Finding my purpose in life?

[mrajax]

So I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why I’m really attending this college. Even though I am still a relative beginner, I’m not really happy with this course I’m taking about computing and programming because programming just isn’t my passion. The reason I got into it was because my dad insisted that I do so because computing is such a common thing for places to have it’d be a good asset. But it was only after attending said first year of this course that I found out that you really have to be a geek to have the patience of doing it well and even though I did good in my assignments, it’s not something that I see myself doing for the rest of my life.

In fact, I have bigger passions that would entail me to work harder or equally hard like cooking and I wouldn’t mind even doing something more practical and physical. The thing is that something in me tells me that I shouldn’t complain because we all have to work hard in life and there isn’t a more noble suffering than doing what you don’t want to do. There’s a huge difference as Francis de Sales said, between being contradicted by your enemies vs your family (I’m atheist BTW…)

Another thing is that I’m really more of the artistic type. I see people living a happier life who actually received an education in art, have a stable job whilst I’m stuck in a course that I don’t enjoy. Am l looking at things in the wrong way or am I really just whining? I want to earn money through a good job and I do have a knack for learning but only on things I’m really passionate about, things that will actually benefit me in the long run.

If I had to go on, I will say that whenever I presented my ideas to my parents about dreams in life, they would always, always discourage. My emotionally abusive mother would always ridicule me and my dad would say invariably that whilst he does understand my passions, it’s better for me to in the long run take up something else. He ALWAYS does this. Even though I do love him, I don’t feel a real passion for programming.

Please note that I’m not saying all this in order to try skipping school. There hasn’t been a single lesson at school that I actually skipped except for when I was sick. I just feel that I’d be happier doing something else, leading a different direction in life. Maybe enter culinary school and earn the qualifications needed to be a chef or anything that may make me become a restaurant chef seeing as I’m very good and passionate at cooking.

What do you guys think?

 

[heidi_storage]

First, I think you should be careful in taking advice from a bunch of random strangers about what to do with your future; that said, here are my two cents:

You are an adult, and your parents do not get to dictate your life course. You do not have to go to college. You do not have to major in what they want you to do.

That said, you must take responsibility for what you choose to do. You may wind up working crazy hours for low pay, living in a rathole; you may go through some tough times. If you’re willing to accept that, then go for what you want to do.

The other piece of advice: Plan, plan, plan for your intended goal; have backup plans for if it doesn’t work; and pray for God’s wisdom and direction.

 

[Xantippe]

First, I think you should be careful in taking advice from a bunch of random strangers about what to do with your future; that said, here are my two cents:

You are an adult, and your parents do not get to dictate your life course. You do not have to go to college. You do not have to major in what they want you to do.

That said, you must take responsibility for what you choose to do. You may wind up working crazy hours for low pay, living in a rathole; you may go through some tough times. If you’re willing to accept that, then go for what you want to do.

The other piece of advice: Plan, plan, plan for your intended goal; have backup plans for if it doesn’t work; and pray for God’s wisdom and direction.

Yes.

I don’t think people in the arts are necessarily happier, but I’m pretty sure that people in the sciences who don’t want to be in the sciences are definitely less happy. (And yes, the happy scientists are VERY happy. I know a number of them. I suspect they wake up every morning thinking, “I get to go to the lab!!!”)

Can you split the difference by doing what we call a “minor” in the US in a technical field and what we call a “major” in something you like more? Not sure if that works under your system. Or, maybe make a point of taking one course every term that you think looks interesting, even if it means you’ll take longer to graduate? (If that works under your system.)

No matter what you do in future, having a technical background will allow you to do more interesting things in that area.

What classes have you actually enjoyed over the year?
Can you talk to some sort of career counselor on campus?

Good luck!

 

[Smither9]

People look at college backward.
Once you have a passion and know what your career is, you then select the major and college. You might work at restaurant to discover if its your passion before pursuing a college education.
I believe happiness the unity of God and spirit and the lack thereof or absence results in a disjointed experience. College only makes sense when paired with a specific career goal, but a relationship with the LORD is vital to happiness.

 

[dedo]

I am trying to sharpen my ability to get spiritual guidance as well.

I “coincidentally” channel surfed on TBN tonight and the sermon was on exactly that, on making good decisions. The sermon was by Kerry Shook. So I ordered the series that included the sermon. The series is called “Rescue” and it is free for making a donation.

I wish I had this when I was younger.

When I entered university, I had no idea what I wanted to be. When I finished university, I still had no idea. I did apply to, and got accepted to graduate / professional school, in the hope that I would find something there. Starting my last year of graduate school, I still did not know what I wanted to be. Then I met someone in my current profession and I knew within minutes that is what I wanted to do.

Interestingly, I got from point A to point B without losing time, and without knowing what I wanted to do.

Over the years, what I have learned about spiritual direction is that you can pray for guidance and an answer will come that may not be the answer you expected. For example, imagine someone who has narrowed his career choices to three choices: A,B, or C. He prays for guidance and the answer comes back: “work on N”. Later another answer comes: “work on M”. etc. Only years later, does the answer: “pursue career C” become clear. Then in hindsight the person realizes that had he not done N, M, etc. first, he could never have succeeded in C.

That is sort of the way it worked for me. Answers came from sermons, the Word of God, and trusted counselors (especially parents). Those answers kept me moving toward the “next step”, and avoiding making wrong turns that I came very close to making.

Pastor Shook explains it much better than I could, and the first step is to walk with God.

Good luck.