After saving up for 4 years, I finally had enough money to afford the car I wanted. I started saving up in my junior year of high school. I worked my ass off and I was very conservative during this period. I first worked as a sales clerk at a giftshop for 3 years. I obtained a 2nd job concurrently as an "usher", basically a janitor job. (I was very very desperate at that time.) But then I quit that job after a month cuz they paid me pennies for a such a crummy job. A little later, the lease was up at the giftshop so the boss closed the shop down and I was unemployed for a couple of months. During the time I was unemployed, I started selling things on ebay. I made a large sum of $$$, at least for an 18 year old. After a while I started working at my uncle's restaurant. Until he sold it a year later... Four years later I made enough money to purchase my own car. Currently, I haven't had a job for 6 months and my parents are paying for everything I purchase, I even get allowance now... I feel pathetic. I'm majoring in business but I don't even know where I'm headed to. I really should find a co-op or internship, but I keep procrastinating. I don't even have the motivation to pursue my goals now. I don't know what happened over the year but I'm not as ambitious/hardworking as I used to be. I still have car payments but my parents are paying them. What keeps you guys focused and motivated? I feel like I'm stuck in a rut now. I realized today that I'm 20 with no job, no goals, no savings, no life and very dependent on my parents. I hate relying on them for everything but I'm so lazy. Sometimes I feel like dropping out of college and becomimg a bum. I feel like I'm a hs dropout now.

P.S. I used to workout a lot but now my muscles definitely atrophied.

 

I just reread what I posted it sounds more of a rant rather than a give-me-some-advice thread. Forgive me but it's 4am now and I need some . Your comments are welcome. I need to be aspired.

 

What keeps me focused and motivated? My goal. I want to work at Industrial Light and Magic, but I would be happy to work at any major animation studio, so I am gonna be working for 2 years to save uo enough money to go to media college for the year after that. I'm also gonna be using most of my first year savings to get myself a decent car (Honda SiR, used S2000, used 350Z, something along those lines) and my 2nd year savings to pay for media college. My motivation is the job field I want to go into, because it is what I love to do ^__^

 

LV, you are one of the guys on the board that retain my respect. I recall reading numberous threads you participated in. You sound very knowledgable and confident. You seem to know what you want and where you want to be in 5 years or so. That's what I want, I want to be able to be motivated and pursue my goals.

 

Well, what do you really enjoy doing? Do you have any hobbies that you think you'd like to expand into a career?

 

Dont burn yourself out buddy....enjoy everything while your young, this is the best and most stress free time of your life. Dont stress yourself out and ruin it. The motivation will come again, you just have to enjoy yourself, and as your enjoying yourself you will find the things you love. Once you've found your true passions, you can begin to pursue them. Until then, just relax and enjoy. Your parents are on your side for a reason. You have the luxury of having the freedom to not be forced into working to save your own ass from being on the street, don't blow that off. USe that luxury to your advantage and do what makes you happy, NOT what you *NEED* to do to be self-sufficient. No matter how much you wanna convince yourself that your 'motivated' it won't happen until you're ready again and have found things that move you.

my .02

 

Smoking keeps me motivated

In all seriousness, Shinji, the feelings and situation you've described aren't very unusual for someone who's 20, or any age for that matter. I'd say they're perfectly normal, and you'll likely feel similarly for some time. I will be 25 in a few months, and I still share many of your sentiments.

It's very common for folks to not know where they're headed, not know what they want to do, or not feel motivated about what they're doing. This applies to everyone, and in my case, I actually found these feelings to increase quite a bit after finishing college. It's not necessary to have a clear-cut and well-defined plan for where you're going; you might feel like you're drifting through life, but just think of it as keeping your options open. And trust me, many, many people feel the same way. Life is random, so don't get stuck on believing that you have to achieve all these great goals or always be working toward something.

Anyway, I'm not sure that I've directly answered your question. But, it sounds to me like you feel life has become sort of stagnant, and I want to relay that, for better or worse, that's just how it's going to feel at times (probably more often than we'd like). You'll eventually realize that all these concerns are A) common to many people, and B) not all that tremendously important in the grand scheme of things. And C) you'll eventually settle down into a job / career that suits you, or at least doesn't drive you mad.

Oh, and finally, enjoy the rest of your time in college, and don't be in a huge hurry to finish like myself and many others. What they say is true, college really is the best time of your life, it beats the hell out of spending your whole day in cubicles and meetings. Now *that* feels stagnant!

 

What keeps me focused and motivated? My goal. I want to work at Industrial Light and Magic, but I would be happy to work at any major animation studio, so I am gonna be working for 2 years to save uo enough money to go to media college for the year after that. I'm also gonna be using most of my first year savings to get myself a decent car (Honda SiR, used S2000, used 350Z, something along those lines) and my 2nd year savings to pay for media college. My motivation is the job field I want to go into, because it is what I love to do ^__^

That's what my daughter wants to do. Where is this school? Any info would be appreciated.


Shinji:
Keep your goals in sight. Set reasonable obtainable goals for yourself. Get a two year degree first and then go on to the B.A. Learn a trade. Get your hands dirty so that you can appreciate your education. Be a meat cutter, produce man, plumber etc. Do what you have to to pay your bills and go to school so that you can do what you want to do. Getting paid for doing what you like is the American dream. Nothing wrong with working with your hands. Be a fireman. If I had to do it all over, I would do that. Help people and get your money and chicks for free.

 

I don't think you want to know

 

focus? motivation? I keep looking to the future with hope, respect, fear and excitement of the unknown...I guess the challenge is what keeps me going. If everything was laid out for me I would be really bored. Lack of a plan is my plan