I am 24 and I have no idea what I want to do

Well, I'd suggest that 4 years is a small price to pay if it sets you up for what you want to do. But more importantly, just figure out what motivates you and align yourself with an organization with similar goals.

Generally speaking, what a 24 y.o. needs is just a swift kick to MAKE the decision. You probably know what you want to do but for as long as you can remember, you've likely had someone else make decisions for you. Or when you did, it required picking from a list what sounded better to you. Now you have to go out and create your path. So . . . just pick a direction and start moving. Worst case scenario, you'll gain experience and wisdom to make better decisions later.

Going into teaching might not be the best choice in this age. There are very few teaching jobs available (especially in the Northeast. I live in NY state, there are literally 0 teaching jobs in this economic screwup of a state), teacher jobs are getting cutting, and their already meager salaries are getting lowered. In the next 10 years, teachers are going to be making 30 grand teaching juvenile delinquents for 8 hours a day but hey...you get the summers off (but you'll probably be working 3 other jobs during this time just to make ends meet)

However, going for Special Ed certification is much better than trying to obtain a teaching license for say something like High School English or Social Studies or Phys Ed. Those fields are filled.

Do you like Politics? (saw that your BA was in Poli Sci) Try to intern for lobbying groups and other poltical organizations? Interning may be a good idea at this point. You won't be making much, if any, money but you will be exploring future career options.

Holy crap, this is exactly me - well, one year from now that is...

life advice wrote:

but I can't decide what I want to do.

You number one priority should be to figure this out. Take a look around - what type of lifestyle/job/situation are you in envy of? Spend the next few months asking every freaking person you know what they do, how they like it, how it empowers/limits them, etc. And figure out what you want!

Seriously, #1 priority, figure out what you want in life. Don't start running towards to something you don't want.

And in the meanwhile, go for a 5k pr, that young speed won't last.

I wish I got this advice when I was 22.

you went to college for Poly Sci, why don't you want to use that? Or did you just party your way through school? I agree with the other posts, find what you love to do and do it, even if it takes more school and time.

life advice wrote:

I was actually accepted into a teaching program for Special Ed, but that will take me about 4 years to complete.

Any reason not to do this? Since you applied, you must have some interest. You'll only be 28 when you're through. That would give you about 37 more working years to make use of it.

life advice wrote:

I was actually accepted into a teaching program for Special Ed, but that will take me about 4 years to complete.

This would only be true if you were in a part time program. A full time program would be about 12 months. Part time you could be teaching with a provisional license pretty quickly.

Don't bother.

Its time to go Medieval. Find something that makes you happy. Something to sustain you. Grow your own vegetables.

The work will not be available for the next few years in this corporate environment. And any work will go to minorities and women. (Who are probably now in the majority of new hires)

You will be part of the lost generation, for whom opportunity is a crap shoot.

Don't be hedonistic, but find something to make you happy and content.

I have to laugh at all you college kids that voted for Obama. Wa, Wa...I can't find a good job. You mean you can't find one of those high paying "green" jobs? Or what about an infrastructure, shovel ready job? That Change isn't panning out for you is it? If we had a president that didn't completely screw up the economy we'd be recovered from the 2008 recession by now and companies would be hiring again.

chickens roosting wrote:

I have to laugh at all you college kids that voted for Obama. Wa, Wa...I can't find a good job. You mean you can't find one of those high paying "green" jobs? Or what about an infrastructure, shovel ready job? That Change isn't panning out for you is it? If we had a president that didn't completely screw up the economy we'd be recovered from the 2008 recession by now and companies would be hiring again.

Anyone who blames their personal situations on others is weak, ignorant, and or trolling

I've got to agree with bobonuts. Keep it simple...what you "want to do in life" is enjoy your life/be happy with your life. Not hedonism but just doing whatever is satisfying and don't worry if it is a struggle.

It could be worse, you could be 40 and not know what you want to do, or 40 and know what you would like to do but not know how to get there or if you have enough time to change direction. You're 24...if you head in a satisfying direction and put a little effort into it things are going to work out.

Concentrate more on recognizing when you're not heading in the right direction, and not allowing yourself to get too far down the wrong path.

