26 years old. No job experience. No degree. No life skills. No money. I dunno, it's kind of over?

[halfway_y]

As a child I was in a fancy school where everyone told me I'm so smart and bright and good person and other bullshit, and I turned out to be the most pathetic failure you've ever seen

In school I didn't have a clue on what I want to major in while all my classmates had pretty elaborate plans to go to the best universities. I graduated relatively well, it was probably the last time I ever felt proud or fulfilled or whatever. I went to one random university to study history of all things (I didn't have any connection to history, it's just one of the humanities degrees you could go to if you suck at STEM subjects, which I did suck in). It was absolutely exhausting, I put all in on surviving through that period, commuting took me 1.5 hours one way, and I was there for 3.5 years. The last year I had death in the family and I realised that I learned nothing, care about nothing, im extremely burned out and anhedonic, and I don't even deserve graduating because I don't give a shit about history. So I snapped. I couldn't do anything. It was a nightmare. I just... didn't go. So I wasted 4 years for nothing. At least I'm not in debt, in my country you can study for free if you did well. Still commute money and food money weren't negligeble.

After that I just didn't do anything for years. I was just emotionally paralyzed. I couldn't accept that after all that promise of a cushy life and happy future I had to work warehouses, lowest tier of retail or even something worse. I was in denial, I still am. I'm a leech. Like, I have a resume gap so big that normal people would probably shudder at the look at it. My father thinks that I'm a vile waste of space. My mother hides it but she is so disappointed it kills her every day.

I've read some stories about turning your life around at 30 or whatever, going to school at 28, 30, 35, 45 etc etc. I don't know if I can do it since getting into college is an incredibly competitve endeavor, and I'm stupider, weaker and less hopeful than when I was 17. Even if I go now, what do I actually want to study? Humanities? I don't care about them and there aren't any jobs unless you are passioante and smart. STEM? I'm too stupid. CS? I'm too stupid AND the market is so competitve a 35 year old loser will never ever be able to compete in this always-worsening job market. Accounting? Chemistry? I'm so scared of wasting another 4 years but I don't have a clue.

It feels like everyone and everything set me up for being worth something, and I ended up being not worth anything at all. I wish I could die in my sleep.

 

[iji]

Why 26 is over? There are people in their 70s and 80s running countries. You just got try something positive and see what you learn from it.

 

[possessed]

Bro I feel you, I'm almost 22 and I am in the same situation. I have no degree, no resume whatsoever. I know it's impossible for me to earn money through the conventional path. I gotta find unconventional ways to earn money...........Any suggestions y'all?

YouTube has a lot of videos about how to earn money through unconventional ways, but I think it requires a lot of dedication, talent and luck. But there is definitely a chance for you to turn your life around, but probably not through studying university and trying to get a regular job.

(I also wish that I could die in my sleep..........)

 

[halfway_y]

Why 26 is over? There are people in their 70s and 80s running countries. You just got try something positive and see what you learn from it.

What do you mean by try something positive?

 

[TheLastGreySky]

As a child I was in a fancy school where everyone told me I'm so smart and bright and good person and other bullshit, and I turned out to be the most pathetic failure you've ever seen

In school I didn't have a clue on what I want to major in while all my classmates had pretty elaborate plans to go to the best universities. I graduated relatively well, it was probably the last time I ever felt proud or fulfilled or whatever. I went to one random university to study history of all things (I didn't have any connection to history, it's just one of the humanities degrees you could go to if you suck at STEM subjects, which I did suck in). It was absolutely exhausting, I put all in on surviving through that period, commuting took me 1.5 hours one way, and I was there for 3.5 years. The last year I had death in the family and I realised that I learned nothing, care about nothing, im extremely burned out and anhedonic, and I don't even deserve graduating because I don't give a shit about history. So I snapped. I couldn't do anything. It was a nightmare. I just... didn't go. So I wasted 4 years for nothing. At least I'm not in debt, in my country you can study for free if you did well. Still commute money and food money weren't negligeble.

After that I just didn't do anything for years. I was just emotionally paralyzed. I couldn't accept that after all that promise of a cushy life and happy future I had to work warehouses, lowest tier of retail or even something worse. I was in denial, I still am. I'm a leech. Like, I have a resume gap so big that normal people would probably shudder at the look at it. My father thinks that I'm a vile waste of space. My mother hides it but she is so disappointed it kills her every day.

I've read some stories about turning your life around at 30 or whatever, going to school at 28, 30, 35, 45 etc etc. I don't know if I can do it since getting into college is an incredibly competitve endeavor, and I'm stupider, weaker and less hopeful than when I was 17. Even if I go now, what do I actually want to study? Humanities? I don't care about them and there aren't any jobs unless you are passioante and smart. STEM? I'm too stupid. CS? I'm too stupid AND the market is so competitve a 35 year old loser will never ever be able to compete in this always-worsening job market. Accounting? Chemistry? I'm so scared of wasting another 4 years but I don't have a clue.

It feels like everyone and everything set me up for being worth something, and I ended up being not worth anything at all. I wish I could die in my sleep.

