Life is slow

[Californian]

I'm only 18 and I feel like I'm in my mid-life crisis haha (riding is a total stress reliever) ... No job ... Haven't been successful at anything big ... Education-wise I'm not exactly finished with high school, but I'm also attending community college just to balance the deficit of college credits. I just need my damn diploma or certification (yes, I'm even considering the damn GED) and 15 college credits just to enlist next summer of 2013. I feel the Army will definitely give me a jumpstart in my life through it's incentive benefits, shape the direction forward in my life, and ultimately become a better person.

Does anyone feel the same way? As in total slow motion or free fall from reality and your peers.

 

[Bikermole]

I think everyone goes through something similar. I'm trying to change my job, and I'm also trying to move from one area of the UK to another to be with more friends. If you feel the military will help you, then do it.

There is no need to be upset.

 

[thunderous71]

My god I remember my teenage years, almost joined the Marines... but in the end went back to college/Uni etc and ended up the giant god riding motorbike riding sex machine I am today!

Your young be happy your knees don't hurt when you get out of bed in the morning and having a crap is probably the most excitement you get every day

 

[Friz]

I'm only 18

Haven't been successful at anything big

No job ... Education-wise I'm not exactly finished with high school

I'm not even going to pretend to know what it's like in good old 'Mercia, but over here across the pond I'd call this crazy.

You have yeeeeaaaaarrrrrrssssss ahead to do whatever you want. Just go with the flow. As the glorious Baconmole pointed out before,

Does anyone feel the same way? As in total slow motion or free fall from reality and your peers.

Stop doing drugs.

 

[gpzDave]

The education system is different here but personally once I had finished school I just went to college then got a job.

I think I'm probably too busy to have an early midlife crisis :?

 

[CurlyBlakey]

IMO education is essential, but formal education is overrated. The best thing for getting a job is being able to show that you can do rather than know how to do, the army would do that for you, but don't you think the air force would be SO much cooler?

 

[ToastToGo]

I often find myself feeling the same way about school...with it being slow and wanting to get my damn degree already. Here's one thing though, do not get your GED...finish high school at the very least. You're almost done with it anyway. With the military, there's nothing wrong with that, just make sure it's what you really want to do because the military can be a long-term commitment. Find out what you want to do with your life and take steps to work toward it. I've been really wanting to finish my degree and get on with my life already. However, I've just recently realized that having a degree does not mean one's life can finally start. The trick is to learn how to enjoy every day how it is now and keep yourself busy to avoid finding yourself in these slumps.

And yes, life may seem slow right now, but when you're older and can't rewind, you'll be saying life is too fast. Your time is now, do what makes you happy, because today will never come again. There will not be another November 28, 2012.

 

[Gadfly]

I dropped out of high school and got my GED and went straight to college. Now I have a degree in network engineering and am working towards a PhD in cosmology. Getting a GED isn't a horrible thing, I used it to cut out the crap of high school. Getting a GED for the right reasons isn't a bad thing.

 

[Californian]

IMO education is essential, but formal education is overrated. The best thing for getting a job is being able to show that you can do rather than know how to do, the army would do that for you, but don't you think the air force would be SO much cooler?

I've thought of other branches especially the Marines, but Army sticks out the most. Besides my brother has been in the Army for a while now and is deploying for his 2nd tour in Afghanistan soon.

 

[Nerb]

God how we over 30's wish life was slow.
As an 18 year old, you would not be expected to be "successful at something big" and not expected to have a job. You sound completely normal. Why do you think you should be successful at something big?
Is this why you started the .net thing? Why not just become highly active on this site, offering suggestions/advice to its administrators... working to become an admin yourself?
What do you feel your good at besides taking orders? Building stuff? Fixing stuff? Sport? Photography? Filming? Comedy? Manual labour?
Start smashing out ideas on forums like this and you'll be amazed at the suggestions you might get.
Hey, I finished highschool, went to Uni for 6 months before quitting, worked 10 jobs in 5 years before going back to uni to get a degree. Its ok to change your mind as many times as you like. Just remember the Army will commit you to taking orders for many years.

 

[Californian]

God how we over 30's wish life was slow.
As an 18 year old, you would not be expected to be "successful at something big" and not expected to have a job. You sound completely normal. Why do you think you should be successful at something big?
Is this why you started the .net thing? Why not just become highly active on this site, offering suggestions/advice to its administrators... working to become an admin yourself?
What do you feel your good at besides taking orders? Building stuff? Fixing stuff? Sport? Photography? Filming? Comedy? Manual labour?
Start smashing out ideas on forums like this and you'll be amazed at the suggestions you might get.
Hey, I finished highschool, went to Uni for 6 months before quitting, worked 10 jobs in 5 years before going back to uni to get a degree. Its ok to change your mind as many times as you like. Just remember the Army will commit you to taking orders for many years.

