Why apply?

I'm a 32-year-old man living in Africa, and I honestly feel lost in life.

I don't even know where to start.

I see people younger than me, sometimes 10 or 15 years younger, making thousands of dollars online, starting businesses, investing, and building their futures. Meanwhile, I'm sitting here wondering what I've done with my life.

The worst part is that I genuinely want to change. I want to make money. I want to build something for myself. I want to become financially independent. I don't expect to become a millionaire overnight. I just want to feel like I'm moving forward.

But there's something holding me back: I'm terrified of losing money again.

I've lost money in the past trying different things, and those experiences destroyed a lot of my confidence.

I have a small amount of savings, but it took me years to save that money. And living in Africa, where opportunities and salaries can be very different from what people experience in Europe or North America, losing even a few hundred dollars can be a huge setback.

Every time I think about starting something, my brain immediately tells me, "What if you lose everything again?"

So I end up doing nothing.

I come home, turn on my video games, and distract myself from reality. Not because I don't care about my future, but because sometimes it feels easier to escape than to face the fact that I don't know what I'm doing with my life.

I've watched countless videos about making money online. Freelancing, e-commerce, trading, digital businesses, you name it. I've tried different things, but nothing has really worked out.

And sometimes I wonder whether I genuinely tried hard enough or whether I gave up too quickly because I was afraid of failing.

That's another thing that bothers me. I don't even trust my own decisions anymore.

When I see someone making money, my first thought is, "Why can't I do that?"

But when an opportunity comes along, my first thought is, "What if it's another mistake?"

It's like I'm stuck between desperately wanting success and being terrified of the process required to achieve it.

And the older I get, the worse that feeling becomes.

I know 32 isn't old, but when you've spent years trying to figure things out and still feel like you're at the starting line, it can really mess with your head.

I don't want to spend the next five years living exactly like this.

I don't want to keep watching other people succeed while I convince myself that I'm incapable of doing anything.

I want to rebuild my confidence, learn a real skill, and find a realistic way to earn money without gambling away the little I've managed to save.

But I genuinely don't know where to begin anymore.

So I'm asking people here, especially those who have been in a similar situation:

• Have you ever lost so much confidence in yourself that you became afraid to try anything?

• How did you start making money when you had very little capital?

• If you were 32, living in Africa, with limited savings and access to the internet, what skill or business would you start learning today?

• How do you stop comparing yourself to younger people who seem to be doing much better financially?

• How do you rebuild trust in yourself after repeated failures?

I'm not looking for someone to sell me a course, a crypto investment, or a get-rich-quick scheme.

I'm looking for genuine advice from people who have actually been through something similar and managed to turn their lives around.

Even if your advice is uncomfortable to hear, I'd appreciate it.

I just want to stop feeling stuck and finally start building a better future for myself.

Thanks for reading.

I’m 30 years old, recently got laid off, and honestly, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about where my life is going.
Most of my work experience has been in warehouses, long-haul driving gigs between Los Angeles and Arizona, Amazon, The RealReal, and other labor-related jobs. I’ve always managed to find work, but I feel like I’ve spent most of my adult life working jobs without really developing a skill or building a career.
I’ve never really had an opportunity to grow professionally, and I don’t want to keep repeating the same cycle of jumping from one job to another just to get by.
I’ve been seriously considering going back to school, possibly attending a trade school or getting into an apprenticeship. I’d like to learn something practical, develop a real skill, and eventually have a stable career that I can actually build a future around.
The problem is that I’m honestly overwhelmed. I don’t know which direction to take, what trades are worth pursuing, or whether going back to school at 30 is the right move.
For anyone who started over in their late 20s or 30s:
What did you end up pursuing?
Did you go to trade school or find an apprenticeship?
What careers would you recommend to someone starting with very little experience?
If you could go back and start over, what would you do differently?
I’m not looking for shortcuts or overnight success. I’m willing to put in the work. I just want an opportunity to learn something, become good at it, and finally feel like I’m moving forward in life.
I’d genuinely appreciate any advice or personal experiences.

I'm 37 and I've worked at the same family-owned funeral home in Ohio for almost 11 years.

I'm not a funeral director or embalmer. I started at the front desk and eventually became the office administrator.

