government administration to do the work I do now. And I think a big part of what makes having a college degree valuable is that it is an indicator that you can choose to dedicate yourself to something long term and see it through. Whereas high school is typically mandatory by our parents and the state, college is one of the first major life decisions a lot of us make as teenagers/young adults and that can feel daunting. But trust there's always time and opportunity to pivot, at any age.
Updated
Jean Noel’s Answer
Hi - I am a web designer and currently have several clients. First off, take a deep breath. At 18, not knowing what you want to do is completely normal. What your mom is doing—comparing you to relatives in prestigious, ultra-traditional fields like medicine—is a classic pressure tactic, but medicine isn't your path, and forcing it would only burn you out.
Look at the actual receipts in your post: **you aren't lazy, and you don't lack direction.** You’ve already taught yourself basic HTML/CSS, video editing, Roblox building, CapCut, and Canva, and you've experimented with freelancing, clipping, and graphic design. That isn't a random mess—that is the exact toolkit of a **Digital/Creative Technologist**.
---
### What Your Toolkit Actually Means (Career Paths)
You don't need a medical degree to build a sustainable, well-paying career. Your interests align directly with fast-growing fields in design and tech:
* **UI/UX & Product Design:** You like Canva, basic web code (HTML/CSS), and structured visuals. UX (User Experience) designers create the layouts, buttons, and user flows for apps (like Depop, Instagram, or TikTok). It combines psychology, design, and tech, and pays very well.
* **Game Development & 3D Design:** You play Roblox, build Roblox assets, and want to turn your unique dreams into games. You can start building games using **Roblox Studio** or **Unreal Engine / Unity**.
* **Content Production & Motion Design:** Video editing on CapCut, clipping for streamers, and Pinterest/TikTok curating directly translate to digital media production, video editing, and social media management for brands.
---
### Community College vs. Transfer vs. Dropping Out
Dropping out right now without a solid income or clear backup plan will likely increase your stress and give your parents more leverage over you.
| Option | Pros | Cons | The Reality |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Stay in Community College (1 More Year)** | Extremely low cost, low risk, lets you build a design portfolio while taking general credits. | You still live close to family pressure. | **Best choice right now.** Use CC as an inexpensive lab to test classes in Graphic Design, Web Development, or Digital Media. |
| **Transfer Far Away Now** | Gives you physical space from your mom's medical career expectations. | High cost/debt if you don't know your major yet. | Risky to take on major student loans for an expensive university until you've settled on a specific program. |
| **Drop Out Immediately** | Immediate relief from academic structure. | Harder to secure entry-level creative jobs without a portfolio or trade certificate/degree. | Without steady income, it’s much harder to gain independence from your parents. |
---
### Why Your "Failed" Side Hustles Weren't Failures
You tried e-commerce, day trading, freelancing, and memecoins. The key takeaways from those attempts:
1. **You prefer tangible creation over market gambling:** Day trading and memecoins rely on high volatility and risk. It makes total sense why you hated or felt uncertain about them.
2. **You turned down a $200 design client out of caution:** That wasn't a total failure—it was a lesson in setting up basic safety net rules for freelancing (e.g., using platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, taking 50% deposits up front via PayPal Goods & Services).
3. **You enjoyed clipping for streamers:** This proved you genuinely like editing visual media.
---
### Actionable Next Steps
1. **Treat Community College as an Experiment:** Enroll in intro classes for **Graphic Design, Media Arts, or Front-End Web Development**. See if structured learning in those topics clicks.
2. **Pick ONE Personal Project:** Instead of chasing random side hustles, focus on turning one of your unique dreams into a small playable prototype in Roblox Studio or Unity.
3. **Build a Portfolio, Not Just a Resume:** In creative tech (UI/UX, graphic design, video editing), a strong portfolio of 3 to 5 polished projects carries far more weight than where you went to school.