I've been an avid web developer since I was in my preteen years. After a ton of failed websites and a number of dormant domain names (plan was as common as every other successful project: build a website that attracts genuine traffic and generate revenue to pay my utility bills, gas, rent, and other expenses... I can't find a job), I've finally decided to create a website that is rare niche but also something I enjoy in my life a lot - that being motorcycles, been on my permit since July of this year and getting my M1 in January. But aside from the virtual world, I have no anarchism in me so the military is just right. I find myself enjoying to repair mechanical things, engine car swaps, transmissions, and etc just like any other grease monkey would understand. I've worked as a sub-sub-sub-sub-contractor (rather more of an employee) in the field of general construction and remodeling. Played football in high school. A ton of other things as well.

The problem is I feel that I'm often pressured to be someone. I'm often reminded of my flaws and in-completion of my education status. Us 18 year olds, feel the world is big not small and there is so little we could do in the process of growing up. We don't experience much of anything than typical and stereotypical bs.

 

[DRider]

I feel the same way, or at least I did before I got a job. Even with my job at McDonalds, life seems to be going nowhere, I feel as if I'm a step behind everybody else, and that I'll fail, and never progress; in reality, this isn't necessarily true, and things always change. All I can suggest is that you just keep trying to get some sort of job, study as much as you find comfortable, keep trying out different opportunities, and never give up trying; if you do, you'll go nowhere. Keep trying, and you're guaranteed to go somewhere. It's as much about patience as it is about effort right now.

Everybody these days is in a tight situation, just as much in the states as it is here in the UK, I would guess. Keep your head up, and understand that you're headed towards a positive change; I guarantee that you are.

On the Army thing, that's your choice; I don't want to join, and can't due to my Type 1 Diabetes, but it's totally your choice; good luck in whatever you choose to pursue, regardless.

 

[Nerb]

Us 18 year olds

Remember everyone was 18 at some point. Even me.
A web developer since before 13? Well you have done something significant havnt you. I hadnt moved beyond lego at 13.
Im not a psycologist, so im not going to ramble and i cant provide instructions (im sure thats the last thing you want), but i will say its a good idea to take everything you hear from the media and peoples pasts with a grain of salt. Its nearly all bullshit. You have to work out what is pressuring you. Not completing high school is not a flaw. Its just a path chosen.

 

[Bikermole]

At 18 I was working as a fishmonger in a supermarket, earning minimum wage, and through hard work, I now earn a good wage in manufacturing. Put the effort it, and you'll get somewhere. If you have the attitude that you're a failure, you'll be in this rut for the rest of your life. What did you expect to have at 18? To have earned millions? Supermodel girlfriend? Most 18 year olds don't even have a career, just a job, or nothing at all.

You expect too much of yourself. Just relax

 

[UnstableBoy]

I'm only 18 and I feel like I'm in my mid-life crisis haha

if a mid life crisis is lusting after young women, wanting to drive around in sports cars, and hating anything related to responsibility... then mine started at the age of 12.

as for military vs college/workforce well I know people that do good in either one... gonna haveta follow your heart on that one.

hell It took me till I was in my late 20s to figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up. only took me 3 career tries.
poke around, find something you think you might be good at. then go for it... if it doesn't work.. try again. but just don't stop.

 

[MotoRick]

I'm only 18 and I feel like I'm in my mid-life crisis haha (riding is a total stress reliever) ... No job ... Haven't been successful at anything big ... Education-wise I'm not exactly finished with high school, but I'm also attending community college just to balance the deficit of college credits. I just need my damn diploma or certification (yes, I'm even considering the damn GED) and 15 college credits just to enlist next summer of 2013. I feel the Army will definitely give me a jumpstart in my life through it's incentive benefits, shape the direction forward in my life, and ultimately become a better person.

Does anyone feel the same way? As in total slow motion or free fall from reality and your peers.

Don't go joining the military out of desperation. These days, American grunts are just cannon fodder for Politicians to use. Do you like the idea of possibly going to Iran or Syria so that some Senator/President/Congressman will get a bump in his/her approval rating?

 

[JollyRoger]

I can pitch in only being 24 saying life quickens up plenty after school is over and you turn 20/21. It hardly feels like any time has passed since I was 16, so don't go wishing it would get quicker! Think about hobbies you like, what can you see yourself doing, what interests you?

My aim is to work in a job which is fun, therefore it does not become work. Searching takes a long time, and is not easy (myself included here) but at least it hopefully will give you a little insight as to some of your options.

 

[CurlyBlakey]

School was awesome really when you think about it. You get to spend all day pissing about with your mates, you don't have targets to meet or you'll be sacked and whether or not you bother is totally up to you. Plus you generally live at home and your dinner still gets cooked for you

 

[TheDiabeticBiker]

I felt like that the past few years. Left school went to college for 2 yrs, hated it. Felt as though my job was going no were so decided this year to go back to college and do motorcycle mechanics. Probably one of the best decisions I have made!

 

[Chrus600]

Join the Navy! You get shot at less!

Since I've joined I've changed a fair bit, I'm more outgoing and I'm less lazy. Don't expect the military to give you a direction in life though, I'm in it for the pay and the adventure training. Going to nice places is a bonus and you meet some good (and some bad) people. I know the US Navy is quite different to the Royal Navy but the parallels are there, if you see yourself in it for a full career then fair enough, but I'd suggest using it as a stepping stone to something better once you've got some life experience.

If there's one thing it's good for, it's life experience, just not necessarily the normal kind.