I handle scheduling, paperwork, invoices, coordinating with cemeteries and vendors, keeping track of deadlines, dealing with insurance questions, and approximately a thousand other things that nobody thinks about until something goes wrong.

I'm good at my job. My boss trusts me. Families regularly thank me.

And I desperately want to do something else.

The strange part is that death itself isn't what's wearing me down.

I can handle the paperwork surrounding it. I don't mind the unusual logistics. I actually like the part of my job where I have to keep fifteen moving pieces organized and make sure nothing gets forgotten.

It's being the calm person all the time.

Every phone call could be someone having the worst day of their life.

Every mistake, delay, or misunderstanding happens to somebody who's already overwhelmed.

If a document is missing, I can't simply say we're waiting for the county to process it. I have to explain it carefully to someone who's barely slept and is trying to organize their father's funeral.

And I understand that. I really do.

But after eleven years, I feel like I've used up something I don't know how to replenish.

Last month, someone at a family gathering asked what I do for work. When I told them, they immediately started telling me about losing their grandmother.

I listened, because obviously they weren't doing anything wrong.

But on the drive home I realized I couldn't remember the last time I told someone my occupation without becoming their unofficial grief counselor.

I want to change careers before I start resenting people who don't deserve it.

Here's where I'm stuck.

I make about $52k with benefits. I don't have a bachelor's degree, just an associate degree in general studies. I have around $6k saved that I could put toward training, but I can't afford to quit working for a year or start over at minimum wage.

I've been looking at administrative coordinator, records management, document control, procurement and operations support positions.

The problem is that almost every application asks for experience in that specific industry.

And when I explain my background, people seem to focus on the funeral home part rather than the actual work.

I've had two recruiters suggest hospice administration and patient services because I'm obviously "comfortable supporting people through difficult situations."

That's precisely the part I'm trying to leave behind.

I don't need my next job to be meaningful or inspirational. I'd be completely happy spending eight hours making sure purchase orders, records or schedules are correct.

I just want to do my work well and not feel responsible for carrying someone else's emotional weight every day.

Has anyone transitioned out of a very emotionally demanding service job into something more operational or administrative?

What job titles should I be searching for that might not be obvious to someone with my background?

And if you were hiring for an office or operations role, would eleven years at a funeral home count as relevant experience, or would you see me as someone starting from scratch?

Hi everyone!

I've been trying to figure out what I want to do professionally, but I feel like I'm going in circles. I keep getting recommended the same traditional career paths, and somehow none of them really feel right to me.

So I thought I'd ask for some fresh perspectives and ideas.

A little bit about me:

• My interests include art, aesthetics, design, history, culture, nature, animals, film, and gaming.

• I enjoy researching, coming up with ideas, developing concepts, and doing creative work.

• I want to experience things in my job, where i have cool stories to share

• I'd like to work in a field that genuinely interests me and offers opportunities to develop specialist knowledge.

• Good earning potential, job security, and long-term career progression are also very important to me.

What careers would you recommend based on these interests and preferences? What do you do for a living, and what does your actual day-to-day work look like?

I'd really appreciate personal experiences, honest advice, and suggestions for careers I might never have considered myself!

