To be so humiliated about the fact I have achieved nothing with my life?

[FlinchGirl]

And I really mean nothing.

I'm 24 and I still live at home with my parents. I have never had a full time job, I have only worked in dead end part time catering jobs. I want an admin assistant job and a full time one at that but I never even get to the interview stage. I have had interviews for jobs in retail and for bar work but they all end in rejection.

I feel like such a screw up because I have done nothing with my life. I have no friends and have never really had them. I have never had a boyfriend.

I am currently studying with the open university and I will get a BA (Hons) degree at the end of it assuming I manage to complete it but I'm not sure how it will be viewed. I will be at least 27 by the time I finish it and I don't know if it will be too late to start a career in my late 20s

I feel so sad because everyone else my age is out there enjoying their careers, getting married, having babies and just generally out having fun and living their lives. Yet here's me who is still working part time in catering at the age of 24 whilst studying online part time and living at home with no life whatsoever and in desperate need to lose weight.

Have I completely screwed my life up?

[PoshSausage1008]

Whereabouts in the uk are you based? There are lots of sites that list various charity jobs in your area and lots of the smaller ones often need help organising files/information.

[NotAMammy]

A massive long list is fine though. You might realise that a few things keep popping up, or there are a few things that a load of others rely on and you'll see your priorities straight away. Or it might be a shit ton of stuff and you think you'll never get going on any of it but start somewhere and keep going. In a year or two you might look at the list and think that there was loads that wasn't even that important.

Do-it.org have a load of volunteering opportunities, or just call in to some local ones, tell them you're looking to build up your office experience and is there anything you can help them with. do-it.org/opportunities/search?miles=10&title=admin&sort=distance&order=asc&page=1

[PovertyJetset]

HAVE you considered teaching English as a foreign language? It's a fantastic way to see the world, get loads of real life real world experience

[thesandwich]

Have a look at the do- it website for ideas looking local to you- it will have details of local charity opportunities or there should be a volunteer bureau near you. Good luck

[FlinchGirl]

HAVE you considered teaching English as a foreign language?

Do you not need specific qualifications for that?

[FataliePorkman]

Your local Citizens Advice may be a good place for you to go to volunteer as well OP. I know ones local to me are crying out for volunteers and you might find out some information you are unaware of in regards to getting support for your DM.

Has your DF applied for carers allowance etc for her? Or PIP?

[PovertyJetset]

op in some cases no, in some yes.

You could do a reputable online course thought Cambridge and that would be enough. Have a look around. Berlitz is an international school that has branches everywhere start there and see what you need.

Take a year out.

Or you could get into nannying for high end earners. Or you could waiterrss/steward on a yacht.

There are LOADS of things to do that are amazing short term life enhancing things that will help you gain confidence and teach you something.

I am a teacher of the deaf but I have taught English abroad, been a scuba dive instructor, done 3 seasons in the Rocky Mountains and lived overseas lots.

JUST GET OUT THERE AND LIVE.

[NotQuiteJustYet]

Hi Flinch

I'm a fellow OU student, I'm 26 currently and will be 30/31 when I graduate and I'll be looking to move into a sector primarily dominated with young blood.

Don't be disheartened by the length of time it takes to get through this - be proud of that fact you chose to work towards something that's both challenging and worthwhile.

If it gets you down, just remember that Oxford university take transfer students from the OU, employers respect our drive and determination to complete a degree whilst supporting ourselves, and we have a fantastic community amongst the students of the OU who in my experience are always happy to pick you up and dust you off when you're having a rough time.

You have your whole life ahead of you to carve the path you want to, don't write yourself off so soon.

[PovertyJetset]

How educated are you? GCSEs, a levels, degree?

[PovertyJetset]

You're still SO young, don't write yourself off!

[ChuckDaffodils]

I didn't even start my degree until I was 30. You have plenty of time left yet.

Yes, do volunteer to get admin experience. I am sure you will go far once your degree is under your belt.

[HeadDreamer]

Keeping an eye on your mum doesn't mean you have to live with her. What you describe sound exactly like my MIL. She also keeps getting scammed. DH has the password and secure key to her online banking so he can keep an eye on the transactions. He went and sort out her mail. It helps she believes she is stupid so doesn't mind DH intervening.

