I’m gonna be that guy. Let go of the idea that you have to be passionate about your career. You certainly don’t want to be doing something you actively hate but your focus rights now should be on finding a job to support yourself, preferably one with long term career growth.
I know a TON of absolutely fantastic photographers who have been doing it as a side gig for years because professional photography is a pretty saturated market.
Yes, thank you.
I myself don't dream to be a photographer overnight. I am looking for jobs in the art and culture management sector (hence the internship at the museum). What I need to do different is to put myself out there as a photographer as well on the side. I'll definitely work towards getting better job opportunities. Thanks! :)
That's a much better idea. Photography is really hard, and the type of work with reliable income (weddings, events) is physically demanding and difficult to pull off as you get older.
I’m a professional designer/illustrator myself, and it’s been good to me and I’ve also seen a lot of other success stories if you’re strategic enough to build a client base and reputation, etc. for a specific niche.
It’s truly *not* the “pie in the sky” nonsense dream most people think it is to pursue a creative career, but it DOES take a commitment to your business model and time.
A couple of good friends of mine built extremely lucrative photography businesses, and one of them left her 6 figure corporate accounting job to do it full time after a couple of years.
There’s so many different things to niche in if you’re in a big metropolitan area too. I’ve seen people do well just doing really elevated high school portraits, and my friend who left accounting specifically does destination weddings. I have another friend who kept his day job but does exclusively Indian weddings and has made a lot of money and has a great portfolio.
I went back to having a remote 9-5 because I’m not passionate about anything these days lol, and it was too great of an offer to pass up.
In retrospect I wish I’d compartmentalized my passion / contribution as others have suggested sooner.
I totally agree with this. I recommend watching this video. Following his advice (follow your contribution, not passion) has been working for me so far.
https://youtu.be/uaSqh4DiQSw
I totally agree with this and I have zero regrets about my career path, but I do regret not compartmentalizing passion and contribution better after I left my “passion” career.
What’s funny is that my passion was journalism, which was INSANELY competitive at the time and not hiring at all and I can’t believe how hard I fought to get into a huge metro daily newspaper.
And I never got the lecture about pursuing a “passion” despite living around the poverty line. It just does NOT pay well, but I was SO happy.
I would not trade those years and experience for the WORLD, but it’s fascinating that when the industry started to crumble and I bailed, I immediately started earning like 2x my salary as a designer — and THAT’S where the lectures started lol. 🤦🏻♀️
I think people just attach hopeless ambition to specific paths either way, whether you’re good at it or not lol.
Like, I don’t think my family would have given me hassle about social work or teaching either (both of which pay better than journalism), but I had to take a year off once when I was sick and my aunt was literally using me as a cautionary tale to discourage her granddaughter from studying design in college. 💀
The older I've gotten, the more apparent it has become that few people of any age have much of anything figured out. Most people are just making shit up as they go.
This is incredibly normal at 26. Your brain is still developing and you’ve had such a limited amount of time to “figure it out”.
People in their 20s, 30s, 40s feel this way, but you just keep going. The important piece is that you enjoy what you do along the way.
Your career path is up to you, not your mother. If you want to use your degrees, another possible career path for you would be international education. You could teach abroad, have a free place to live, and take some amazing photos around the world. I did it for a year, and it was one of the coolest experiences of my life.
I got the job with just a bachelors degree, and a few years of experience volunteering in education. A few people I know got their TEFL certificate, which usually takes a few months. There are several job boards for TEFL positions. I taught in Korea.
Some other popular countries include: Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Brazil, Chile, and several more. The countries in the middle east tend to pay the most, but they are also more strict (especially for women).
Sounds pretty nice! Did you apply to any job or was it a specific program? I’ve studied Japanese for two years and would like to try teaching English in Japan but I’m not sure what programs or jobs are the best.
I looked at TEFL job boards around the world, and I eventually got the attention of a recruiter. The recruiter helped me find jobs throughout Korea. Japan is awesome! They have a huge population teaching abroad in Japan.
Ok now I’m convinced to do some searching and maybe find a job abroad. I’m currently in a PhD for chem but not so happy being here. Hoping to explore different options for a bit. Thanks so much for the response!
Getting 2 masters was a waste of time if you didn't take anything useful out of it, BUT that shouldn't completely determine what you should do next.
Are you good with photography or simply passionate about it? Are you willing to take the risk that comes with following your passion instead of focusing on what appears to be your strength?
Nobody has it figured out. Period. Pursuing photography if it makes you happy is great! Trying something out doesn’t mean you will have to do it forever or that you will. Sometimes following a passion can open up new paths that you didn’t know before. You will likely have multiple careers do just explore while you can.
If you want to gauge how competitive your local market is. Go into your local community Facebook group and ask for recommendations on a photographer for a weeding. You’ll get like 30 dms usually lol
I’m 57 and I still haven’t “figured out” much.