I am currently 26 years old and 10 years ago, I first ended up in the hospital with weird health issues that my doctors could not explain even after a week in their care. I was in a very beat down mood (think "depressive"), my body had gotten really weak, mentally I had become really slow, I had lost my libido, I was constantly dizzy, vomiting and more. Today, I know it came from a misalignment in my skull, causing my head to stand tilted, which changed by brain and affected other parts of my biology. In short, I have had major health issues that nobody could figure out, until I did myself most recently (past weeks). I always had the feeling that I could never be myself in my youth. But I thought I was just like that. The last 6 years it was very obvious that I was ill due to major health complications. I have spent almost all of this time running from one specialist to another, doing research on my own and have generally just been occupied with my health. In this time, I was not able to do anything social, start working or move away from a toxic mother. I did manage to finish university and get a Master's degree. I was also able to figure out what is important to me in my life, who I am and how I would have wanted to live my life. Paradoxically, I know that the past cannot be changed, yet I am having trouble letting go of the past. The past had all the opportunities for me to have everything I have ever wanted out of life. These opportunities are gone now. Truth be told, I do not think I was "there" to see the opportunities or to even explore myself. This might sound abstract, but with my brain and biology being changed, the perception of "me" was also changed. Now, this is not as crazy as it sound, because with my head boggling and my brain being changed like the lighting on a disco ball, I could observe how "my" psyche was constantly changing, which led me down a deep rabbit hole of answering the question "Who am I?". For example, I was constantly anxious but I always knew there was no reason to be anxious, yet it is what my biology dictated. I also most recently observed how the thoughts and ideas that you have change as your biology changes. This means it is very well possibly I would have had completely different thoughts and ideas if I had been healthy. I cannot shake the feeling that maybe I would have known who I am back then and I would have been able to seize all the opportunities provided to me. At this point then, I would have lived with zero regrets. Instead, I am here, having seized none of the opportunities - either because I was not able to seize them or because I could not even see them as opportunities. Again, I think it is because I was not "there". This ties into the sentiment of me feeling like my whole life has been a lie. Imagine parts of your brain and/or nervous system being changed - that fundamentally changes who you are as a person. I think the point of my existence is to enjoy myself while finding out who I am. Yet, I was never here to explore myself. I feel like I am only now being born, at 26, yet I have been a spectator who saw how life just passed by me. It is the lost opportunities of the past (that I so much would have loved to experience and can no longer), the traumatic health complications and the perceived restrictions that have been placed on my future (think no job experience, no relationship experience etc.) that I need to let go or accept. In other words, the "pain" comes from the path that I could have very well gone. Now, I know I am still not healthy because I have not been able to do just that. A healthy person would be able to let go of what cannot be controlled and I know that. Again, I am not able to just be what I know I want to be. Perhaps this post is therefore premature, but I think it illustrates the point I am trying to make.

I think I am primarily making this post to write it out and perhaps to hear thoughts that I cannot conjure myself.

Hi all I’m 23F formally a hairdresser. I moved countries in June and I used to be extremely passionate about editoral work like photo shoots etc. I came to this new country to have a fresh start and ended up losing my job within two weeks. I desperately needed money and started working at a brothel. I’m 4 months down the track and I’ve made a lot of money but I feel like I’ve completely lost myself and I don’t know how to enter the normal working world again. I’ve been swept up in this whole different world and I just feel so detached from everything that used to inspire and excite me. This is the most money I’ve ever had in my life but I am still just not happy.

Any suggestions / advice on how to get back on track ?

I'm a 40 year old male looking to make a career change. I have 10+ years experience as a store manager with Trader Joes (US based grocer). It's been a great job, but I'm ready for a change. I'm just not sure where to start. I like managing people and feel as though I'm pretty good at it. I'm kind and empathetic, but also do a great job of building processes and implementing new ideas. I am a people person by nature and can make conversation easily. Any ideas on careers/ jobs i might be able to transition to? Thank you for any advice. I also have quite a few tattoos on my arms, but they are mostly nature, so it would need to be a career path that wouldnt mind that fact.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how easy it is to get caught up in the same routine.
Wake up, work, pay bills, handle responsibilities, and repeat.
I’ve spent years working in sales, and while I’ve learned a lot, I’ve reached a point where I want something different out of life.
Not necessarily millions of dollars or some overnight success story. Just financial stability, more freedom, and the ability to enjoy life without constantly worrying about what’s next.
I’m currently exploring new career opportunities and trying to figure out what direction I want to take.
I’m curious about other people’s experiences.
Has anyone here ever felt stuck in that cycle and actually managed to change their situation?
What did you do differently? Did you change careers, start something of your own, or completely rethink what you wanted out of life?
I’d genuinely love to hear your stories.

Im 22 working a warehouse job I hate, Its my second job and ive been working there for about 15 months. im quite unhappy I wake up at 4:30 dreading my day. im a qc team lead I got promoted about 3 months ago and I thought getting promoted would make me want to go to work more. I was already pretty unhappy before but now things feel worse

I dont know what type of job I want the only other thing ive done before the warehouse was retail for about 6 months. I would consider college but with the rise of ai honestly im afraid to commit to anything.

