I'm 23 and just got my first job. Is there hope for my future?

Started by Aedaz, July 24, 2016, 11:26:43 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Aedaz

Let me just start by saying I have not been a conservative long. I was never liberal per se, but I just never cared one way or the other. About a year ago I actually started paying attention to the world around me, looked at my own life, and thought to myself "well this isn't right".

I've put in tons of applications since graduating high school but never had luck finding a job. Sometimes it would collide with my college schedule, and sometimes I was just lazy. I still live with my parents - who have repeatedly insisted that they are fine with paying my way through college. Of course anything 'nice' I have to take care of myself. I started putting money towards books and supplies, but I'm left with no money to start saving up to move out eventually.

I'm in school to be an Illustrator. I know several people who make a living off of it. My professors have always seemed very impressed with my work, even taking me aside from time to time to talk about the possibility of grad school. And it's a bit comforting to know that getting a job in this field is primarily based on portfolios. So I'm trying to hold on to that. I only have another year left.

Does it sound like I've screwed myself over for life?





walkstall

Quote from: Aedaz on July 24, 2016, 11:26:43 AM
Let me just start by saying I have not been a conservative long. I was never liberal per se, but I just never cared one way or the other. About a year ago I actually started paying attention to the world around me, looked at my own life, and thought to myself "well this isn't right".

I've put in tons of applications since graduating high school but never had luck finding a job. Sometimes it would collide with my college schedule, and sometimes I was just lazy. I still live with my parents - who have repeatedly insisted that they are fine with paying my way through college. Of course anything 'nice' I have to take care of myself. I started putting money towards books and supplies, but I'm left with no money to start saving up to move out eventually.

I'm in school to be an Illustrator. I know several people who make a living off of it. My professors have always seemed very impressed with my work, even taking me aside from time to time to talk about the possibility of grad school. And it's a bit comforting to know that getting a job in this field is primarily based on portfolios. So I'm trying to hold on to that. I only have another year left.

Does it sound like I've screwed myself over for life?

I find learning you do not screw yourself.  It what you do with it that counts.  Your just a young pup yet.  My school was the school of hard knocks My professor working hard and long hours.  My kids also stay at home going to college and we were happy to have them home.

They younger members would know more about what your doing then I.  In this day and age there are lot of options.  My youngest grandson is in collage now and his mother has gone back to collage for more schooling herself.  Learning does not stop even at my age.   :thumbsup:
A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.- James Freeman Clarke

Always remember "Feelings Aren't Facts."

Solar

You'll be fine, just don't set your sights so high that it become unachievable, meaning set short term goals broken down in in increments of 1, 3, and 5 year plans.
I would contact your local SBA, Small Business Administration, it is staffed by volunteer retired businessmen and women willing to share their success stories and wisdom with you for free.
You'll be fine, just don't forget to enjoy the journey, that's 99.9% of success.
Official Trump Cult Member

#WWG1WGA

Q PATRIOT!!!

walkstall

Quote from: Solar on July 24, 2016, 12:12:31 PM
You'll be fine, just don't set your sights so high that it become unachievable, meaning set short term goals broken down in in increments of 1, 3, and 5 year plans.
I would contact your local SBA, Small Business Administration, it is staffed by volunteer retired businessmen and women willing to share their success stories and wisdom with you for free.
You'll be fine, just don't forget to enjoy the journey, that's 99.9% of success.


Well said.   :thumbsup:   
A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.- James Freeman Clarke

Always remember "Feelings Aren't Facts."

Solar

Quote from: walkstall on July 24, 2016, 12:17:38 PM

Well said.   :thumbsup:
Thank you sir. :blushing:
I know you focused on the journey part, because in the end, the real success was the time spent on the end goal.
The end goal in truth is when the journey ends.
I look back, and the best times were when I was poor and struggling, and to be honest, I kind of regret being monetarily well off.
It makes one lazy...
Official Trump Cult Member

#WWG1WGA

Q PATRIOT!!!

supsalemgr

Quote from: Aedaz on July 24, 2016, 11:26:43 AM
Let me just start by saying I have not been a conservative long. I was never liberal per se, but I just never cared one way or the other. About a year ago I actually started paying attention to the world around me, looked at my own life, and thought to myself "well this isn't right".

I've put in tons of applications since graduating high school but never had luck finding a job. Sometimes it would collide with my college schedule, and sometimes I was just lazy. I still live with my parents - who have repeatedly insisted that they are fine with paying my way through college. Of course anything 'nice' I have to take care of myself. I started putting money towards books and supplies, but I'm left with no money to start saving up to move out eventually.

I'm in school to be an Illustrator. I know several people who make a living off of it. My professors have always seemed very impressed with my work, even taking me aside from time to time to talk about the possibility of grad school. And it's a bit comforting to know that getting a job in this field is primarily based on portfolios. So I'm trying to hold on to that. I only have another year left.

Does it sound like I've screwed myself over for life?