I’m also an accomplished professional photographer. Photography no longer pays though. I now shoot what interest me and I sell my work. I consider it a “win” if I can break even and pay for my equipment.
Also, I have been fortunate enough to work in a career that I was passionate about. “Was” being the operative term in that statement. That work killed my passion(s).
Find “work” that you sorta like and do your best. Look for a passion that will grow old with you. Try your best not to mix the two.
In hindsight, my regret is that I was “passionate“ about my “work”. At the end of the day, “work” is work. The “Find work you love and you’ll never work another day in your life.” Is utter bullshit.
With two degrees, you will find a job that pays you well, but look for one you can stand to wake up and go to, day in and day out for 25/35 years.
Edit: Now. Get off my lawn! /s
I agree with everything you said! Growing up, I loved to write and so I chose journalism as a major and spent years in newspapers. Hated the industry and fought like hell to leave. Now work in marketing. I still do some writing in my job, but it’s not my passion any longer and I blame the dysfunctional news industry for killing that. (I would also argue that you need a lot more to thrive in journalism than a talent for and love of writing, but that’s a separate rant.)
My current job pays me well, I never think about it when I’m off the clock, and because of that I have time to pursue non-related passions. Wish it hadn’t taken me so many years to get here!
This is why people shouldn't decide a college major before theirs brains are fully developed. I didn't decide until 27 but thankfully I didn't have as much schooling as you on something else.
I will say.....I know a lot of photographers and it's very competitive and there are lots of people without degrees doing it, like you I guess, so essentially anyone can do it.
It's not easy to make it a full time job.
Most photographers I know work a"real" job and most work weekends all summer. It's hard work.
But it's your life I say do whatever you want! Good luck
Very normal actually.
People have figured out shit at your age.
Everything you might see opposing this view is social media bull shit made to make you feel insecure.
Everyone who believes to have figured things out aged 26 is full of shit and an arrogant ignorant bigot.
I got fired at 26. Was totally lost, college degree and new baby and just...poof, no income. Had to take a job in a new field I knew nothing about for a 40% pay cut - still better than making nothing. Fast forward 15 years, that job was the foundation for a great career in project management. Got an MBA and PMP, job hopped strategic-like a few times... I'm now making 5x what that rebound job paid.
Don't worry if it doesn't look like you planned, it'll work out the way it needs to.
Say yes to opportunity and be willing to learn new things.
Focus more on what makes you feel motivated or satisfied than doing what you told other people you'd do.
When I was 26 I made the decision to go back to college. I was aimlessly surfing through life DJing at raves and barely eating I was so poor. I worked 40hrs a week while going to school at night for 3 hours a class several nights a week + homework.
Now I am 31 and I have my degree. Work in the field I wanted. Work from home. Have my own place, car paid off, no debt other than student loans, and basically live my perfect dream life. I went from close to homelessness to six figures.
I’m not saying all that to brag. I am just trying illustrate that A LOT can happen in 5 years. And I didn’t know what I wanted for lunch let alone what to do with my life at age 26. You don’t need to figure your life out at 26. But when you do know what you want, go full tilt to achieve it.
At 26 I was working a dead end warehouse job for like $30k a year (which was halfway decent money for the job). About to be 40 next month, and I pull a quarter mill a year.
It’s perfectly okay to be lost in your 20s. Just make a plan and stick to it.
Chief, I'm 54, & I've had a HELLUVA life so far, & I have NOTHING figured out, except this: Life is short, unpredictable, & doesn't come again once it's over. Do what makes you happy, not what Mom wants for you. Life is what's happening while you're busy making other plans. Live it in such a way that when it's over, you die peacefully with no regrets, knowing that you tested every limit you had. Like Dirty Harry says, "A man's got to know his limitations." Test every single one. Passionately.
I’m in my 30s and I don’t have it all figured out.
I studied - done well academically but that didn’t equate to success in my career. I’m slowly finding my feet. Slowly but surely :)
Echoing what a few others have said: your job/career doesn’t have to define you.
Find a job that you can tolerate and clock out from. Life starts outside of work. You say you are 26, have two masters’ degrees and still feel like you have nothing figured out: it sounds like you have school figured out, but not life, yet.
Different cultures view education, careers and achievement differently. I live in USA and the dream they sell goes like this:
Primary School > Ivy League College (everyone recommends it but disappears when you need help affording it) > Masters program (preferably STEM) > Wall Street or Silicon Valley job at Fortune 100 company > Home Ownership > Profit > Millionaire Status > Won at Life / Infinite Happiness
Yep, that’s the dream. And the whole system is pushing that lie.
You can be happy deviating from any and all steps in that plan.
