I search for something but I don't know what. I think I'm searching for a purpose but I'm not sure if theres something bigger out there for me. Whenever I sit around I feel I have to get up and start looking. I've been coming to these forums to look for answers, but I've found none. I don't know what I'm here to do. I'm 18 years old and not sure if college is the answer. I feel like I could do anything yet I search for something. I feel society is wrong. I want to change it, but I don't know how. Does anyone else feel this way? Does anyone have any thoughts on anything?

Actually, go to college. You'll get ideas there. After a year, you'll have your major goals in life.
See, everyone on Sciforums has one thing in common: they're all passionate about something to the point where they want to investigate it to fullest detail and contribute their ideas. This is a good characteristic you should accuire (sp?) if you don't have it yet.
Welcome to sci's!:)

College does not suit my learning style. They teach in sequential steps through lectures and words. I'm a visual-spatial learner. I need to see the whole picture, I need to visualize. I don't learn in steps, I learn in leaps. College is a waste of my time. Although it is something I know that I'm going to have to do for people to take me seriously. Its another fallacy of society that pisses me off. The education system is pathetic. I can teach myself more efficiently than most schools could.

Nobody is going to teach you in college or anywhere else. You will have to teach yourself, if you really want to learn something.
People go to college to broaden their horizons, to try new things, to meet new people, to get excited about something. Which, it seems, is exactly what you need.

I'd say stop searching and start finding. You can look and look and look and you'll never find the thing that "you need". You can "should" yourself to death like this. When in actuality, meaning is only what you bring to the world. Instead look what's right in front of your nose, look what's around you, see what that has to offer rather than try to find your expectations within it.

Of course the world is going to look negative when it doesn't meet your expectations. In reality there's "good" and "bad" in everything, you'll see what you've been taught or taught yourself to see.

My words are strong because, I've been going through (and still am) the same types of feelings. I'm doing things to correct that and am slowly pulling out.

As for college, don't go if you don't want to. If I could go back and do things over, I'd say I probably wouldn't go to college again. I'm not ashamed or regretful that I have gone to college; It's just that I could have done a lot better things with my time and money.

Philosopher,
I think there are many out there that feel the way you do. Do you also feel that we’re being fed a bunch of crap and you can’t believe how many people readily eat it up? Some would say you are part of the new more enlightened generation (The Indigo Children.) They would say you are ahead of the pack, there are many younger children and most if not all that are born today have this characteristic. They say the indigos are the problem solvers who will lead us through the long and painful transition from a screwed up society to a peaceful, knowledgeable civilization. Good luck! We’re counting on you. :)

As for college, don't go if you don't want to. If I could go back and do things over, I'd say I probably wouldn't go to college again. I'm not ashamed or regretful that I have gone to college; It's just that I could have done a lot better things with my time and money

I knew a lot about the subject before I finally studied it, but there were areas in my field which I would never have entered on my free will (I thougt them stupid, wierd or insignificant) After I have studied them (because they were compulsory) I had to rearrange lot of my previous concepts. (I hated that). But these were ideas which didn't really fitted into my understanding of the subject - that was the reason to leave them out. (After some time it became clear that these ideas I ignored actually didn't oppose my previous concepts, they just adjusted them and (sometimes)even enriched them. At that moment I realised that I owned a lot to my teachers, because they brought me there, at the place where I understood the field much better, finally I was a professional...

Xenu:
It's just that I could have done a lot better things with my time and money.

Like work pink collar, min wage jobs? Sorry dude, but college is pretty much necessary if you want to get a decent job.

/Anticipating comments on why she's a materialistic bitch

Philosopher:
I've been coming to these forums to look for answers, but I've found none. I don't know what I'm here to do.

Nobody does. And there are no real answers.

I'm 18 years old and not sure if college is the answer. I feel like I could do anything yet I search for something. I feel society is wrong. I want to change it, but I don't know how. Does anyone else feel this way? Does anyone have any thoughts on anything?

College isn't the answer. A career isn't the answer. None of the pretty shit that you see in glossy adverts - not even pretty rebellion - is the answer.

You yourself are the answer. Perhaps it's a matter of not knowing the question. Or perhaps I'm babbling koans because I don't have the slightest fucking clue either. :)

I have found that if you are a spacial learner, as i am, it will help if you decide if you want to help people ie. medical helping, mental helping, physical one on one helping etc. or you want to change things as in politics, surroundings, environment.
then take one week out of your life, go to a outreach group or medical clinic, or mental health group clinic, or a meeting of environmentalists. sit through a meeting, session, whatever form they use to dispurse ideas. you will know before you leave if it interests you or not. then you will be able to steer your learning tools towards a positive goal. At 18 you are not supposed to have all the answers just all the questions. you may well find your entire motiveation(sp) for life next week. this is the methods i that have worked for people who ask me for advice on their lifes purpose. just approach any thing you do with apositive attitude and don't frustrate yourself. it will come to you all at once. then put yourself to the task to learn all you can.

