Senior Year - and I have no idea what to do with my life

[pishon]

I'm a senior this year, have got straight A's - and I honestly have no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life. I always told myself I wanted to be a doctor, then this past year I settled on nursing because I want to "treat the patient, not the disease".

Then, I can't help but question if that's really what I want to do with the rest of my life.

I've never really had close friends. I mean, I have a lot of... I guess friends, but I never really opened up on a personal level, I guess? I hang out, kind of the life of the party around people, but never really had any friends. Pretty much everyone in my life I keep at arms length. Whenever I have a bad day, everyone pretty much ignores me, and leaves me alone, when i honestly just need to talk to someone about it.

I just got certified as a nurse assistant, and have a full time job doing it. I love it, but I feel like its my life. But, I don't want my job to be my life, but my job to be a part of my life, you know?

And, when I'm not working, I start to doubt myself. Like, is this really what I want to do with the rest of my life? What if I get into college, get the degree, then change my mind?

And I want to move out of my house, I honestly can't take it anymore. My parents are nice people, but.. like everyone else are at arm's length, and they criticize everything I do, making me feel like shit. Like, when I decided nursing, they told me I was just selling myself short. When I considered moving out after high school, they said it was ebcause I wanted to be a "sinner" and follow the world. My parents are extremely religious. I'm a christian, but I don't let it be the only thing I think about, you know?

I don't know what to do.

[pageplant77]

I don't know why they're calling you a sinner for wanting to move out after high school. That's just the natural flow of events dude. I don't know you're parents but if I could take a guess, I'd say that it's because they just don't want to see their (first born?) child leave the house yet.

Anyways, me and you are pretty much in the same situation. I have no idea what I want to do yet either.

[Perseus]

Most people who go off to college have no idea what they want to do. Don't worry about it. Go to college and look around, ask advisers or counselors or whatever. They'll most likely help, and you can find out what you want to do in college. Don't worry about it. It'll come to you.

[pishon]

I'm the middle child, but I don't know... it's just the tip of the iceberg with my parents, they think every little thing that's wrong is going to send me to hell.

For example, if I talk about Lady Gaga in a positive light, in a least bit - it constitutes me for being a sinner.

I was thinking of just taking a year off, work, and get comfortable living by myself. Since the college I am going to doesn't have dorms, I probably should learn how to do that. Would that be a bad idea?

[Bougainvillea]

It sounds scary. But you know what? We all have to do it. We all have to grow up, and we find something. You still have plenty of time to choose. I was the same way. I lacked motivation, and I changed my mind on what I wanted to do every week. It takes thought and time.

Don't worry. You're going to be fine.

[Perseus]

I was thinking of just taking a year off, work, and get comfortable living by myself. Since the college I am going to doesn't have dorms, I probably should learn how to do that. Would that be a bad idea?

Sounds like a good idea. You should do that.

[pageplant77]

I was thinking of just taking a year off, work, and get comfortable living by myself. Since the college I am going to doesn't have dorms, I probably should learn how to do that. Would that be a bad idea?

Possibly, most people who take a year off after high school never get around to going to college. They get too caught up in working and paying bills, sometimes they meet people and get married..

That happened to my sister, she's now 21 and married, no plans of going to college any time soon.

But if you stay focused and determined to reach your goals, and try your best not to get side-tracked, you should be fine