to ask you what you were doing at 24?

[jewelledpineapples1]

I've just turned 24 and my future seems so uncertain. I thought by this age I would have more of a career plan.

If you don't mind sharing, what were you at 24 and how different is that to where you are now?

Pissing about in minimum wage jobs, partying and falling in love with the love of my life. I'm now a married professional with grown up children - and he is still the love of my life.

Finishing an MA, married to my partner of 6 years and going to lots of gigs/festivals.

Still married to the same man but it's been 21 years, 2 dc, still go to lots of gigs and festivals. We've both changed careers since then, own our 2nd home and have way more grey hair.

24 is so young.

God, knock back a bit. At 24 I’d done a degree, spent six months as a postulant in an enclosed order of nuns, had a variety of strange jobs, dropped out of a master’s in my home country and gone to live in smalltown America, then dropped back in, finished the MA, had a bad accident and spent the best part of a year learning to walk again, and was applying for scholarships for further postgrad study.

As you can see, no direction. A lot of fun, mind you. I did start my DPhil in the UK at 25 and my life took a more direction-filled route.

I had not long met the man I'd spend 7 years with, had dropped out of university for the second time, still lived close to where I was born and was partying hard. Now 38,with a different guy, eventually graduated from uni, live far from where I was born, 1 dd. Thpse days were really good, fun times but as pp said totally unrecognizable from the present.

Married with a newborn

When I turned 24 I had a 6 week old baby who couldn't bear to be out of my arms for even a second, and my marriage was obviously doomed even after only four months. I felt like my youth had been curtailed prematurely, though I knew it was my own fault. DS is now a very well adjusted 19 year old, I hasten to add.

I was engaged, saving for a house and I had just graduated as a teacher starting my first teaching job.

Comparison is a killer! Remember everyone has a different path to follow

I got married.

Oh god, I was in my last year at university, a close family member died, I was really I'll and had mental health problems. It was a horrible year.
A few years after university I went travelling for quite a long time (and worked for some of it). Best years of my life in many ways.
Would you be interested in doing that at all? Not now, obvs!

Graduated, married, no children, makings of a good career. 24 was really the high point on my 'success' graph; by 25 I'd had a baby and didn't return to work for many years, and by then I'd lost all drive and ambition. I was no less happy though.

I had qualified as a teacher 2 years earlier and had a part-time job as a nursery assistant as well as being a supply teacher. I had just moved into a bedsit flat. I was single and bored.

2 years later, I was single again but had moved into a house. I was working full-time and had loads of spare money. I should have bought a house but for some reason I didn't think I should.

16 years later I'm married with 2 dc and we're still renting. I'm a supply teacher but am skint because of gov't cuts leading to a lack of work.

I was in the final year of my PhD, just moved in to now DH’s spare room. I’ve had a number of different jobs since, all tell a coherent story when put together, and all build on each other, but I have no idea where my career is going, I’ll tell you later, when I’ve retired probably!

Burning through my inheritance getting wasted every night.

I was getting married and having major surgery. It was a year of very high highs and very low lows.

At 24, DP (now DH) and I had just moved into our first house together and shortly after, we became first time parents. I was working in the industry I graduated in.

Fast forward 7 years, we are in our second home with another child and a dog. I work in a school office now. Not where I want to be career wise but I wouldn't change a thing.

Agree 24 is very young but at the time also felt like I should be more sorted with a proper job/thinking about a mortgage.
I would not recommend that to a 24 year old as a 44 year old!

I was finishing off my STEM PhD and living in a hall of residence
Pretty relaxed, not much money, but no responsibilities either
Interesting research, which l built on for my career

I was. In Australia l think. I did a years traveling about that age or maybe l was home and working in London in and partying most nights away. two years later l had my first baby they were good times. X

Pregnant with my first child & Elated about it 😊

At 24, I finished my PGCE and started my first teaching job. I married my boyfriend of 4 years and we bought our first house together. I also lost my dad.

Started my first teaching job. Was living in a houseshare and recently split from my long term boyfriend. I felt very bored and sad most of the time. My parents urged me to buy a flat but I just wanted to be either young and carefree or settled and in love. I was neither.

I was divorced with 3 children. I was having a great time getting my life back with just us 4.
Today I'm a single mum to 5 with a job that I love and tonnes of support from my best friend and family.

I had just finished my degree, in a subject I thoroughly enjoyed but had no bearing on my future career.
I was determined to remain single and childless forever, yet thank goodness I now have 2 children ( grown up) and have rarely been single.
You will be okay OP.
If I could tell my 24 year old self anything, it would be DON’T WORRY 😉

I was spending 18 months travelling around Australia and SE Asia after leaving a low paid job. I didn't have a career at that point and probably would have stayed in that job for a good while longer if I hadn't made the decision to go backpacking.

I returned and applied to nurse training and qualified when I was 28.

24 is still so young, you have lots of time to figure out what you want and to go get it