i only care about running..im a boring college student, feel like im wasting my parents money and my time. need advice

This isnt a troll, i just made this post out of boredom because this is how i feel..i know it comes off pretty odd.

piio, all my PRs are from a while back but: 4:27 1600, 9:23 3200. I just ran a 5k in 16:03 last week so I'm in good shape. My training is going well on my own, I'm looking to run some good times in the next month.

Even when I was young, I can't recall anything that really jumped out to me, which is unfortunate.

Have you ever tried cooking and selling meth?

I've heard it can be really exciting.

lost in college sigh,

FINISH college no matter what. Kind of hip these days to say you don't need a college degree, and I agree that for many people, it's not the right thing, but for MOST people who are smart enough to go to college, it's the right thing.

MANY people who have jobs without a degree are treated like animals or criminals...be here exactly on time, take two 15-minute breaks, no more, and you'd better cower in the presence of your superior or you life will be made a living hell.

People with jobs who have college degrees don't put up with that kind of crap. You still better be productive, but you're treated like an adult.

Even if you get a job after college that doesn't require your degree, they will be nicer to you because they know you have other options down the road.

You can take time to figure out what you want to do...and you may NEVER WANT to do anything for a living. I haven't found a job yet that I LOVE...one of the main reasons I invest so much so that I can quit as soon as possible. You will eventually find something you can stomach...if not, work in a shoe store and run. You're not the only one to do that. I know a guy who left his professional job to work in a shoe store and run.

If the meth thing doesn't sound good then I think Flagpole is spot on here.

Finish college no matter what.

You don't need the actual skills you get from college, but showing that you pursued and completed a degree has a lot of value.

UncleJoey wrote:

7/10 you guys are really stepping it up lately

I was going to say 2/10 until I saw all the posts followed, 6/10

also, get on a team, would you? Since running is your main interest, and you are very fast, you need to use running as your base.

And since you are lonely, a running team is just what you need. If you don't want to run for your school, join a local club. You'll probably be right up at the front so people will know who you are and want to meet you. Be active - go to the social events no matter how hard it is to be social. It gets better.

1. Go talk to a counselor. They deal with this stuff all the time.

2. Just because some personality test says you should go into finance doesn't mean you should plan to become a banker. Better you explore other options now than graduate into a career that you hate. See #1 above.

3. And if you don't have unique skills, well, now is the time to get them. You're at college. Look at the catalog. Does nothing look interesting? If nothing looks interesting, then look at another college catalog.

4. Isolation: Visit campus clubs. Again, if you're at a reasonably-sized college, there are probably clubs for for all kinds of interests and activities, from recreational to charity work to social. Check them out. You don't have to join, but maybe you'll meet some interesting people. Might be hard to force yourself as an ISTJ to do that, but getting out into circulation would probably give you some sense of empowerment.

Good luck!

OP

I am a college freshman and in the exact same place as you its almost uncanny. (Even similar 1600m PR 426..)

All I can say is, just keep going. Think of college as a 1600m race, you might feel like crap at the times, you will have times you want to quit, and it WILL be hard but you'll be so glad you finished it out strong and tried your hardest when it's all over.

Even if it isn't particular interesting, take advantage of your parents genorosity (As I am of my parents) and get the best degree you can which also suits some of your interests, and try to make something out of it.

As Flagpole said, even if never use your degree, you'll always have it as a backup, and society's perception of you will be so much greater.

Also, keep using running as an outlet for anything stressful or things that are getting you down. It can be great having a constant in your life like that, whether family or a freind or an activity. It'll keep you focused.

Hope your able to keep it going. I hope I can as well..

thanks. what are you majoring in if you dont mind me asking?

and thanks flagpole and all the other helpful posts thus far. i have no intentions of dropping out. i will speak with a counselor soon. but i spoke with the career center a few months ago and that didnt really help. im just so indecisive. id say i have average intelligence and i guess i am a bit lazy. i certainly need to work on changing that, but thats just my nature.

idk if i should really just look for a team to transfer to and hope for a fresh start both academically and socially at a new place, or if i should stay put and figure things out as is. ill be a junior already next fall.

what are the best marketable majors right now? i hear engineering and accounting a lot. i am not a science person, i cant do physics or biology. my school is fairly nonexistant in engineering. i could look into something on the tech IT side, but it seems like those are majors people start as freshmen.

i guess since i dont have any interests i might as well do something that has good job prospects. i just dont know if i can continue with finance, and i dislike accounting as well. blah

Chemical/Biological Engineering. I love Chemistry though. Honestly, if you don't love something it's going to exceptionally difficult to keep it up. Find something you even remotely like. It'll make it much more bareable.

My advice: Talk to a counselor on campus and don't make any rash decisions. You are going through a rough patch and may need to reach out for help. Go. Now. Just Do It.

I went to college right out of HS and dropped out after two years. I went home and got a job. I hung out, traveled, spent a lot of time skateboarding, lifting weights, drinking beer, learning about women, etc.

At 25 I realized that I was going nowhere and had to go back to College. For 6 months I did my research, saved money, applied for student loans and grants, and got ready to Move on with my life.

Once I moved and got into it I went full-time until I finished. I got a Job in my field before graduating and moved.

I do not recommend anyone go to college and get a degree they don't want. OP is better off pulling out and growing up a bit before deciding what he is, theoretically, going to do for the rest of his life. We don't live until 35-40 anymore and have more time to explore and understand ourselves before we make life-defining choices.

If you want to pursue your passions go for it. College isn't going anywhere. However, Your youth is.

Best wishes,

redux

Regarding a major... Last year I listened to an NPR program about college from an economic perspective and how to maximize value. One story was about an undergraduate who wasn't passionate about anything and didn't know what to major in. Perhaps as a joke he sent an email to one of the top economists in the country saying "I'm fairly intelligent but don't have a strong interest in anything. What does an economist say should be my major that will lead to a good income and life?". The economist thought this was an interesting question and arranged lunch with the student and a collection of his economist buddies where they analyzed what would be the best major for this kid. Their recommendation was a let down... something like get a degree in anything that interests you, but do it as quickly as possible.

true dat

that is shit advice.