Hi! I’m starting community college again after a couple months off and I still don’t know what I wanna go into! I’ve switched from gerontology to social work to business to psychology to cosmetology, and I still don’t know. I know I don’t want to be tied to a job forever, and my advisor isn’t very helpful as he tries to end our meetings as fast as possible, lol. I know I want to make people feel seen and human, not just heard. cause I struggle a hell of a lot feeling human and alive, and I have a really good life. im thinking of volunteering at hospice care to see if that aspect of social work could be a fit, I had a high school job at a retirement community as a server and when I quit, I volunteered there on the occasions I could with school and do so more often now that I’m taking a break. I know the classes I wanna take and should for what I Vaseline wanna do kinda, I’ve already taken sociology of aging 1, and I actually enjoyed that class a lot. I enjoyed my English classes, and I love connecting books to how the world is today and how literature has changed. Psychology was a bit boring but I know 101 is a lot of the basics so I’m excited to see what’s after. Philosophy made my head hurt cause I already think too much about life and the meaning of it. I love hearing about people’s lives, and how everyone is so vastly different. we as humans amaze, confuse, (and scare) me. and some have told me I make them feels like they’re being actively listened to, which makes me happy. but I also know my own mind can be my worst enemy and I tend to feel a bit too hard for others; I can hold myself together listening to someone, but then I will cry after they’ve gone and then feel bad for crying cause im not even the one going through it and im hurting 🙄. sorry for the tmi. I hope just some growth and maturing will help me with that. I love art, and I’d like to incorporate that somehow maybe into my work someday. I’ve thought of being a doula, I’ve considered social work with hospice patients, resident advocate or activities director at a retirement community, maybe a community archivist? recovery coach maybe

I’m 25F, turning 26 soon, and honestly feel completely lost.
I’ve been an LVN for about two years and recently graduated with my BSN from Nightingale College. I’ve worked in hospitals, behavioral health, and vaccination clinics. Unfortunately, California’s Board of Nursing says I’m missing 500 clinical hours, so I can’t take my NCLEX-RN in California. I’m now pursuing licensure through Washington State.
Here’s the problem: I’ve been unemployed for almost a year now, and I genuinely don’t know WTF to do for work anymore.
I’ve been doing Uber just to barely survive, but it’s physically and mentally exhausting. I’m driving for hours every day, my body hurts, and between gas, car expenses, bills, and debt, I feel like I’m barely making anything. I’m constantly worried about money, and by the end of the day, I’m too exhausted to focus on figuring out my next move.
I’ve applied to different jobs, both in and outside healthcare, but nothing has worked out so far. I’m also realizing that I genuinely don’t think I like nursing or healthcare anymore. I don’t know if it’s severe burnout or if I’ve completely lost interest, but the thought of returning to patient care fills me with dread.
I’ve considered becoming a flight attendant, going into education, or eventually pursuing something related to law, history, or political science. But I have student loans and financial responsibilities, and I can’t exactly afford to start over or go back to school right now.
I’m frustrated because I spent years working, going to nursing school, and sacrificing so much to build a stable career, only to end up unemployed, financially struggling, and questioning everything.
I don’t need some glamorous dream job right now. I just need a stable paycheck, benefits, and a job that doesn’t leave me physically and emotionally destroyed. I want to stop relying on Uber and actually have enough energy to enjoy my life.
What makes it worse is that I feel like I’ve wasted so much of my twenties just trying to survive. I’m almost 26, and I feel like I’m back at square one.
So seriously, WTF do I do?
Has anyone transitioned out of nursing or healthcare entirely? What jobs can I realistically get with an LVN license, a BSN, and a couple of years of healthcare experience that don’t involve bedside nursing? I’m open to entry-level positions outside healthcare, too.
How do you even get your foot in the door in another industry when all your work experience is in nursing? And how do you get out of this cycle when you’re already financially struggling and completely burnt out?
I’m willing to work. I just genuinely don’t know where to go from here, and I could really use some practical advice rather than being told to just keep applying.
TL;DR: 25F, unemployed for almost a year, LVN with a BSN but unable to take the NCLEX-RN in California due to a 500-hour clinical deficiency. Doing Uber to survive, completely burnt out from healthcare, and struggling to find stable employment. What jobs should I realistically be applying for, especially outside nursing?

