CareerAdvice #JobChange #LifeDecisions #PersonalGrowth
Context: Understanding Your Dilemma
At 25, you’re standing at a crossroads. You’ve quit your job, have $3000, a car, a dog, and live with a toxic mother. A major concern is the fear of choosing the wrong career path, an issue that’s lingered since you graduated high school in 2016. You seek a decision that brings financial stability and happiness, balancing your responsibilities, particularly towards your dog. Understanding your passion and practical needs is crucial to moving forward.
Potential Career Paths to Consider
1. 🌳 Becoming a Park Ranger
Love for nature and wildlife? Becoming a park ranger could be fulfilling.
- Education: Requires 2-4 years of schooling. The program you’re interested in spans 2 years with a bachelor’s degree option.
- Pros:
- Work outdoors
- Engage with wildlife
- Job stability and benefits
- Cons:
- Lower starting salary
- Limited urban job opportunities
2. 🧁 Pursuing Pastry School
Got a sweet tooth and a passion for baking? Pastry school might be your calling.
- Training: Specialized courses available, typically less than 2 years.
- Pros:
- Creative outlet
- High demand for skilled chefs
- Potential to start your own business
- Cons:
- Early hours and long shifts
- Physical demands
3. 💪 Becoming a Personal Trainer/Yoga Instructor
Fitness enthusiast? Obtaining a personal training certificate and yoga instructor course might align with your interests.
- Certification: Typically takes a few months to a year.
- Pros:
- Flexible hours
- Rising industry demand
- Opportunity to be your own boss
- Cons:
- Initial low earnings
- High competition
4. ✈️ Dreaming of Being a Flight Attendant
Adventurous and love traveling? A flight attendant career could be exciting.
- Training: Training programs last 3-8 weeks.
- Pros:
- Travel opportunities
- Competitive salary and benefits
- Variety of experiences
- Cons:
- Limited time at home, affecting care for your dog
- Unpredictable hours
Practical Steps to Financial Stability and Happiness
-
Assess Your Interests and Priorities:
- Reflect on what makes you happy.
- Evaluate how each career path aligns with your interests and lifestyle.
-
Research and Network:
- Connect with professionals in fields of interest.
- Gain insights into daily responsibilities and job satisfaction.
-
Financial Planning:
- Create a budget to manage your $3000.
- Consider part-time work or freelance gigs to supplement income during transition.
- Set Short-term and Long-term Goals:
- Break down your career path into achievable milestones.
- Celebrate small victories to stay motivated.
Final Thoughts: Make the Best Decision for Your Future
Choosing a career path at 25, with various responsibilities, is daunting but achievable. Consider your passions, their practical implications on your lifestyle, and financial needs. It’s crucial to pursue a path that not only supports you financially but also brings joy and fulfillment 🐕🏞️🧁💪✈️.
Remember, it’s okay to seek help and take time to make an informed decision. Your happiness and well-being are paramount in this journey. Good luck! 🌟
I was a flight attendant for 2 years, you don’t need a degree or any education. It really takes a special person to be one. You work very long hours and don’t get paid at all when the doors open, that means delays, boarding, deplaning and layovers. You only get hourly while actually flying. The rest is perdiem and it’s barely enough to pay for your food when on a layover.
Do 2 and 3.
Where I live you can take a one year program and become a park ranger you don’t need a degree
1 followed by 3. meanwhile, dabble in pastry to see if you really want to do that. Varied interests and skills are a must these days.
I vote for park ranger.
Have you thought about going into the military? (Not a recruiter)
Im a 25m in Canada and pretty much in the exact same boat… i hate my job so much even tho it’s not terrible pay for now im just miserable. Life is kicking my ass and i need a change of scenery but no idea where to begin
I’d do the park ranger route and also the yoga route. They honestly kinda go hand in hand. As a park ranger you can live in a cabin in a kick ass national park and then offer yoga classes on donation to park guest every morning.
Get into a trade that’s unionized, or get a cdl and travel the North America’s with your dog. Get a passport if you can.
What path? Just pick whatever stick with it a few years and do something else If you don’t like it.
Electrician or hvac guy. Youll make nearly 6 figures and dont even need a degree.