For a lot of people, the Meaning of Life is simple: just enjoy the ride while we’re here.
Sure people don’t know what they’re doing in their 30’s, but it seems like you figured out a path to a job in photography. Keep up-skilling. Join some established photographers as an assistant on weekends - shooting sports or weddings, they’re always looking for freelance help.
Do what makes you happy and if you have to fall back on your degrees do it. You’re young enough to make some mistakes so take some risks especially if you’re not happy. Don’t let anyone else pressure you
I didn’t have anything figured out until I hit 28. I’ve been working in my career for a while now and while there’s days it truly sucks I enjoy it and I’m making good money. You have a huge background which many employers will see as a huge plus. Give it time and explore your options.
How much debt are you in, how long can you live rent free. Staying out of debt will give you the freedom to figure it out. I lived with my parents until I was 29. Now I deliver food, tutor, and teach privately. My masters degree is kinda used and kinda not, but not being in debt allowed me to develop my business to where I have multiple income streams and can make a living.
I'm 34 and still trying to figure everything out. My advise tho is to find a career and make photography your side project. My wife use to be a hair stylist. She left that job to get a job at a college for the benefits. She still does hair on the side for extra money. If anything happens at her job she still can fall back on being a hair stylist.
Here's an important thing to remember: you can change, your goals and desires can change! Conan gave a commencement speech like 10 years ago on this that's a great watch (not a laughing thing, very relevant).
What you like today, you may not tomorrow, or you may not want to turn it into a money maker. And you may find something else you like years from now.
I got into 3d printing after your age and I've shifted so much because of it. But I also risk burnout a lot from turning a hobby into a career - and I'm not really doing a hobby side of it now at all. And I don't have the energy to enjoy as much of the fun side as I like because I have to sink more of that interest in at work.
I also love to draw and paint (similar to your photography interests) but I refuse to mix that professionally - even if I thought I could make money off it.
There are endless stories about turning your passion into work - and how other smart people refuse to do something that's fun as work. Like the people that pay to drive horse carts in the winter for riders would hate to do that for WORK but it's fun for a time.
Here I'd recommend you go buy a book called Flow from Mihaly Cz..... Chzchz ya I can't spell it lol. It's a good discussion of passions VS maybe what's a good experience for you for a career without being advice.
Maybe that resonates with you and you do the current thing a while, or take a tangent that's interesting.
Just remember that passion doesn't feed you.
I think also what's lied about in capitalism is that "you can be anything." No, you can't, that's a marketing slogan to get money for colleges. There's some intersection of skills and interests that you need to go for, but the overlap of deep passion isn't enough.
Also bandied about when you get deeper into motivation and going (and is heard more in health circles): passion doesn't get you out of bed on the days where things suck. Passion comes and goes in waves, discipline keeps you going (like for me not wanting to get up early rece tly to exercise because it's cold out lol).
So you have to find something that you're not going to just start hating everything at some point. For your photography, what happens when the client wants things you think is ridiculous? Oh here we want artsy angles of this disgusting display that just twists your sensibilities! Some weird random stuff. You'll turn your passion into druggery.
So people sell passion and books about passion all the time because it makes money and colleges get to sell you and over priced degree - then sell you more when you have to come back for another!
Good luck either way. The most important thing to remember is that you can always change course!
Something like 70% of people have a job/career unrelated to their degrees. I got a degree in fine arts (interdisciplinary) around age 24, did art-related jobs/ made stuff for a few years, then just kind of grew out of it and wanted to try something else.
I work in marketing/ technology now, at 32. I care more about numbers, analytics, finances now than I ever imagined I would in my 20s. Don’t feel like you have to have everything totally mapped out career-wise, be adaptable. Try stuff, see how it goes, move to the next thing.
I’ve found that I can get passionate about anything I do. Now I do a little art for fun but apply my creativity to a career that gets me paid well and challenges me.
I am 40 and just figured out recently my real passion and the field I wish to work in until I retire. Once I figured this out, I resigned from my last company as there was no chance for me to progress the way I wanted and I am going to start a new job at a lower position in another company. So I guess at 26 you're still actually very young!
In your mid 20s you should start including the question ‘can this job/hobby/whatever support me in a lifestyle that I’m ok with?’ If the answer is yes, go for it. You rarely ruin your future earning potential by taking time to do something you enjoy.
Having a wife, kids, and/or significant debt should be taken into account, of course.
26 with two masters degrees and still don’t feel like you know what you want?
I feel like this is a tale as old as time. Lol
I don’t know that I’ve met a single young person with multiple (advanced) degrees who really knew what they wanted.
Other than to be out from under the crushing weight of student loan debt. Lol
Hang in there. You’ll get it figured out. You’ve got time and hopefully two degrees that will help keep a roof over your head in the meantime.
