/feels/ - Advice & Venting

Do you have any skills that could attract attention online? I'm in a similar boat to you and I've considered doing an online freelancer job of some sort, maybe writing freelance or something since my background is in communications but I've also dabbled in graphics. What is your major in?

Alternatively you could try and find volunteer work you're interested in if you had time for it and it could lead to some nice opportunities.

>>111035
i've been told by all my past english teachers that writing could be a career path for me, but i don't really think i'm creative or financially stable enough to pursue being an author or something. maybe something i could try out when things are better though.
i also have been doing cc for a few years, starting while i was in high school, and at that time i just picked psychology as my major without thinking about it. since i'm only doing core credits right now, i'm pretty sure i can change what i picked. (since i definitely don't want to do anything psychology related.)
i feel like i could do just about anything if i really try, i just have no idea what to pick & don't really care. i guess i just want the easiest and highest paying job i can get with my current situation, lol.
i'm considering investing most of my money & trying to get out that way? idk
i tried volunteering once and got really freaked out because it was confusing and there were a lot of people there. have you volunteered? when i tried i did an animal shelter so maybe there are better choices out there.

>>111032
Where did you get the idea employers care about volunteer hours?

>>111037
I heard the market isn't great rn for stocks, but if you do your research you might be able to figure out what works and what doesn't. I don't trust myself with investments because I'm not savvy enough. If you trust yourself with stocks invest in what you think will sell, what's doing well and do it!
You don't necessarily have to pick a path now, maybe just think of what would actually be fun to do but have a greater reward than writing- since it's a tough market and yeah a gig economy of sorts. I would only consider doing it if I started with short pieces or short stories because I don't have the attention span for a full book right now, but my long term goal is to work in PR for entertainment or music. My dream deep down has always been since I was a little girl to finish and write a book that hits it big kek. Which seems impossible. changed my major several times in college so I could decide on what I really wanted to do. My initial major like yours was undecided / psychology! It won't be too late to change if you decide to and you've got a good head on your shoulders starting core classes first. You're in a good place and you sound smart and levelheaded nona, and in the fray of it all a lightbulb may go on. You may discover what your true passion is and find a wonderful opportunity that allows you to exercise it. Once you do and if there's no opportunities yet, set a longer term goal on what you wanna do and how you can start.

>>111043
i definitely need to do more research on investing and stuff, cause you're right it might be a super bad idea to start right now, but i'm sorta desperate, and hopefully it turns out to be a good avenue? it all seems really confusing but probably is a good thing to know about in the future, even if the market is bad right now.

i think i'm gonna take a bunch of different classes next semester to see if anything is interesting? i have a list on my phone of all the things that might be fun, i just don't know if i'll end up being fit for any of them. it's not the end of the world, i just feel really depressed & hopeless right now. like i wasted all my formative years rotting online & now i'm in the real world with nothing, oops

& thank you for your advice, nona! you also seem very smart to me, and i'm sure that you'll be capable of writing a beautiful book! what did your major end up being? pr and music seem like really good choices, similar to some of the things that i'm interested in taking classes on.

>>111040
oops i guess that didn't really make sense. i meant that colleges care about that stuff, and employers care about colleges. i also think it would probably look somewhat good on a resume to be active in a community and a social, good person or something? idk

>>111045
Go onto your bank's website and see if there is any tips for investment. When I started investing, I ended up calling my bank about it and they directed me to a free info-session that was hosted online. It was me and a bunch of other people being taught by a financial advisor about the basics of investment. Most banks will have these free informative resources for you. Try to find people around you that are interested in the stock market and ask them for their favourite stocks to buy. Right now, research airline company stocks. A lot of airlines are still recouping from COVID loses; if you invest now, you may double your money after 5-10 years. A lot of stocks are waiting games, especially the safe options: once you put the money in, you don't expect a good return for at least a decade or more.
>I wasted all my formative years
Nona much love to you but human beings have an average lifespan of 80 years. Even if you spend the next 20 years fucking around doing batshit stupid crap you will still be able to turn it around and die happy and secure at age 80. Let go of the illusion that childhood or youth matter. You will feel much freer.

>>111047
i'll see about my bank's info, thank you!! unfortunately i am a loser with nobody around me, but i'll try checking out groups online about it for advice!
>let go of the illusion that childhood or youth matter
i think you're right generally, but since i've traumatized myself a lot as a kid, i don't think i'll ever be a suitable wife or mother (which is what i think i'd ideally want). i'd be glad to find a decent job and live a comfortable life alone for a while though.

>>111048
Stop calling yourself a loser nona. Be wary of online investment groups, they can be cesspits. Try to find one person in your waking life that plays the market, it's more common than you think. Maybe ask one of the economy professors at your college about it.
>I don't think I'll ever be a suitable wife or mother
Nobody thinks they can do anything until they can do it. Ask older ladies around you with children about their experiences with raising children and you will soon realize why there is a million and one books dedicated to the art of child-rearing. You will learn and grow so much in the next decade that by the time you are 30 you will be unrecognizable. Have faith in yourself.
>>111032
The most troubling things are:
>No hobbies
You need to figure out your hobbies, I honestly don't believe that you don't have any hobbies. I used to say the same thing because I was just embarrassed by my hobbies (for example, I used to dance around my room by myself to crazy music for hours) but then I realized it's better to embrace hobbies (now I do dance aerobics classes on the weekends and it gets all of my kinetic energy out and I met people that do the same shit I do)
>No interests
Try out a bunch of different things and see what interests you. There are bound to be dozens of things that may pique your interest. Not everything has to be in-depth, but the way I look at it is that everyone person should have at least 10 topics that they can speak about for at least an hour (i.e., you have to know about some things in-depth). Interests are how we grow as humans.
>No friends or connections
Once you establish your hobbies and interests and start acting in accordance with those, you will find yourself naturally gravitating to others that share those interests. Read about the "Proximity Theory" for more information on this. You must become integrated into the community which you live. For more information about this please read and understand Simone Weil's work: "The Need for Roots: prelude towards a declaration of duties towards mankind"

>>111040

It makes perfect sense for entry-level employers to care about volunteer hours. It's proof that you're not a total wildcard that isn't even guaranteed to show up on time.

I volunteered at the zoo running summer programs. That experience with kids got me into a teacher's aide position out of high school and I used the tuition reimbursement to pursue a teaching degree.

It's by no means necessary, but it's still experience. It's going to put you ahead of someone who doesn't have that experience.

>>111040
it can also give you transferable skills. ie, working in an elderly home: good bedside manner, learning how to communicate with those who can’t communicate well (dealing with shit like early-stage dementia could transfer into customer service skills, which every company likes to see). i agree with other anon that it proves you’re not a deadbeat.

this all being said, i don’t know how to put volunteer hours on my resume (as if i have any whoops).