Look at the actual receipts in your post: **you aren't lazy, and you don't lack direction.** You’ve already taught yourself basic HTML/CSS, video editing, Roblox building, CapCut, and Canva, and you've experimented with freelancing, clipping, and graphic design. That isn't a random mess—that is the exact toolkit of a **Digital/Creative Technologist**.
---
### What Your Toolkit Actually Means (Career Paths)
You don't need a medical degree to build a sustainable, well-paying career. Your interests align directly with fast-growing fields in design and tech:
* **UI/UX & Product Design:** You like Canva, basic web code (HTML/CSS), and structured visuals. UX (User Experience) designers create the layouts, buttons, and user flows for apps (like Depop, Instagram, or TikTok). It combines psychology, design, and tech, and pays very well.
* **Game Development & 3D Design:** You play Roblox, build Roblox assets, and want to turn your unique dreams into games. You can start building games using **Roblox Studio** or **Unreal Engine / Unity**.
* **Content Production & Motion Design:** Video editing on CapCut, clipping for streamers, and Pinterest/TikTok curating directly translate to digital media production, video editing, and social media management for brands.
---
### Community College vs. Transfer vs. Dropping Out
Dropping out right now without a solid income or clear backup plan will likely increase your stress and give your parents more leverage over you.
| Option | Pros | Cons | The Reality |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Stay in Community College (1 More Year)** | Extremely low cost, low risk, lets you build a design portfolio while taking general credits. | You still live close to family pressure. | **Best choice right now.** Use CC as an inexpensive lab to test classes in Graphic Design, Web Development, or Digital Media. |
| **Transfer Far Away Now** | Gives you physical space from your mom's medical career expectations. | High cost/debt if you don't know your major yet. | Risky to take on major student loans for an expensive university until you've settled on a specific program. |
| **Drop Out Immediately** | Immediate relief from academic structure. | Harder to secure entry-level creative jobs without a portfolio or trade certificate/degree. | Without steady income, it’s much harder to gain independence from your parents. |
---
### Why Your "Failed" Side Hustles Weren't Failures
You tried e-commerce, day trading, freelancing, and memecoins. The key takeaways from those attempts:
1. **You prefer tangible creation over market gambling:** Day trading and memecoins rely on high volatility and risk. It makes total sense why you hated or felt uncertain about them.
2. **You turned down a $200 design client out of caution:** That wasn't a total failure—it was a lesson in setting up basic safety net rules for freelancing (e.g., using platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, taking 50% deposits up front via PayPal Goods & Services).
3. **You enjoyed clipping for streamers:** This proved you genuinely like editing visual media.
---
### Actionable Next Steps
1. **Treat Community College as an Experiment:** Enroll in intro classes for **Graphic Design, Media Arts, or Front-End Web Development**. See if structured learning in those topics clicks.
2. **Pick ONE Personal Project:** Instead of chasing random side hustles, focus on turning one of your unique dreams into a small playable prototype in Roblox Studio or Unity.
3. **Build a Portfolio, Not Just a Resume:** In creative tech (UI/UX, graphic design, video editing), a strong portfolio of 3 to 5 polished projects carries far more weight than where you went to school.
Updated
Anuj’s Answer
First off, take a deep breath. At 18, it is completely normal to feel suffocated by family pressure—especially when your mom is benchmarking you against plastic surgeons. Medicine is a completely different world, and it is totally okay that it’s not your passion.
Looking at your skills, you are falling into a common trap: you feel like you have no options, but you actually have too many ideas and are scattering your energy. You have an incredible modern creative toolkit. You know Canva, HTML/CSS, video editing (CapCut), social media curation (Pinterest/TikTok/Instagram), Blender/Roblox asset design, and you love storytelling (journalism and unique dreams).
Looking at your skills, you are falling into a common trap: you feel like you have no options, but you actually have too many ideas and are scattering your energy. You have an incredible modern creative toolkit. You know Canva, HTML/CSS, video editing (CapCut), social media curation (Pinterest/TikTok/Instagram), Blender/Roblox asset design, and you love storytelling (journalism and unique dreams).
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