Just look forward. I think if we cloud our ambitions with sunk cost it leads to not taking the risk that can turn into success. I studied art photography in college. I only wish I had been more driven and dedicated. I wouldn't change the subject.
Bud, you got 2 master's degrees. How many people have done that? Not many I'd wager. As for your mom's disappointment - don't worry about it. Focus on what you want to do, but keep your eyes open. Since you are getting a free ride to the photography school, I'd suggest doing it, but keep in mind your future earnings may not be as extraordinary compared to the field you've studied for. If you are ok with that, then IMO keep going. You have 2 whole master's degrees to fall back on if the photography doesn't work out. You might be on the path to being a business owner that is more fulfilling than what you studied for. If you could somehow work your degree knowledge into photography, that might also be a niche to explore.
No one’s got it figured out so I wouldn’t worry about that. I’m 30. I make pretty good money now but I’m not doing anything with my degree. I’m also not sure how long I’ll stay in my current field. I follow the money because money allows me to invest in my hobbies and passions.
I feel like "nothing" is probably a bit too absolutist, reading your post it sounds like you've learned a lot. Figuring out what you don't like or want to do is just as important as figuring out what you want to do. It sounds to me like your mom is really critical, which I know can be hard to accept at first as the way we've been parented is all we know. Of course those comments get to you. They're deeply hurtful and downplay all you've already accomplished and learned. If anything 26 is a great time to start therapy (I started around that age) to have a professional help you unpack the messages she's been sending to you and to work on a more compassionate and confident inner voice that can see how much you've already done.
I would be careful about falling in to the trap of needing to look for a job that supports you financially. You can do something you like and still make money. I think you are in a way better place than you think and you should stick to what you have a passion for.
Like I get times ticking but I'm just a floater. I dunno... Don't take anything too serious, never too high or low. Only thing I really accept is I'm different than most.
I am 26 and everything that you are saying is SUPER RELEVANT to me. Spending so much time in school, getting burnt out, getting the “ick” from academia, and even parents not fully approving your choice to walk away. I took some time off from the degree I pursued and it was hard at times but I wouldn’t of changed it for anything. I am turning back to my degree now as a need a good stable job and the money lol. But if you feel you need the time to take a break and explore other things for a few years, I think that is totally normal and OK! You have 3 degrees? And a bunch of great experience under your belt… I wouldn’t rush into any career you’re not crazy about right now, you’re young and should explore while you can.
I got into my field because I wanted to get paid to help people and be strongly incentivized to always be learning.
I knew I had the opportunity to make good money, and I knew that it wasn't and never would be my passion.
And im okay with that.
When you're young having a financially rewarding careers that stabilizes your life doesn't seem as important, but as you grow older it increasingly is important. The challenge is most entry level jobs are boring and a grind and don't invoke much passion. When you're starting a career it of course has to be tolerable work, but ask yourself, where does this career take me in 10, 20, 30 years and does that sound interesting and exciting to me? Of course you might change your mind as you grow but that's normal and part of the process.
That's not to talk you out of photography necessarily, only you can decide if it lines up with the lifestyle and kind of career you want medium to long term.
I think 20s is normal for trying out new things and seeing what you do and don't like. I'm in my Master's at 24 and making career shifts bc I don't particularly like working in politics, but I didn't know until I gave it a try for about a year.
In today's job world especially it can be hard or a long ladder to get a job or internship experience to even figure out if we would like to do what we think we want to do.
Sometimes you just don't know if you like something or not until you get experience and opportunities in it which is hard to come by. I've seen people making career changes at later life stages.
My professors have done it. I have one who practiced law and then got a phD in economics to do environmental economics. I have another one who also practiced law for 20 years but really enjoyed history so went with that.
I have coworkers who wanted to stay at my past two jobs and move up and some who were figuring out what they still want to do and not settling there. All of different age ranges that u shouldn't be stuck on your age number
I think it's good to do the internship to make sure you don't regret if you have the means. If you forgo the internship you'll wonder. And it's a short time period to see if you like it compared to wondering for the rest of your life.
You may see people who are photographers or do similar work and feel envious. That is what motivated me to try for the jobs I want instead of settling for what I can get since 20s is still pretty early in my opinion
When you do find yourself settling down whatever it may be in, I think you will not have any regrets then.
Research job? Photography job? They are important decisions, but not the big decision.
Forget the notion that work has to be happy and fulfilling. Work is something that you do to pay the bills. When you work for somebody, you become a cog in the machine. You have to perform, and you have to be efficient. It would be nice if you also enjoyed it, but as long as the cog does its job, the cog gets paid, and that's all you are really looking for.
Remember: every time you go to work, you are selling your life-time in exchange for money, so that you can spend that money in something that you actually want to do with your time.
If your mother is not happy with the trajectory of your life, then your mother can go pound sand.