Without getting into the details, I have been doing a job that pays extremely well and was exciting but is not sustainable in the long term. I always figured I'd just give it up when it didn't work any more, go to grad school, and transition to a regular career. With the shitty economy, leaving my job is now a huge risk and staying in it will lead to the destruction of my marriage and family (too much travel, 90% of my colleagues are divorced). My wife and I are now both preparing to go back to school (while I continue to work) and it will take 3 years to get to where I can leave what I am doing. I'm really too tired to think about going to school but I have to do it...

My point is do something you enjoy and if you have to give up something for it (location stability in my case) make sure that you either have a solid plan how to move on or that you are willing to give those things up for the rest of your life.

Go to LA and try to become an actor.

Truer words haven't been spoken. You are spot on about all office jobs going to women and minorities... I have a similar thread going to this, we are indeed the lost generation, only way to make it out there is to go medieval. Maybe move to LA become a standup or just start robbing banks.

bobonuts wrote:

Don't bother.

Its time to go Medieval. Find something that makes you happy. Something to sustain you. Grow your own vegetables.

The work will not be available for the next few years in this corporate environment. And any work will go to minorities and women. (Who are probably now in the majority of new hires)

You will be part of the lost generation, for whom opportunity is a crap shoot.

Don't be hedonistic, but find something to make you happy and content.

Patrickbateman wrote:

Truer words haven't been spoken. You are spot on about all office jobs going to women and minorities... I have a similar thread going to this, we are indeed the lost generation, only way to make it out there is to go medieval. Maybe move to LA become a standup or just start robbing banks.

bobonuts wrote:

Don't bother.

Its time to go Medieval. Find something that makes you happy. Something to sustain you. Grow your own vegetables.

The work will not be available for the next few years in this corporate environment. And any work will go to minorities and women. (Who are probably now in the majority of new hires)

You will be part of the lost generation, for whom opportunity is a crap shoot.

Don't be hedonistic, but find something to make you happy and content.

Don't rob banks.

Find something that fulfills. Grow your food. Enjoy yourself.

Find yourself until you're 30, enjoy life, travel, you only live once buddy!

Make it a good one!

See you in the next life homie!

lol

Umm.. yeah, except not all of us can have mommy and daddy pay for everything. You need money to even begin doing this, not to mention sustaining yourself.

I would read Into The Wild, take it to heart and live a great adventure while you can. Life is about making grand memories. I would just skip the part about rejecting family. Think about it.

Some leading economist are saying that this recession will last another decade or two. Those of you in your 20s are screwed. Every year you waste at the running store is another year away from college. Soon your degree will be worthless to a prospective employer.

There are a lot of options for someone with a Poly Sc degree. You can do a day or two of volunteering for your state senator or representative on your days off of work. You can join the political blogs in your state and start communicating with others in the field. You could apply to work your local elections. You can attend political events, meetings, campaigns. I have done all these things and am now super connected in the political field. I could get a job tomorrow in this field and so could you with some hard work. By the way, legislative work is very rewarding, has great pay and good hours, and security. I worked as a committee aide when i was your age. I ended up getting accepted into law school as a result and was able to pay my way.

Another option is to substitute teach. You could get the certification in a year and make some contacts. My kids go to a school that pays teachers $40-$70K. 500 plus applicants apply for a few open positions. All the positions were filled by the substitute teachers. One woman volunteered to help as a tutor and now she is the Literary Specialist who works with the special needs kids. Maybe you could volunteer to coach or start a kids running program or a special needs kids running program at the school of your choice. just to get your foot in the door. If you apply for a teaching job plus coach you will be a more desirable candidate.

Good luck.

Voicesofreason wrote:

chickens roosting wrote:

I have to laugh at all you college kids that voted for Obama. Wa, Wa...I can't find a good job. You mean you can't find one of those high paying "green" jobs? Or what about an infrastructure, shovel ready job? That Change isn't panning out for you is it? If we had a president that didn't completely screw up the economy we'd be recovered from the 2008 recession by now and companies would be hiring again.

Anyone who blames their personal situations on others is weak, ignorant, and or trolling

My personal situation is just fine. I just find it amusing that the "youth" vote that was infatuated with Obama is paying the price now. Just wait until Obamacare kicks in and young people will be paying high premiums in order to pay for poor and unhealthy people.