Help me figure out my path in life

LondontoItaly2022 · 2022-12-31T13:17:49+00:00

I can’t decide what I want to do in life. I’ve ended up in dead end low wage jobs because I have the skills to do better but I lack the confidence to make that choice. I am interested in everything pretty much, and I can’t narrow a career or study choice down. I suffer with anxiety and depression and work is a big trigger for this. I would like to earn more and achieve more. So I want to study but I can’t pick a course or even a career goal. What kind of jobs would fit in best with me? 1. I don't want to be responsible for peoples lives so nurse/midwife won’t be suitable as my anxiety would let me down in this regard. I wanted to study midwifery but realistically I know I wouldn’t cope. 1. I like organisation, computer work, typing etc. 1. I would like the option to one day work from home or start my own business. 1. I don’t want a physical job where I’m on my feet all day due to health issues. 1. I do want to study for a degree but I have no interest in maths. I thought of accounting but again I’m not good with numbers and have no knowledge of Excel so would probably be useless at other more difficult programs. 1. Im very interested in science particularly biology and the human body but I don’t think I’m clever enough to study it at degree level for science related fields i.e lab work. 1. I wanted to study a healthcare degree as I knew it would interest me and not bore me. I couldn’t imagine studying for something that is not interesting or stimulating.

onlymyselftoanswerto1 · 04/01/2023 21:09

Why don't you try an access course. The one I did had a bit of everything, psychology, social policy, anatomy and biology, as well as maths and English (although apparently those 2 were only to gcse level and the ologies were a-level level). I absolutely loved the access course - I was seriously lacking in confidence about my ability but it was hands down the best thing I ever did. Went on to do my undergrad in psychology and a masters in social science research and am now in my final year of PhD. Hadn't really a clue what I wanted to do at the time but the access course gave me focus and proved I could study and do well. Even if it's just something like that that gives you the confidence to do more, but also gives you a flavour of what different subjects could be like, definitely worth a shot.

Edmontine · 06/01/2023 12:07

Have you investigated the National Careers Service?

nationalcareers.service.gov.uk

The site has almost limitless resources - questionnaires to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses / skills / tastes, plus a vast database of info on various careers and how to train / qualify for them. Take a look.

felulageller · 06/01/2023 13:18

Occupational therapy?

BlastedPimples · 09/01/2023 09:11

@onlymyselftoanswerto1 you sound amazing!

Congratulations on doing so well.

How much of your education has been online vs face to face?

Original poster

LondontoItaly2022 · 10/01/2023 09:47

Some very helpful replies thank you! I’ll have a look at the website mentioned. @onlymyselftoanswerto1 can I ask what career options you will have once you finish your studies? Or do you currently have a job at the moment too? Thanks

OP posts:

onlymyselftoanswerto1 · 10/01/2023 19:15

@BlastedPimples oh thank you so much for saying that - I'm so far from being amazing though, am sat here all day in my pjs transcribing interviews and feeling very out of my depth so you've made my day! 🥰

Most of it has been face to face, the uni is an hour away from me so I just travel - my masters classes were in the evenings so I juggled them with a ft job and then my PhD started in October 2020 but I don't have classes for it as such - a lot of my training was online tho which I quite liked. The classes I got to TA for started off online but then moved back to face to face - which was a blessed relief as I hated teaching online!

Thanks again 😊

onlymyselftoanswerto1 · 10/01/2023 19:20

@LondontoItaly2022 I'm hoping to stay in academia, my subject area is quite good for that. If not there will be industry jobs. I've been teaching undergrad level and I do a few hours for my old job so I've kept my finger in that pie so to speak. I got that job straight out of my undergrad in 2016 (am in my 40's so I was definitely a late one going back to education)

The thing that gave me the confidence to do any of it tho was the access course! Hadn't a clue what I was doing as I'd been a Sahm for years and then my marriage broke down and I just needed to find my own path. Everything else kinda fell into place after that.. it's been bloody hard though I'm not going to lie!

CherrySocks · 10/01/2023 19:26

Range of courses and ideas here:
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/student-advice/what-to-study/careers-in-nhs

Maryandherlamb · 10/01/2023 20:34

The NHS used to do a management scheme that might be of interest. Otherwise civil servant jobs perhaps.

makingarunforit · 13/01/2023 22:18

What is it about work that specifically triggers your anxiety and depression, op?

The NHS is quite good for rising up through the ranks despite the bad press it is getting at the moment. Apprenticeships are being reintroduced in some areas so you could start as a Therapy Assistant and potentially train to become qualified.

Things that spring to mind...
Something behind the scenes that maybe isn't patient facing?
Pharmacy?
Haematology?
Optometry?
Audiology?

Or maybe an engineering technician role?

I'm an OT (which is a bit bloody stressful to be honest) and my friend and I dream about working in the village optician! It's all seems very sedate.

mcjudge · 04/02/2023 06:54

onlymyselftoanswerto1 · 04/01/2023 21:09

Why don't you try an access course. The one I did had a bit of everything, psychology, social policy, anatomy and biology, as well as maths and English (although apparently those 2 were only to gcse level and the ologies were a-level level). I absolutely loved the access course - I was seriously lacking in confidence about my ability but it was hands down the best thing I ever did. Went on to do my undergrad in psychology and a masters in social science research and am now in my final year of PhD. Hadn't really a clue what I wanted to do at the time but the access course gave me focus and proved I could study and do well. Even if it's just something like that that gives you the confidence to do more, but also gives you a flavour of what different subjects could be like, definitely worth a shot.

I what is an access course?

Are there different types or is it the one course?

Edmontine · 04/02/2023 08:01

@mcjudge You could always google ‘access courses, UK’ and then come back here to discuss the possibilities and options?

pippinsleftleg · 17/07/2023 12:02

onlymyselftoanswerto1 · 04/01/2023 21:09

Why don't you try an access course. The one I did had a bit of everything, psychology, social policy, anatomy and biology, as well as maths and English (although apparently those 2 were only to gcse level and the ologies were a-level level). I absolutely loved the access course - I was seriously lacking in confidence about my ability but it was hands down the best thing I ever did. Went on to do my undergrad in psychology and a masters in social science research and am now in my final year of PhD. Hadn't really a clue what I wanted to do at the time but the access course gave me focus and proved I could study and do well. Even if it's just something like that that gives you the confidence to do more, but also gives you a flavour of what different subjects could be like, definitely worth a shot.

I realise this is an old thread, but can you tell me which course you took?

onlymyselftoanswerto1 · 18/07/2023 08:47

@pippinsleftleg it was an Access diploma in social sciences. Not sure where you are, this was in Northern Ireland but there are very similar courses in the rest of the uk. HTH 😊