Re:I'm 20, brilliant and totally lost
by ErrantX on Tuesday October 27, 2009 @03:35PM
(#906197)
I was above average intelligence in a school with a slightly below average age group. As a result I stood intellectually taller than my peers and breezed through.
I was brought up with my parents doting on me telling me I was brilliant and destined to great things.
As a result I was a little shit at 18.
It was university that brought me crashing down, gave me social skills, got me laid and focused my education. But that was only by luck (I changed course at the last minute - my original choice would have been easy as school).
However it never found me a purpose or passion (beyond an enjoyment of "hacking" and programming). I left university a much nicer person but just as lost.
Now it's only 18 months later but I have a real serious career and a passion and am doing pretty good. Again that was total luck.
Sounds like this guy is just getting to the "lost" section; don't worry it will figure itself out. It might take a couple of years (I know a guy who it took till about 31 to really sort out what he wanted). But the fact he is asking means he is on the right path.
Best advice I believe you can give people like that is dont think too far ahead - I still want to be a millionaire playboy at 30 with 10's of businesses behind me. But thankfully now I know that is just a dream to help drive me to whatever success I do end up with. It might well be as good as that - probably not. But hell, ill bumble along ok regardless :)
Or in summary: this shit generally works itself out so long as you work hard on the moment in hand.
EDIT: I see a few people trashing the armed forces option. I couldn't disagree more. If you make the decision in the right way and understand what your signing up too it could be a great experience. No need to worry about your ling term future for the moment :)
I was brought up with my parents doting on me telling me I was brilliant and destined to great things.
As a result I was a little shit at 18.
It was university that brought me crashing down, gave me social skills, got me laid and focused my education. But that was only by luck (I changed course at the last minute - my original choice would have been easy as school).
However it never found me a purpose or passion (beyond an enjoyment of "hacking" and programming). I left university a much nicer person but just as lost.
Now it's only 18 months later but I have a real serious career and a passion and am doing pretty good. Again that was total luck.
Sounds like this guy is just getting to the "lost" section; don't worry it will figure itself out. It might take a couple of years (I know a guy who it took till about 31 to really sort out what he wanted). But the fact he is asking means he is on the right path.
Best advice I believe you can give people like that is dont think too far ahead - I still want to be a millionaire playboy at 30 with 10's of businesses behind me. But thankfully now I know that is just a dream to help drive me to whatever success I do end up with. It might well be as good as that - probably not. But hell, ill bumble along ok regardless :)
Or in summary: this shit generally works itself out so long as you work hard on the moment in hand.
EDIT: I see a few people trashing the armed forces option. I couldn't disagree more. If you make the decision in the right way and understand what your signing up too it could be a great experience. No need to worry about your ling term future for the moment :)