It also depends on how you want to affect change, negatively or positively, do you want to be well known or unknown, what level of control do you want in your changes. Life is sort of a guessing game, you make a choice you think is going to get you where you want and what you want and move forward or backward then you base each next step on the previous or ignore the previous and know where you don't want to go.

At 18 you are not supposed to have all the answers just all the questions.
On the other hand some feel that answers usually raise even more questions. Don't get bogged down in answers, look for the right questions.

Like work pink collar, min wage jobs? Sorry dude, but college is pretty much necessary if you want to get a decent job.

Xev, here's another situation, one that happens quite often.

-A person feels like they should go to college.
-They go to college.
-They jump from major to major, because they aren't sure what to do.
-They finally settle on something, because they have aquired quite a bit of credits in it and want to be done with school.
-They get out and have to pay high loan payments.
-They get a job "in their field" that they don't really have much heart for, because that's the only qualifications they have.
-They get stuck in a job they don't really care for, for 30+ years and pray for retirement on a daily basis.

I'm not trying to harp on college, but if you aren't ready for it (as Philosopher is saying) then don't go. Go to because you want to learn about a field, not because you feel like you should have to.


dnottin,

I agree with you fully. These mini apprenticeships can help people understand what they are really matched for. In college, I wish they had internships at the beginning of your degree rather than your senior year (typically). That way you aren't too locked into your major and wasted a ton of money and credits, if a person goes "oh shit, this really isn't what I want to do."

... however....
don't think that going to college is any sort of guarantee for a good (sic) job.

Follow your instinct.

I'm still looking. Although recently, I've been considering the idea of switching over to haplessly wandering. :-)

Try doing a couple years of full time volunteer work or military depending on your preference. You'll find it changes your perspective quite a bit.

Xenu:
Not to get off topic, but I understand. It's why I'm not in college.
*Snickers*
I should have my dad post on this thread.

Seriously, it's a difficult situation. I'd rather not go to college, but I'd also rather not live near or on the poverty line for the rest of my life.

glaucon:
... however....
don't think that going to college is any sort of guarantee for a good (sic) job.

Very true, look at all the Ph'ds flipping burgers or peddling their asses.

I'm still looking. Although recently, I've been considering the idea of switching over to haplessly wandering. :-)

Always a seductive option. :)

Become good at what you want to do but it seems like you don't even know what you want to do.......get to know some rich people...not trying to be jestful but get to know a few people in the know....as for you and your problems with society - well you are another one of the well wishers.....


You could be one in a million or one of the million, it's up to you.

Philosopher: I am sorry to write this, comrade, but . . .
. . . an indispensible requisite for a remunerative and lustrous career in this society is attendence at college.

Unless you wish to pursue a meager and homely employment for the remainder of your vivacious years, please repress your donnish zeal, buckle down, and get a degree.

60 or 70 years ago a more relaxed and whimsical mode of subsistence may have been viable, and some may have even relegated study and monetary hoarding in order to enjoy its tempting lassitude, but today a tedious and banal education is mandatory.

As for this contentment for which you seem to be searching, please don't waste your life hoping that the world will kindly proffer up all your expectations.
If you want to have a decently satisfying life, don't depend on the few outre answers our leprous world will sometimes vomit up.
Like Xev said, look inside yourself: only you can make yourself happy.

There is, of course, the shadowy prospect to which Xex allured with disdain, that of tumultuous revolution, a grandiose and lurid shift in social order, perhaps in fascism, communism, totalitarianism or anarchy.
In this unscrupulous enterprise I would wish you luck, and gladly aid you (for I have no fondness of this world and the capitalistswine who run it.) though I must insist that it would be a dreadfully risky business.


Glaucon: I believe I have told you this before, comrade, but that is an absolutely lovely name. I suppose you have some familiarity with the Classical myth concerning that character? Have you ever translated passages from the Metamorphoses, or anything from Ovid?

Redoubtable:
If you want to have a decently satisfying life, don't depend on the few outre answers our leprous world will sometimes vomit up.

Quite true. Looking to the pigsty of popular culture for answers will only turn up manure.

Finish college. Or perhaps take a year off and backpack around the world for a while (but don't get lost:) )

You won't find any answers in college. College is designed to prepare you for the work place not life.

