Don't know what I'm doing with my life

[Jayyyyy]

I'm 21 years old and currently studying hospitality and tourism management at TAFE. I don't even know why I chose this course. I didn't know what else to do, but wanted to do something with my life... I only have a semester left of studying, and still have no idea what I'm going to do.

I am an introverted person which I feel is holding me back a great deal. I haven't had a proper job yet. I've applied for numerous jobs but have never heard back from any. I have no more energy or motivation left in me to continue...

[demonblaster]

Hi Jay welcome

I will get back, putting this on my threads just not sure when

Sometimes posts can take a while so could be more responses coming

☺ cya later

[demonblaster]

Hard not knowing what you want to do, maybe when you do get some work in this area that covers a lot of different aspects with hospitality & tourism too you might then find direction.

It is disheartening, experience has taught me to keep at it, eventually perseverance pays off & everytime you put yourself out there gives opportunity. With time luck changes, doesn't usually stay one way all the time. Life does throw goods at us too, hope sooner than later for you, you're doing the hard yards kudos

It would be a challenge being introverted but that doesn't make you a lesser person, you too have your goods & maybe when you're around more people you'll become more confident if that's a barrier?

Pretty rude isn't it when people put effort in trying & hoping for work & they haven't got the decency to even do a general reply, use to down me too but can't change it so maybe they're not the ones you'd be wanting to work for with those poor ethics

Although I understand you feeling despondent suggest try & keep focus on pushing through.

Happy to be here for you listen & hope to hear how it goes for you.

Best of luck

Talk anytime ☺

[geoff]

hi Jay, welcome to the site and being in hospitality means that there are a multitude of different jobs available, so if you feel capable of finishing your last semester then jobs ranging from Tourism, Restaurants, bar work to Travel Agencies will appear before your eyes, however none of this will happen if you are suffering from any type of depression, which is zapping out any desire and/or energy to complete this course.
I think the jobs you have applied for, maybe waiting until you finish the course because once this happens then your chances will increase enormously, however it really concerns me about how you are actually feeling, I know you're introverted but doesn't mean what you are capable of doing.
Can I say that I was like you before I moved into being and part owning a hotel, where I was behind the bar, this changed my life, I had to talk to everybody who wanted to be served, that's how my confidence improved. Geoff.

[Jayyyyy]

Thank you both for your replies, I really appreciate it.
I want to gain experience, but I can't do that if no one is willing to give me the opportunity to do so. All of my peers have had plenty of work experience, and I just feel left behind in the world. Of course I will finish my course, but it's what I will do afterwards that scares me.

[demonblaster]

Hey jay & geoff

On a bus was going great guns then lost 2 attempts at posting ☺

Bbl

[demonblaster]

Bouncy bus didnt do any favours posting 😄

Jay i hear you, used to say same re getting experience to get work but hold on matey, frustration now but later can be a different story, time moves us to different situations & opportunities

Often is the case we worry about things use up lot of energy become anxious, draining & when the time comes it's different to what we thought, Hoping it works out for you.

You still have a lot of working yrs ahead of you, many don't know what they want to do but I hold hope for you that something might catch your interest in the field your in, if not then when you get onto something else not if, I think you'll find work cause you want to then you'll have this as a backup so not neccessarily wasted time.

Hospitality is a good profession because everywhere people need food/drinks travel etc

How long's a semester?

Hold in there budz ☺ we dont know what the future holds

[Jessicatherese94]

Hi Jay, congratulations on almost finishing your degree. That's a huge achievement. I would recommend perhaps getting into a volunteering role? Next year I'm doing some mentoring with Raise (raise.org) which I think will be pretty awesome, you could check that out and see what you think. That might help you with opening up and talking to a wide range of people without the added pressure of it being a 'job'. You can volunteer in a wide range of roles and usually it only takes up an hour or so a week (just have a google at volunteering). As for what you will do after your degree, I think you should keep applying for jobs and not be disheartened because you haven't heard back. It is hard, but life is really just all about persistence. You also have plenty of time to work things out. I'm 23 and just started a degree in psychology - at this rate I'll be at university until I'm 27. It doesn't bother me though because this is definitely what I want to do. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you have a lot of time to work out exactly what you want to do. Hospitality is a really great industry and there's plenty of room for movement and growth. Take each day as it comes, be persistent and really just go for every opportunity is my advice.

[dreambon]

Hi Jay 🙂 I won't deny that reading stories from people experiencing similar things is comforting. I am in no position to give you advice but I want you to know you are not alone.

I'm a uni student and I just finished my course this semester and do i know what i'm going to do? Nope. I've thought about it soo many times but introverts like us tend to overthink and this can be dangerous. You have no idea how introverted I am- I once took a personality test and it said I was 100% introverted. 100%. When I go out I always fear bumping into people I know, my body just reacts and I immediately turn around or act as if i didn't see them. I've had one part time job and that was because my friend recommended me to her manager but after i quit my confidence just dropped progressively. I hated when companies included 'excellent communication skills' or 'outgoing/bubbly attitude' in their descriptions because I knew ever so well that I didn't fall under those requirements. I started looking for graduate positions and my gosh.. it was even worse. Like i said earlier, I overthink and worry ahead of time for e.g. I'm scared of getting interviewed when I havent even applied for the job yet! I realised that overthinking was only making me hate myself. I started regretting starting Uni because everybody else were so much more intelligent and confident and ambitious than I was.. They were everything I was not. In my second year of Uni I thought of taking a gap year, changing degrees, and even dropping out but I still didn't know what I wanted to do. I've cried so many times because of group work and presentations and assignments that I had no clue and passion of-it was such a nightmare but no matter how much you hate something and regret doing they all become great learning experiences and I believe overcoming those will help us to grow into wiser and open-minded people. As crazy as it may sound, try not to think! My extrovert friend always told me to 'just do it' without thinking WHICH ISNT easy for us introverts but maybe keeping your mind off or distracting yourself every time you fall into that never ending cycle of thinking will at the very least make you feel better.