That’s me. Exactly. You are not alone. In 2016 I did a very good move, something that I can’t explain to you because I’m European and we don’t share the same system for school etc. hum, at least, I was thinking that It was a very good move. Then wrong studies etc. I ended up in a bachelor in digital marketing (I truly love this) then got hired for an internship to do a master degree in the same field (marketing and sales).
The degree was horrible. Nothing to learn. Courses from the last century. Bad work environment both at school and at work. I quit all of this toxic stuff.
Then guess what? COVID happened!
Yes, since 2020 I haven’t had any real job. My next one was only for 2 months before getting fired and it was in 2021…
Since 2022 I have been building my own business, but I have struggled. Still, it is more fun than finding a job and working for someone else (say this but I CAN’T find a job in my market, and with my situation at the moment, where I live there are no jobs and no remote possibilities because of a bad mindset about it here)
For example I got hired in a master degree without having finished the bachelor one, and guess what? I don’t own any degree now that I’ve left the master before finishing it, and in my country that is important to have a degree. And during this time ive never stopped looking for a job and it killed my mental health. Trust me.
Find something you enjoy or could enjoy and stick to it, earn a salary and then pivot if needed.
I am actually trying to find some more customers and/or a small job just to get a salary so that I could live on my own.
I am 2 years older than you, don’t waste those two beautiful years you’ve got my friend. Don’t compare yourself. Don’t look at the past, spend time building your future. Take care of your health and mental health. Enjoy life
Most people don’t know their true path until they get older. I thought my path was IT, but here I am at the age of 47 about to start a Masters in Social Work.
Pick something you’re interested in and go for it. If it’s the wrong choice, pivot to something else.
My friend went to culinary school and wanted to be a pastry chef. He’s a waiter at Olive Garden now.
1-3 sound fun 🙂 can still see puppers regularly. Could choose park ranger and one of the other two when you’re ready
Park ranger would be nice and rewarding
“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”
– Cheshire Cat in Alice in wonderland.
On a more serious note I’m 38 (today) and i have been down many paths. Sometimes you don’t know which one you want to follow until you get a little down it, so choose any path that interests you and just see where it’s goes. It’s not a big deal, you may change your mind, so what? Do what interests you because it sucks going to work when you hate what you do. And never be afraid to change your mind.
Personally I’d start with the personal trainer cert because it’s fast and easy, you’ll get it and have something you can do to make money while you do any of the others (if you want) it’s a great side hustle. I know many people who still work in physical fitness.
You are not alone. Same boat.
Highly recommend the book “Designing Your Work Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. It will help you choose 👍
Get the bachelors.
1 and 3 for a side gig?
Do the park ranger route. They’ve got benefits and it has a lot of pros you like. Also get the associates first & continue the full bachelors degree while you work so the employer can assist you with paying for school.
Do not become a pastry chef unless you’re looking into becoming a corporate pastry chef. they have pissss wages. Unless it’s a corp chef. But that takes yeaaaaarssss.
Flight attendant is only good for so long. The American customers are ridiculous. Also the Boeing planes are failing so you’re legit gambling your expiration date.
Start with the yoga first. Having a useable backup skill or talent or job type, that you can always fall back on, is good insurance.
Move on your own, and learn how to do that. How to be yourself, and pay bills. Build credit, and then visit a career counselor. Get a plan of action going. Explore options.
While you are doing all this, amongst having another hobby, learn or expose yourself to industries you might like. Classes, material, related hobby. Like herbalism, take a gardening class.
You put park ranger first and gave most info about it. Just fucking do it man. Don’t think, just do. Go to school website and figure out how to apply for those classes. Also, where I went to undergrad there was a student firefighter program with the city of Auburn and they’d pay your tuition to Auburn university and also pay you hourly. Find something like that while you’re in school so you get it paid for. Best way cause you make moneys and owe less. Also, use scholarships. I should’ve used more scholarships. Ask the office of registrar to point you in the right direction to get scholarships. Ok? Good. You’re decision is made and you have your next steps so get busy and don’t stop to think about if this is the right path. It is.
It’s been a childhood dream of mine to be a pastry chef. That being said, maybe don’t do that lol. The hours are rough and it’s my understanding that the pay isn’t great. Also in my own personal experience, it’s been suprisingly hard to get into the few times I tried. But if it’s something you’re passionate about, go for it!!
Get away from your mother. Luck.