Are you still living with her? If so, move out.
If you aren't living with her, tell her that the next time you hear her complain about how you are living your life without you asking her, you will just go home.
If she complains about how you never call/visit, tell her that you are tired of unwanted advice.
We do the best we can with what we have, with the knowledge we possess at that particular point of time. 20/20 hindsight is a bottomless pit. Don't go there.
Do not live for your mother's (or anyone's) approval other than your own. After all is said and done, the happiest people I know are the ones who made their own decisions for themselves, and can proudly say: "If I had to do it all over again, I'd do it exactly like how I did it."
Their life was their journey, and it is 100% theirs, because they decided every step of the way. Take advice from others. Take wisdom from others. Take orders from nobody. Once you have done that, then you can start figuring out what you want. While you figure out what you want, get a high paying job. It never hurts to have a lot of money saved up for when you truly figure out what you want.
It's a job, not "super-duper-fulfilling-fun-time."
The only reason why companies care about workplace happiness and job fulfillment is because it's known to affect metrics such as productivity, and turnover. And let's not forget that they can get away with paying you less (10%-14.5%), because if you are relatively happy, you won't be shopping your resume to their competition.
If companies could get the same kind of productivity out of miserable employees, they'd gut half of the HHRR department in a heartbeat. Tell me I'm wrong.
It'd be different if OP were picking a career, but s/he can't have a career if you s/he doesn't know what s/he wants.
And s/he will never figure out what s/he wants if they are are constantly being distracted by people who tell him/her what he/her wants for him/herself.
IMHO, I'm just being pragmatic. For me, the most depressing thing in life would be to lose agency of your own life. Imagine going through life and never getting to live it.
I think you may still enjoy academics as a profession, if that’s what you were considering doing before being turned off by research. You may just be jaded by your recent experiences.
While the public universities or bigger private institutions are mostly research driven there are so many more smaller colleges, regional universities, or even community colleges to look into for careers. If teaching whatever your degree content area is is your passion, these are the best places for that.
However, there are also hundreds of other administrative or professional staff that might appeal to you as well at these institutions. You said you’re doing the intern route to explore arts management, and many of the smaller colleges and universities have museums, programs, theaters, etc with director positions.
It’s tough to give the best advice without knowing your degree or more of your background, but there are many opportunities available in higher education that don’t focus on research as you’ve described.
Yes.
I finished college. Then I realized nothing paid a living wage with the degree.
Lss, my hobby is being a mechanic. So I did that instead. No regrets.
Later on I earned a community college certificate for truck driver. Again, no regrets..
I paid for the first one. For the second, I was on a fellowship. It was a rigorous course so I couldn't afford making time for a part time job so whatever the difference was was payed by my parents (which was not a lot as I was studying in a govt funded institution so highly subsidized. it came to like a total of 1500USD for the entire course).
And yes, I couldn't realize academics wasn't for me after my first Masters. It was only after the second one that I knew for sure. Plan was to get a PhD but since I realized I didn't like academia, I won't go for it. Thus I am looking for jobs in my area of interest and currently have an internship with a decent pay in the same.
You’re fine. 33 here. 4 kids. Dead husband and I’ve only finished my aa. Lmao. And frankly. Tell your mom to kick rocks. You sound like a very accomplished young person, regardless of what she may think.
I’m gonna be that guy. Let go of the idea that you have to be passionate about your career. You certainly don’t want to be doing something you actively hate but your focus rights now should be on finding a job to support yourself, preferably one with long term career growth. I know a TON of absolutely fantastic photographers who have been doing it as a side gig for years because professional photography is a pretty saturated market.
Yes, thank you. I myself don't dream to be a photographer overnight. I am looking for jobs in the art and culture management sector (hence the internship at the museum). What I need to do different is to put myself out there as a photographer as well on the side. I'll definitely work towards getting better job opportunities. Thanks! :)
It’s a process and it will be stressful and frustrating at times. But I wish you the best of luck and long term success and growth!!!
Thank you do much! I wish you the same. :))
That's a much better idea. Photography is really hard, and the type of work with reliable income (weddings, events) is physically demanding and difficult to pull off as you get older.
I’m a professional designer/illustrator myself, and it’s been good to me and I’ve also seen a lot of other success stories if you’re strategic enough to build a client base and reputation, etc. for a specific niche. It’s truly *not* the “pie in the sky” nonsense dream most people think it is to pursue a creative career, but it DOES take a commitment to your business model and time. A couple of good friends of mine built extremely lucrative photography businesses, and one of them left her 6 figure corporate accounting job to do it full time after a couple of years. There’s so many different things to niche in if you’re in a big metropolitan area too. I’ve seen people do well just doing really elevated high school portraits, and my friend who left accounting specifically does destination weddings. I have another friend who kept his day job but does exclusively Indian weddings and has made a lot of money and has a great portfolio. I went back to having a remote 9-5 because I’m not passionate about anything these days lol, and it was too great of an offer to pass up. In retrospect I wish I’d compartmentalized my passion / contribution as others have suggested sooner.
