A 16-year-old on Reddit has opened up her heart about her deep anxiety over choosing a career path, saying,
“I think I’ve been crying about my future career at least three nights a week for the past 3 years.”
She feels average in most subjects and uncertain about her strengths, but recently developed an interest in engineering.
“I’ve always wanted to do something that is beneficial for the human race, and I think I can do that in engineering,” she said. She asks, “Is it okay to be interested in an area without having a specific career in mind?” wondering if passion is enough even without clarity or standout talent.
Her question reflects the fear and confusion many young people face when trying to find direction, especially when they don’t feel exceptional—but still care deeply about doing meaningful work.
Seniors Consulted
From the vantage point of many years, seniors can offer some helpful insights. Karl Pillemer of Cornell University interviewed nearly 1,500 people age 70 to 100+ for his book “30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans.”
They were asked what piece of advice they were most adamant about beyond lessons regarding marriage and children. The most common reason, as noted by Time magazine was “Do not stay in a job you dislike.”
“…the experts wanted to tell younger people that spending years in a job you dislike is a recipe for regret and a tragic mistake. There was no issue about which the experts were more adamant and forceful.”
What were other important lessons were there regarding a career? Here’s a brief list:
- Choose a career for the intrinsic rewards, not the financial ones. A sense of purpose and passion for one’s work.
- Don’t give up on looking for a job that makes you happy. Persistence is the key.
- Make the most of a bad job. Learn lessons from bad jobs.
- Emotional intelligence trumps every other kind. (Build your interpersonal skills)
- Everyone needs autonomy. Look for freedom to make decisions.
It seems clear that, if you can do so early in life, work in a variety of situations and people to give you a sense of what you like.