First, is your goal to make money or enhance your resume'? My thoughts are just get any job. That gives work experience and it counts. I don't know much about the illustrator industry, but it seems it might be tough to land a part time college job in that field. You have not  screwed yourself. Also, do not necessarily buy into grad school. Get a career going first and then decide if getting an advanced degree is worth it in your field. Also, do not limit yourself to one field. Take some business courses as electives as they can be beneficial going forward. I was dead set on a real estate career in college and began majoring in real estate. Part of that major was having to take a couple of property insurance courses. I found them less challenging and decided to take most of my electives in insurance and ended up with a double major in insurance and real estate. I ended up with a 47 year career in insurance. It was enjoyable and rewarding. Just don't tie yourself down. Solar provided some good advice also.
"If you can't run with the big dawgs, stay on the porch!"

Aedaz

Quote from: supsalemgr on July 24, 2016, 01:11:34 PM
First, is your goal to make money or enhance your resume'? My thoughts are just get any job. That gives work experience and it counts. I don't know much about the illustrator industry, but it seems it might be tough to land a part time college job in that field. You have not  screwed yourself. Also, do not necessarily buy into grad school. Get a career going first and then decide if getting an advanced degree is worth it in your field. Also, do not limit yourself to one field. Take some business courses as electives as they can be beneficial going forward. I was dead set on a real estate career in college and began majoring in real estate. Part of that major was having to take a couple of property insurance courses. I found them less challenging and decided to take most of my electives in insurance and ended up with a double major in insurance and real estate. I ended up with a 47 year career in insurance. It was enjoyable and rewarding. Just don't tie yourself down. Solar provided some good advice also.

Thanks. That's encouraging. I only asked, because people often don't take too kindly to the idea of someone my age still having to live off of their parents. I don't imagine I'll be able to move out on my own any time soon. I suppose I could have gotten a head start earlier on, but...what's done is done. My best is all I can do at this point.

Solar

Quote from: Aedaz on July 26, 2016, 03:34:08 PM
Thanks. That's encouraging. I only asked, because people often don't take too kindly to the idea of someone my age still having to live off of their parents. I don't imagine I'll be able to move out on my own any time soon. I suppose I could have gotten a head start earlier on, but...what's done is done. My best is all I can do at this point.
Hell, my next door neighbors, two brothers moved in in 1959, one finally left the house in 1990, his brother stayed till both parents died, he's still there, nothing has changed, with the exception of laundry and food.
I left at 17, because I wanted my freedom, they stayed because their parents never stopped doing their laundry, feeding them and lying for them. Both total losers...
I doubt your parents were the libs theirs were.
So knowing what both party's have done to the economy, most kids are staying at home till their 30s, by no fault of their own.
Assuming they can't find a full time job.
Official Trump Cult Member

#WWG1WGA

Q PATRIOT!!!

Aedaz

Quote from: Solar on July 26, 2016, 08:21:48 PM

I doubt your parents were the libs theirs were.


They definitely aren't. They haven't made me get a job, because of school. But they've told me if I wasn't in school then I couldn't stop looking for a job until I found one - which I agree with. I do have one now. But I just seriously regret not seeking harder earlier on - especially when I see others my age owning their own homes and having kids.

supsalemgr

Quote from: Aedaz on July 26, 2016, 09:39:15 PM
They definitely aren't. They haven't made me get a job, because of school. But they've told me if I wasn't in school then I couldn't stop looking for a job until I found one - which I agree with. I do have one now. But I just seriously regret not seeking harder earlier on - especially when I see others my age owning their own homes and having kids.

Slow down. You don't need to own a home at 23. Get things in order. Get a job and start a career. Once you do that you will be surprised how things begin to fall into place.
"If you can't run with the big dawgs, stay on the porch!"

Solar

Quote from: Aedaz on July 26, 2016, 09:39:15 PM
They definitely aren't. They haven't made me get a job, because of school. But they've told me if I wasn't in school then I couldn't stop looking for a job until I found one - which I agree with. I do have one now. But I just seriously regret not seeking harder earlier on - especially when I see others my age owning their own homes and having kids.
:biggrin:
Sups right, saddling yourself with an anchor of a bill like a home can really stifle your choices.
Back in the 80s a friend of mine (your age at the time) found a trailer park for the elderly, but not restrictive, just setup for the elderly.
Monthly rent on a space was dirt cheap and you sign a contract holding that price for a decade at a time, he found a beautiful double wide 60' only a year old for about 10% of what homes were going for. (Same park, owner died of old age, family wanted to unload the home just to get rid of it)

Turned out, his monthly rent, utilities and house payment total was around $200. a month.
If you could stick that out for a decade, you could save a lot of money in the interim over rent.'
Here in Ca we don't have a lot of trailer parks like they do in the midwest, because people would rather buy a home, so trailer prices are low comparatively, but that's been changing over the last decade.
Don't know if that's your cup of tea, but you do have options, like caretaker of property, where all you have to do is live there.
I did that for a year for a construction company while living in my motorhome, they pay all your utilities, and all they ask for in return is that you be there after hours.

After that little stint, I found a ranch outside of town, asked if I could park on their land for week before I headed to Alaska. Instead of letting me stay a week, they hired me to cowboy for them, free rent utilities and under the table pay.
Looking back, I'm soooo damn glad I didn't buy a house, because what life threw at me was an amazing adventure and a house would have tied me down during my adventurer years.
Official Trump Cult Member

#WWG1WGA

Q PATRIOT!!!