I didn't make my first musical album until I was 30. It's not amazing or anything but it's something I never thought I could do... And I did it. Now I am 33 and I recently released my second and final musical project. So, now I'm working on my first comic. It's something I started writing and planning for at 17.

I am currently unemployed and I struggle maintaining a stable job and because I have a mile long record I find it very hard to find work.
It's not too late until you give up, and there were lots of times I gave up for months at a time before I finally started and completed something.

I don't know you so I'm sorry if I'm assuming you're an artistic person, you have got to at least be a person intouch with his or her own feelings. Find what you want to be... Even if it's impossible...
Do it, because you don't know the value of anything you do until you're looking back at it.

Bro I feel you, I'm almost 22 and I am in the same situation. I have no degree, no resume whatsoever. I know it's impossible for me to earn money through the conventional path. I gotta find unconventional ways to earn money...........Any suggestions y'all?

YouTube has a lot of videos about how to earn money through unconventional ways, but I think it requires a lot of dedication, talent and luck. But there is definitely a chance for you to turn your life around, but probably not through studying university and trying to get a regular job.

(I also wish that I could die in my sleep..........)

Get a 30$ title cutter and learn how to cut and place tile. You could learn skirting for RV's and make a hell of a lot of money for basically doing nothing, but the issue is you have to invest in learning to drive and travel and that is something a lot of people tend to struggle with here. But if you want to see your country and maybe one day even the world, you got this.

 

[iji]

What do you mean by try something positive?

Something healthy that will not degrade your health/life for example... if your body can do it and it will not make things actually worse, try it. And learn from the experience.

 

[zulu123]

I am 23 and I'm in the same situation. I spent 3 years and 20k in loans on college and I have no degree to show for it. I often think about ending my life because of this. I think we need to remind ourselves that our life isn't over just because we haven't found success before our 30s or 40s. College does not define success either there are many other directions you can take

 

[Jdieiejdjaow]

I am 23 and I'm in the same situation. I spent 3 years and 20k in loans on college and I have no degree to show for it. I often think about ending my life because of this. I think we need to remind ourselves that our life isn't over just because we haven't found success before our 30s or 40s. College does not define success either there are many other directions you can take

Remember that 70-80% of people are unhealthy. That means most of the culture regarding what success is is fucked up.

I failed school but learned tech. Got employed for internship at 21 and a ½. Raised through the ranks and ended up working for 5 years and a ½ for big tech on good money just to be retraumatized and now to have an aversion going back in the workforce because even if not having to work for the same company, a lot of what I would have to do would interact with their services being reminded of my trauma. This society is dysfunctional. You've to find what you're good at, safe people and a leadership oriented healthy company that respects your well-being.

 

[Spicy Tteokbokki]

Remember that 70-80% of people are unhealthy. That means most of the culture regarding what success is is fucked up.

If we go by metabolic health, only 7% are healthy.
We live in a great society. /s

 

[Jdieiejdjaow]

If we go by metabolic health, only 7% are healthy.
We live in a great society. /s

I was referring to attachment style (e.g. amount of dysfunction). Though, yes, I guess even metabolic health can be an indicator.

 

[Praestat_Mori]

the issue is you have to invest in learning [...] and that is something a lot of people tend to struggle with here

I can say this is the major problem. That's what makes my recovery so difficult and bc I'm lazy, slow, I'm kinda stuck.

 

[Blue Dream]

Your situation is actually not as uncommon as you think. The job market is the most predatory it's ever been and AI is just compounding everything.

Do you think your life has no value if you can't perform some kind of task like an appliance? It certainly is what I and many others have been implicitly led to believe and to be honest I never stopped resenting the idea that I should die if I'm not useful to anyone.

You can learn to bullshit your way around the gaps in your resume, volunteer if you need something current. There's also freelancing jobs and temp agencies. Employers will happily bullshit you and leave you to die so why not return the favour?

Your life doesn't need to be over just because a parasitic job market says so.

 

[Shiru]

24 here soon 25 and I wasted so many years doing nothing I got into universities and left before classes started I was always quitting and now I'm studying but sometimes I wanna quit again last year I wanted to do that but I finished and now I wanted it again but I keep going I can understand I was told I was so intelligent and was going to have good future when I was at school and now I feel like a failure but I have learned that my value as a person isn't something regarding to some thing I can do or not, or the stuff I have I think I have learned I'm important despite all and success is different for each other I have come to terms with that, don't let society dictates success for you, anyways sending hugs and best wishes.

 

[quietbird]

People have and can turn it all around at much later ages than yours. What does this mean? There is hope and evidence it can be done. I know it is hard, I won't say it's easy. But you can do hard things. Some suggestions follow: Make a list of things you like in life, hobbies, shows you like, podcasts. Anything. Find a theme. This will help guide you towards what you care about. I also suggest googling a values sheet. Those can tell you what you most value in life and are really interesting. If you can't figure out what you like then pick any job that will make you enough money to survive. Or skip schooling, and get work experience. You may find no job to love, but even an associates degree is great. Sometimes any decision is better than no decision. I hope you feel supported by comments in this thread. You can get back on track, you'll do great!