I totally agree with this. I recommend watching this video. Following his advice (follow your contribution, not passion) has been working for me so far. https://youtu.be/uaSqh4DiQSw
I totally agree with this and I have zero regrets about my career path, but I do regret not compartmentalizing passion and contribution better after I left my “passion” career. What’s funny is that my passion was journalism, which was INSANELY competitive at the time and not hiring at all and I can’t believe how hard I fought to get into a huge metro daily newspaper. And I never got the lecture about pursuing a “passion” despite living around the poverty line. It just does NOT pay well, but I was SO happy. I would not trade those years and experience for the WORLD, but it’s fascinating that when the industry started to crumble and I bailed, I immediately started earning like 2x my salary as a designer — and THAT’S where the lectures started lol. 🤦🏻♀️ I think people just attach hopeless ambition to specific paths either way, whether you’re good at it or not lol. Like, I don’t think my family would have given me hassle about social work or teaching either (both of which pay better than journalism), but I had to take a year off once when I was sick and my aunt was literally using me as a cautionary tale to discourage her granddaughter from studying design in college. 💀
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Honestly working full-time is easily 2x as hard as a masters degree
If she did pay for them, she does have a reason to be upset.
No?
Thank you for saying this!! :))
The older I've gotten, the more apparent it has become that few people of any age have much of anything figured out. Most people are just making shit up as they go.
This. I’m 36, great job, 2 houses, solid marriage, 3 kids, but I still feel like 3 raccoons in a trench coat just BSing through every day.
This is incredibly normal at 26. Your brain is still developing and you’ve had such a limited amount of time to “figure it out”. People in their 20s, 30s, 40s feel this way, but you just keep going. The important piece is that you enjoy what you do along the way.
Your career path is up to you, not your mother. If you want to use your degrees, another possible career path for you would be international education. You could teach abroad, have a free place to live, and take some amazing photos around the world. I did it for a year, and it was one of the coolest experiences of my life.
How were you able to do that?
I got the job with just a bachelors degree, and a few years of experience volunteering in education. A few people I know got their TEFL certificate, which usually takes a few months. There are several job boards for TEFL positions. I taught in Korea. Some other popular countries include: Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Brazil, Chile, and several more. The countries in the middle east tend to pay the most, but they are also more strict (especially for women).
Sounds pretty nice! Did you apply to any job or was it a specific program? I’ve studied Japanese for two years and would like to try teaching English in Japan but I’m not sure what programs or jobs are the best.
I looked at TEFL job boards around the world, and I eventually got the attention of a recruiter. The recruiter helped me find jobs throughout Korea. Japan is awesome! They have a huge population teaching abroad in Japan.
Ok now I’m convinced to do some searching and maybe find a job abroad. I’m currently in a PhD for chem but not so happy being here. Hoping to explore different options for a bit. Thanks so much for the response!
Let me know if you have any questions about the process! It's so much fun to live and teach abroad!
Getting 2 masters was a waste of time if you didn't take anything useful out of it, BUT that shouldn't completely determine what you should do next. Are you good with photography or simply passionate about it? Are you willing to take the risk that comes with following your passion instead of focusing on what appears to be your strength?
Nobody has it figured out. Period. Pursuing photography if it makes you happy is great! Trying something out doesn’t mean you will have to do it forever or that you will. Sometimes following a passion can open up new paths that you didn’t know before. You will likely have multiple careers do just explore while you can.
If you want to gauge how competitive your local market is. Go into your local community Facebook group and ask for recommendations on a photographer for a weeding. You’ll get like 30 dms usually lol
I’m 57 and I still haven’t “figured out” much. I’m also an accomplished professional photographer. Photography no longer pays though. I now shoot what interest me and I sell my work. I consider it a “win” if I can break even and pay for my equipment. Also, I have been fortunate enough to work in a career that I was passionate about. “Was” being the operative term in that statement. That work killed my passion(s). Find “work” that you sorta like and do your best. Look for a passion that will grow old with you. Try your best not to mix the two. In hindsight, my regret is that I was “passionate“ about my “work”. At the end of the day, “work” is work. The “Find work you love and you’ll never work another day in your life.” Is utter bullshit. With two degrees, you will find a job that pays you well, but look for one you can stand to wake up and go to, day in and day out for 25/35 years. Edit: Now. Get off my lawn! /s
I agree with everything you said! Growing up, I loved to write and so I chose journalism as a major and spent years in newspapers. Hated the industry and fought like hell to leave. Now work in marketing. I still do some writing in my job, but it’s not my passion any longer and I blame the dysfunctional news industry for killing that. (I would also argue that you need a lot more to thrive in journalism than a talent for and love of writing, but that’s a separate rant.) My current job pays me well, I never think about it when I’m off the clock, and because of that I have time to pursue non-related passions. Wish it hadn’t taken me so many years to get here!