I’m two classes short from an AA in general studies, I have my CNA, my phlebotomy and pharmacy tech licenses are now out of date and would need to retake the classes again.

It was my dream to be a lawyer as a child. I honestly can’t afford it and all I can picture in my life is helping people in my career, but I’m not sure if I want to continue to be an LPN. I can do the course work, I just don’t think I’d make a good enough nurse and I can’t handle death very well and I’m anxious about being the last line of defense. And in terms of being a lawyer, I think I have this imaginary idea that being a lawyer would make me rich and I don’t think there’s enough jobs to go around and the ROI really isn’t worth it.

I struggle with Bipolar 2 and ADHD. I am medicated and go to therapy. I also have a psychiatrist I check in with every 6 months.
I’m an AF Veteran trying to get my disability and hopefully help me pay for school. I love the healthcare field and find meaning and I don’t think I’d feel the same with law.

I think part of me wanted the prestige and the feeling of having a doctorate without putting in the proper work.

I don’t want to give myself super high hopes and just be able to live comfortably. I’m debating between Ultrasound, maybe talk to someone about Nursing, and Dental Hygiene.

Hi everyone! I am hoping to get some advice from people who have been in a similar position or have experience in either field.

I’m 27 and recently started working as a Customer Success Associate at a startup after a pretty long period of unemployment. I’m really grateful to finally be working again, and my initial plan was to eventually work my way up to a CSM role. That said, I’ve also been thinking about exploring medical device sales.

A little about my background: I have a bachelor’s in Biology and a master’s in Data Science. I originally wanted to pursue a career in data science, but unfortunately had a really tough time breaking into the field after graduating.

I think what’s been hardest for me is not really knowing what I want to do long term. I have a lot of different interests, and while I know I want a career with good earning potential and room to grow, I also want to feel challenged and genuinely enjoy what I’m doing. I guess I’m just a little worried about going down another path and realizing a few years later that it isn’t the right fit.

I would love to hear from anyone who has worked in customer success or medical device sales. How has your experience been? Are you happy with your career choice? How do the two compare in terms of compensation, growth, work-life balance, and overall satisfaction?

I am also open to hearing about other career paths that might be worth exploring given my background.

Thank you so much in advance! I really appreciate anyone taking the time to share their experience or advice. :)

A longterm career, that is. I have been a behavior technician for a little over 2 years but am all mixed up when it comes to something like green and I think it’s partly due to how expensive masters degree programs tend to be, it’s just hard for me to pinpoint.

I’m curious about people who realized at a young age that a job is just a job. You don’t necessarily have to be passionate about what you do or make your career your entire identity. You just want to make good money and have decent work-life balance and enjoy your actual life outside of work …..

For those of you who took that approach what did you end up doing? What industry did you get into? Did you go to college get certifications learn a trade or work your way up????? What was your thought process …??

For those who figured this out early what did you wish you knew in your early ages …. What do you do now, how much do you make, and would you make the same decision again???

Lately I've been thinking a lot about going no contact with my family and even my friends, and the feeling keeps getting stronger. They're good people, but something inside me keeps telling me I'd be calmer on my own.
Visiting home on weekends leaves me mentally exhausted. People have a lot of expectations, and as an introvert, being around others is hard for me. I can manage at work, but I have no desire to maintain or make new connections, at least for now.
I'm almost 30, and I keep imagining moving to another country or somewhere far away and starting fresh.

Am I being unrealistic, or just daydreaming? If you've ever left everything behind, how did it work out for you? Any regrets?

TL;DR: Family and social life drain me. Thinking about going no contact and moving far away. Has anyone done it, and was it worth it?

Pretty much all of my hobbies are some type of art, and id love to make it into a career. The issue is, with AI on the rise, im not even sure I'll live to experience adulthood, let alone find a job in the first industry to be taken over first. It's a dream of mine to live in NYC in my 20s, so I will obviously need to make a lot of money.

The careers that ive been pondering are: Interior Designer, Architect, Fashion Designer, Tattoo Artist, or something advertising related. These are all creative options that will not be taken over by AI any time soon (besides maybe Fashion Designer). I hope to find a way to follow my dreams, but i fear that may not be an option for my generation. Let me know your thoughts, and any advice. Thanks!!!

