When I was young, everyone said to work hard, go to college, get a degree in something that has a shortage and that you like. I did all of those things. I am 25, have a master’s degree in science education (during a severe teaching shortage), and got a decent science teaching job (starting about 41k a year).
I worked extremely hard to get to this point. I worked 30 hours a week while going to school full time for 5 years, and taking care of my dad while he had a brain tumor for 2 years (he is alive and better now). I didn’t have much time for my friends, although I don’t think it would have mattered if I did because they all went away to do their own thing anyways.
All of that has passed and I thought I would finally be able to begin living the life I wanted. I thought I would be able to afford a house, I thought I would make new friends, I thought I would have some going out money… but I live in a crappy apartment complex surrounded by people who don’t work and pretty much live the same life as me. The current housing market makes home ownership just feel like a dream and I just don’t see the point in moving to another apartment. I lost my friends over the years (most of them moved, or we have just changed too much). I play guitar and thought I would meet people that way when I got older, but turns out young people don’t okay instruments much anymore. I did everything the way I thought I was supposed to, but didn’t achieve my goals which I feel were quite obtainable. I have been feeling lately like what was even the point. What feels worse is that if I could go back in time, I am not even sure what I would have done differently.