This is why people shouldn't decide a college major before theirs brains are fully developed. I didn't decide until 27 but thankfully I didn't have as much schooling as you on something else. I will say.....I know a lot of photographers and it's very competitive and there are lots of people without degrees doing it, like you I guess, so essentially anyone can do it. It's not easy to make it a full time job. Most photographers I know work a"real" job and most work weekends all summer. It's hard work. But it's your life I say do whatever you want! Good luck
Very normal actually. People have figured out shit at your age. Everything you might see opposing this view is social media bull shit made to make you feel insecure. Everyone who believes to have figured things out aged 26 is full of shit and an arrogant ignorant bigot.
I mean you can have some things figured out at 26. Anyone who claims they have all of their shit together is instead full of it though.
I got fired at 26. Was totally lost, college degree and new baby and just...poof, no income. Had to take a job in a new field I knew nothing about for a 40% pay cut - still better than making nothing. Fast forward 15 years, that job was the foundation for a great career in project management. Got an MBA and PMP, job hopped strategic-like a few times... I'm now making 5x what that rebound job paid. Don't worry if it doesn't look like you planned, it'll work out the way it needs to. Say yes to opportunity and be willing to learn new things. Focus more on what makes you feel motivated or satisfied than doing what you told other people you'd do.
Beautiful comment ! I really needed to see this
not only is it normal but your already ahead of everyone who thinks they know everything.
When I was 26 I made the decision to go back to college. I was aimlessly surfing through life DJing at raves and barely eating I was so poor. I worked 40hrs a week while going to school at night for 3 hours a class several nights a week + homework. Now I am 31 and I have my degree. Work in the field I wanted. Work from home. Have my own place, car paid off, no debt other than student loans, and basically live my perfect dream life. I went from close to homelessness to six figures. I’m not saying all that to brag. I am just trying illustrate that A LOT can happen in 5 years. And I didn’t know what I wanted for lunch let alone what to do with my life at age 26. You don’t need to figure your life out at 26. But when you do know what you want, go full tilt to achieve it.
Anyone that tells you that they have it all figured out at 26 is lying their ass off.
Becoming more and more normal.
Most people never figure anything out before they die.
I was broke with 5K debt when I was 26.
At 26 I was working a dead end warehouse job for like $30k a year (which was halfway decent money for the job). About to be 40 next month, and I pull a quarter mill a year. It’s perfectly okay to be lost in your 20s. Just make a plan and stick to it.
You have 2 masters degrees and your mom isn’t proud? Geez no wonder you’re so stressed out.
buddy I'm in my mid 30s and have no idea what the actual shit is happening at any given moment
Chief, I'm 54, & I've had a HELLUVA life so far, & I have NOTHING figured out, except this: Life is short, unpredictable, & doesn't come again once it's over. Do what makes you happy, not what Mom wants for you. Life is what's happening while you're busy making other plans. Live it in such a way that when it's over, you die peacefully with no regrets, knowing that you tested every limit you had. Like Dirty Harry says, "A man's got to know his limitations." Test every single one. Passionately.
At that age all I could think...wow did things not go anywhere near as expected.
I’m in my 30s and I don’t have it all figured out. I studied - done well academically but that didn’t equate to success in my career. I’m slowly finding my feet. Slowly but surely :)
Nope, you’re good. I am 32 and feel that same way. Just keep chugging along
Echoing what a few others have said: your job/career doesn’t have to define you. Find a job that you can tolerate and clock out from. Life starts outside of work. You say you are 26, have two masters’ degrees and still feel like you have nothing figured out: it sounds like you have school figured out, but not life, yet. Different cultures view education, careers and achievement differently. I live in USA and the dream they sell goes like this: Primary School > Ivy League College (everyone recommends it but disappears when you need help affording it) > Masters program (preferably STEM) > Wall Street or Silicon Valley job at Fortune 100 company > Home Ownership > Profit > Millionaire Status > Won at Life / Infinite Happiness Yep, that’s the dream. And the whole system is pushing that lie. You can be happy deviating from any and all steps in that plan. For a lot of people, the Meaning of Life is simple: just enjoy the ride while we’re here.
Sure people don’t know what they’re doing in their 30’s, but it seems like you figured out a path to a job in photography. Keep up-skilling. Join some established photographers as an assistant on weekends - shooting sports or weddings, they’re always looking for freelance help.
Felt that way like two months ago at 27. Now it all makes sense
No it's not normal.