Keep asking questions. Find answers and discard them when they turn out to be utter nonsense. Keep reading, continue being restless (it can be a quite useful catalyst for change). There is no greater pupose to life outside of the living of it. The older you get the less you will give a spit about society or trying to change it, but if you are serious about change then join an organization that is doing something or create your own grass-roots effort in whatever direction. Look at yourself and if you like who you are then continue, if not then evolve into what you would like to be. If you are confused then just be confused...that too shall pass.

You guys all have good advice that I've really thought about. I feel philosophy is one of my favorite subjects. And government only because I feel we have yet to discover the right one. Capitalism and democracy aren't efficient. I really considered joining the marines about a year ago. I went to the recruiter and took the test and everything. I passed and decided to think about it. But killing is not the answer. Violence is not the answer. I dreamed of being in the military when I was little but I've come to realize that its not the answer. I am a visual spatial learner dnottin. I feel that our government restricts our freedoms. So much so that I couldn't stand to be punished for anything that our government says is wrong. Cause they are wrong. Does anyone else see the problems with them telling you what is right and wrong. The way they try and shield your eyes from the truth. That the people who are in control are actually the last people that should be in control. Those who desire power are the ones that shouldn't have it. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. We must find the leaders. They are people that work hard everyday, who look out for their fellow man but just want to live thier life in peace. Something must be done. Who agrees with me? Who would help in the fight to start a regime change? But before anyone started pointing the finger, we must find the answers to society. Find ways to make it better. Find some way to live under a government that just is there to protect and educate. Our government lost sight of that a long time ago. Now they just go out and attack. Although I did agree with the war in Iraq just because people were suffering.

To Philosopher: Well I for one no longer care about the regime (too tiresome). I guess I no longer believe that society or human nature will change because of a change in government. If the massess of people embraced true freedom we would not need government to make any changes for us...we would create the society we want by creating the lives we want. Alas there are few of us who actually go about doing this. Perhaps you are the new leader come to enlighten (and no I am not taking the piss out on you :) ) If you really believe that politics is the answer and you really care about all those blubbering fools out there then by all means give it your best shot, become deeper involved and do something you know to be just and of benefit to society as a whole.

hey xenu i spent 30 years as a master auto mechanic cause i had to put bread on the table after i thought that was what i wanted to do. did great, but after 5 or so years it wasn't fun, i had went to college for computers but in 69 when i graduated, no jobs, but for military on small puters in aircraft, ibm, as key punch and other mundane type jobs.
so mechanic here i was. the last 15 years have been in computers, i love it, just happened later in life. So in life you just never know whats around the corner.

I'm searching for happiness.

You know, my soulmate, a fulfilling job, a video game that never gets boring. That kind of stuff.

Im with galt, Happiness and love is what im looking for. Also, a chance to prove that this one rival of mine isnt what they say to be. They claim to be an "honorable" person, but act otherwise by threatening (MUCH more seriously than you might think) to kill people who are approximately half their size.

Dinosores are teh G-d.
The answers are within.
Do you know your neighbor?
Do you work?
Experience life - Push paper for a corp
- Dig a ditch
- Offer fries
- Disrupt dinners with fine products
- Fill a truck
- Empty bedpans
- Make sticks become chips
Do you no what you want?
Is it dvds or donuts that drive you?
You know - find it.
For all else...
Dinosores are teh G-d.

Says Philosopher:

Originally posted by Philosopher
I search for something but I don't know what. I think I'm searching for a purpose but I'm not sure if theres something bigger out there for me.........


Of course college is not the answer. While it *is* for prics with paychecks surely its not for anyone haunted with this biting need to find..................something

Victor Frankl is a Jew who was imprisoned in those German labor camps we've all heard about in the 40's and he conducted this cute little experiment on his inmates, his being a bonifide psychologist and all.

Anyway, he set out to define what it is that motivates humanity and founded 'logotherapy' or will to meaning. What's it say?That its meaning, not sex, not reason, not love, not compassion. The prospect of finding all why's is what keeps a man going in the first place.

I second the notion. That's the only reason we're even here and when here just keep going and going to no end- scavage hunting for why's.

Says Redoubtable:
Unless you wish to pursue a meager and homely employment for the remainder of your vivacious years, please repress your donnish zeal, buckle down, and get a degree.

60 or 70 years ago a more relaxed and whimsical mode of subsistence may have been viable, and some may have even relegated study and monetary hoarding in order to enjoy its tempting lassitude, but today a tedious and banal education is mandatory........ that of tumultuous revolution, a grandiose and lurid shift in social order, perhaps in fascism, communism, totalitarianism or anarchy.
In this unscrupulous enterprise I would wish you luck, and gladly aid you (for I have no fondness of this world and the capitalistswine who run it.) though I must insist that it would be a dreadfully risky business.


Now, there *are* nice places for adjectives pompous verbosity, and everywhre is not one of them.

STOP IT.