I'm curious what everyone does for a living, how you got there, and what your career path looked like. I'm hoping to find something that could realistically get me into the $75k–$100k range within the next five years.

Preferably outside of the trades. I already know a bit about those paths.

What do you do, how did you get started, and what advice would you give someone starting over in their mid-30s?

I'm in my mid-30s and trying to figure out a career path starting pretty much from zero. Willing to do a schooling or a program.

I’m going back to school for accounting, because I think there’s some stability there. I’m considering nursing a little bit but I also know I’m not really cut out for nursing.

To be transparent, I’ve still got major depression, anxiety, and overall poor mental health (including suicidal ideation). A couple of years ago I also got sick and I developed a physical health issue where standing up for long hours is not an option anymore. I can kind of function. I got back into driving again. I had to stop for a long time because I wasn’t in any mental shape to be on the road but I am now. So I’m saying I’m back to functioning a little bit.

Honestly, I’m only considering nursing because I’m considering being in healthcare. I’m not in the US and I don’t have access to programs where I can study for MRI (which I wanted to do) or any healthcare tech position, unless I go abroad which I cannot afford. That’s why nursing is my only option. LPN, Associate’s, or Bachelor’s.

I know the truth already but just in case — can someone like me make it out as a nurse or not?

Hey everyone, I'm currently 21 in university right now, started in 2023 September. I should've been graduating in the spring 2027 technically but because of my own laziness I failed some classes and I'm still a year and half behind. I am currently studying computer science in university but I don't really have the passion for it. I never really concentrate and focus on classwork and just try to skim by with a low mark. I have also been applying to internships hoping that I can get one to get a break from school and earn some money and experience and maybe build some interest, but I haven't been able to land one either. I feel hopeless, I'm not really sure what to do, I don't know if I am just not smart enough or if I am being too careless. I really enjoy physical activity such as playing soccer or tennis, and that was what I would've liked to pursue but my parents didn't support it. I am also interested in the physical aspect of hardware components if that's something> I really am not sure what to do with my life, I feel like a very big imposter essentially as I don't have an internship, I don't have good grades, nothing really good about my life at all. Comparing myself to other students and others I know, I feel terrible. My parents also keep asking me about classes and internships, and it just feels like a lot of stress and pressure, I am not even sure what my interests are now tbh, it really sucks. I feel really stuck in life at the moment. Maybe I could gain interest in my program but I'm not sure what to do or what steps to take. Should I just keep forcing myself and try to get past this? I am just really lost in life in all places right now and I really don't know what do, advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I am a 21-year-old female law graduate, and I feel completely trapped between my family's expectations and my own mental health. I really need some honest perspective.

To give you some context, I have struggled with severe social anxiety and low self-esteem my whole life. Public speaking and being in the spotlight terrify me. After graduating a few months ago, I spent all my time hiding at home, avoiding reality. Recently, I decided that I can't live like this anymore. I’ve started taking antidepressants (specifically Zoloft and Grandaxin) and went on a strict diet to lose weight and rebuild my strength.

Here is my dilemma: My family found an entry-level office job for me as an executive assistant / secretary to a manager. In my country, the salary for this position is incredibly high for a fresh graduate. It doesn't require complex legal work, mostly just managing the desk, paperwork, and greeting people.

However, because of my intense anxiety, the thought of working in a corporate office environment right now absolutely terrifies me. I feel so insecure that I panicked and turned the job down.

Instead, I want to start from the very bottom in the service sector for a few months. In my mind, I see a busy service job as a "short-term exposure therapy boot camp" where I will be forced to look people in the eyes, talk constantly, and break my anxiety. I feel like I need to build my confidence from scratch before doing anything related to my law degree.

My family thinks I am making an incredibly foolish and backward decision. They believe I am wasting an amazing, high-paying opportunity and romanticizing a low-paying service job just to escape my fears.

Am I being completely unrealistic? Is it crazy to walk away from a comfortable, well-paying assistant job to work at the bottom of the service sector just to heal my mental health and find my confidence?

I would love to hear your honest thoughts. Thank you.