What I'm saying is keeping an eye on your mum and helping her doesn't stop you from living your own life. She lives locally in council sheltered accommodation for the elderly. If there is anything she needs, he is nearby. He doesn't see her more than once a week. Sometimes longer than that.

And 24 is very young still. I felt like a failure too at that age. I think other posters are right about it being an age thing. I was at grad school then and living at home. I felt ashamed of what I have achieved compared to others. And this is before social media so I didn't get bombarded by other people's amazing life updates.

[maddening]

What is your degree in? And which county are you in?

[FlinchGirl]

I did attempt A Levels however I ended up dropping out because my family (not my dad, it was my mum and her side of the family) kept taking the piss out of the subjects I had chosen and told me they were pointless and a waste of time. FWIW I was doing English literature, history, drama and classical civilisation

I was then pressurised into doing a pointless BTEC course which I found odd and quite frankly, too easy despite not being all that academic. It didn't really suit me at all...but at least (according to my parents) I am a qualified police officer or some shit now

[FlinchGirl]

God I sound like such a pathetic people pleaser. Everything I seem to do seems to be to please someone else

[FlinchGirl]

I'm doing a Politics, Philosophy and Economics degree.

Sometimes I wonder what I'm going to do with it and wish I'd gone for something more practical instead but there's nothing really I'm interested in in that department. Things like nursing, teaching, midwifery all sound like hell to me and I doubt I'd be any good at them anyway.

[PovertyJetset]

You're coming across as a very articulate and motivated person.

PPE is a bloody fantastic degree to do

.

[arugula]

Blimey, being in your 20s is hard. There is so much worry about everyone else doing better or having a better time than you. If you're getting on and learning something and you're not hurting yourself or anyone else you're doing ok.

[HiMyNameIsUnknown]

Apologies I accidentally posted!

[user1489943514]

I feel exactly the same. I'm so glad to see someone else is the same. I'm 27. I can't get a job despite many interviews. I feel an utter failure.

[LoriD]

"At age 23, Tina Fey was working at a YMCA."
At age 23, Oprah was fired from her first reporting job.
At age 24, Stephen King was working as a janitor and living in a trailer.
At age 27, Vincent Van Gogh failed as a missionary and decided to go to art school."
"At age 28, J.K. Rowling was a suicidal single parent living on welfare At age 28, Wayne Coyne (from The Flaming Lips) was a fry cook.
At age 30, Harrison Ford was a carpenter.
At age 30, Martha Stewart was a stockbroker.
At age 37, Ang Lee was a stay-at-home-dad working odd jobs.
Julia Child released her first cookbook at age 39, and got her own cooking show at age 51."
Vera Wang failed to make the Olympic figure skating team, didn't get the Editor-in-Chief position at Vogue, and designed her first dress at age 40.
"Stan Lee didn't release his first big comic book until he was 40."
"Alan Rickman gave up his graphic design career to pursue acting at age 42."

[LoriD]

Sorry copied and pasted which is why it looks weird

[haveacupoftea]

Google quarter life crisis. 24/25 is an age where so many people find themselves skint with no house, career or friends. We all find our way though, and you will too.

[Verbena37]

Not having a full time job isn't NOT achieving anything.
You are a carer for your mum and you are studying part time.
How dependent on you is your mum? Does she have high functioning ASD?
It must be hard...with your heart tugging you in different directions.
That doesn't mean you don't deserve to live your own life.
Being only 24 means you have lots of time to plan your future and you've already started that by studying with the OU?

I haven't read the whole thread but what degree are you doing?
Have you contacted your local National Autistic Scoiety branch? They often have local groups your mum could go to and people who could offer more support.

If you like admin, why not apply (I y haven't already) for virtual assistant jobs from home. I'm not sure how well they're paid but that would be good in one way as it would mean you're available for your mum....although it does sound like you want to break free from home a bit and have more of a social life and meet friends etc. Working from home isn't conducive to that obviously.

Are you applying for specific jobs or just sending off your CV? There are lots of online sites that can help with formatting your cv if you want it checked through etc....because you said you're not getting interviews. It might just need a bit of tweaking.