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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask you what you were doing at 24?

311 replies

jewelledpineapples1 · 10/04/2020 20:08

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?

OP posts:
TheNavigator · 10/04/2020 20:23

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.

ShowOfHands · 10/04/2020 20:23

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.

Dilisk · 10/04/2020 20:25

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.

Jeds55 · 10/04/2020 20:25

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.

goose1964 · 10/04/2020 20:26

Married with a newborn

Charlottejbt · 10/04/2020 20:28

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.

StellaDelMare · 10/04/2020 20:28

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

Rebellenny · 10/04/2020 20:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

transformandriseup · 10/04/2020 20:29

I got married.

IdblowJonSnow · 10/04/2020 20:30

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!

AhoyMrBeaver · 10/04/2020 20:30

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.

TwoZeroTwoZero · 10/04/2020 20:30

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.

homeschoolchaos · 10/04/2020 20:31

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!

Slith · 10/04/2020 20:31

Burning through my inheritance getting wasted every night.

SamsMumsCateracts · 10/04/2020 20:31

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

mrsfredweasley · 10/04/2020 20:31

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.

IdblowJonSnow · 10/04/2020 20:32

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!

BigChocFrenzy · 10/04/2020 20:32

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

teenagetantrums · 10/04/2020 20:34

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

Toddlertown · 10/04/2020 20:34

Pregnant with my first child & Elated about it 😊

Cornishmumofone · 10/04/2020 20:34

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.

Poetryinaction · 10/04/2020 20:34

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.

paradisefalls · 10/04/2020 20:35

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.

Samtsirch · 10/04/2020 20:35

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 😉

Singinghollybob · 10/04/2020 20:36

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