In need of help and guidance

Since around September this year I have not been able to function or cope with anything at all. I'm a senior in high school so I have to make all these decisions about college and a career but I feel totally unprepared for it. I feel like I don't really know who I am and I need to find myself but I don't know how I can do that especially since I've spent my entire life in the same place. I just feel so trapped and like I'm suffocating and I don't know what to do about it because nothing has helped make it easier.

Does anyone have any advice?

 

Hang tough - you've only got a few months until you graduate.

Be patient. Finding yourself is a slow process. It takes some people a lifetime, and many never achieve it.

Sounds like you need to look for a college somewhere interesting. Or one that attracts interesting people. Or has interesting profs teaching interesting subjects. It is too soon to commit to a major subject. Sample broadly. Start out in General Studies until you find something that catches your interest.

 

It may sound strange to say but you're right on track for your age.Time is gonna be your teacher/mentor/guide here because you haven't lived enough life to have a game plan yet. Are you planning on college?...away from home? In some way or other it will be important for you to get out into the world and experience life on your own. where do you live, big city, suburbs, rural? If you sit quietly and daydream what do you do? Do you need adventure, excitemnet, tranquility, challenges to mind and/or body. What activety makes you smile, laugh. What bores you to death. If you could go on a trip for a few weeks or months where would you go?

If you're up for answering some of these things I'll play devils advocate with you and challenge your thoughts. In simpler times people had mentors or they apprenticed to a master. Different game now but if your up to it lets play with your head a bit.

Start with saying who you are.

 

Take a year off school, earn some money and travel around some. Your experiences will help crystallize your thoughts about further schooling and your future.

 

well its sounds as if your an educated individule, so....life is lived in chapters, kind of like a book with the last pages torn out. as you move through lifes paths you will encounter an event and at the end of the event you will find yourself thinking "close that chapter" move forward to the next event. when i speak of events im talking about something on a more grand scale than say "your goldfish died".
some of the chapters are really good, and others not so good. but trust this, life will offer up a correct path, you just have to let some time pass and obtain some of lifes expieriences and before you know it someone will be asking you something you have a history with and can help them. always "pay it forward" what you learn, someone else should learn as well

 

real common man

Remember you don't have to make a decision on monday that is the path for the rest of your life. thats what parents are for (and I am one)

if the college education is being forced on you, visit some in your area see what you like from a campus perspective, start with an open studies program, take courses that interest you, what do you personally like to do as a hobby- can that translate into a money making venture, any passions in your life-you artistic-photography, music-don;t overlook them, take courses you like

like math-work with numbers

read up on what types of careers that are going to be needed over the next 5 to 10 years-maybe one interests you

once you start attending a place of higher learning you are gonna meet folks through courses who will help you steer toward the next phase of your life.

if college isn't being forced on you, think about it anyway, its a great place to get ideas that will help future decisions.

a friend of mine from the late sixties ended up with 9 degrees and never left college, still works there as an instructor. he loves teaching young people and smoking dope

don't worry about the rest of your life, thats to big a goal-plan for tomorrow, learn from yesterday, but live in today

meditate every morning, it will reduce the stress

 

technoglobe,

Many young people feel trapped and isolated. When I was your age in the late 60s I had the urge to travel, I would think about traveling all the time.

So, on weekends I would often hitchhike to a local university, or attend a free concert just to talk and make friends. You will find yourself soon enough...The teen years can be very confusing for many of us.

WE may feel isolated, confused, lonely and perhaps even a little depressed. These emotions are just growing pains for many of us. This can be especially true if you're growing up during troubling and confusing times, or if things at home/school are not going as smoothly as you'd like.

Just hang in there think positive, focus on school family and friends, and the rest should take care of itself.