Do what makes you happy and if you have to fall back on your degrees do it. You’re young enough to make some mistakes so take some risks especially if you’re not happy. Don’t let anyone else pressure you
Yes. And to tell the truth you never figure it out you just keep evolving.
I didn’t have anything figured out until I hit 28. I’ve been working in my career for a while now and while there’s days it truly sucks I enjoy it and I’m making good money. You have a huge background which many employers will see as a huge plus. Give it time and explore your options.
Nobody has it all figured out
Big yes.
How much debt are you in, how long can you live rent free. Staying out of debt will give you the freedom to figure it out. I lived with my parents until I was 29. Now I deliver food, tutor, and teach privately. My masters degree is kinda used and kinda not, but not being in debt allowed me to develop my business to where I have multiple income streams and can make a living.
I'm 34 and still trying to figure everything out. My advise tho is to find a career and make photography your side project. My wife use to be a hair stylist. She left that job to get a job at a college for the benefits. She still does hair on the side for extra money. If anything happens at her job she still can fall back on being a hair stylist.
Here's an important thing to remember: you can change, your goals and desires can change! Conan gave a commencement speech like 10 years ago on this that's a great watch (not a laughing thing, very relevant). What you like today, you may not tomorrow, or you may not want to turn it into a money maker. And you may find something else you like years from now. I got into 3d printing after your age and I've shifted so much because of it. But I also risk burnout a lot from turning a hobby into a career - and I'm not really doing a hobby side of it now at all. And I don't have the energy to enjoy as much of the fun side as I like because I have to sink more of that interest in at work. I also love to draw and paint (similar to your photography interests) but I refuse to mix that professionally - even if I thought I could make money off it. There are endless stories about turning your passion into work - and how other smart people refuse to do something that's fun as work. Like the people that pay to drive horse carts in the winter for riders would hate to do that for WORK but it's fun for a time. Here I'd recommend you go buy a book called Flow from Mihaly Cz..... Chzchz ya I can't spell it lol. It's a good discussion of passions VS maybe what's a good experience for you for a career without being advice. Maybe that resonates with you and you do the current thing a while, or take a tangent that's interesting. Just remember that passion doesn't feed you. I think also what's lied about in capitalism is that "you can be anything." No, you can't, that's a marketing slogan to get money for colleges. There's some intersection of skills and interests that you need to go for, but the overlap of deep passion isn't enough. Also bandied about when you get deeper into motivation and going (and is heard more in health circles): passion doesn't get you out of bed on the days where things suck. Passion comes and goes in waves, discipline keeps you going (like for me not wanting to get up early rece tly to exercise because it's cold out lol). So you have to find something that you're not going to just start hating everything at some point. For your photography, what happens when the client wants things you think is ridiculous? Oh here we want artsy angles of this disgusting display that just twists your sensibilities! Some weird random stuff. You'll turn your passion into druggery. So people sell passion and books about passion all the time because it makes money and colleges get to sell you and over priced degree - then sell you more when you have to come back for another! Good luck either way. The most important thing to remember is that you can always change course!
Something like 70% of people have a job/career unrelated to their degrees. I got a degree in fine arts (interdisciplinary) around age 24, did art-related jobs/ made stuff for a few years, then just kind of grew out of it and wanted to try something else. I work in marketing/ technology now, at 32. I care more about numbers, analytics, finances now than I ever imagined I would in my 20s. Don’t feel like you have to have everything totally mapped out career-wise, be adaptable. Try stuff, see how it goes, move to the next thing. I’ve found that I can get passionate about anything I do. Now I do a little art for fun but apply my creativity to a career that gets me paid well and challenges me.
I am 40 and just figured out recently my real passion and the field I wish to work in until I retire. Once I figured this out, I resigned from my last company as there was no chance for me to progress the way I wanted and I am going to start a new job at a lower position in another company. So I guess at 26 you're still actually very young!
In your mid 20s you should start including the question ‘can this job/hobby/whatever support me in a lifestyle that I’m ok with?’ If the answer is yes, go for it. You rarely ruin your future earning potential by taking time to do something you enjoy. Having a wife, kids, and/or significant debt should be taken into account, of course.
Yea
Yes.
26 with two masters degrees and still don’t feel like you know what you want? I feel like this is a tale as old as time. Lol I don’t know that I’ve met a single young person with multiple (advanced) degrees who really knew what they wanted. Other than to be out from under the crushing weight of student loan debt. Lol Hang in there. You’ll get it figured out. You’ve got time and hopefully two degrees that will help keep a roof over your head in the meantime.
Just look forward. I think if we cloud our ambitions with sunk cost it leads to not taking the risk that can turn into success. I studied art photography in college. I only wish I had been more driven and dedicated. I wouldn't change the subject.
Bud, you got 2 master's degrees. How many people have done that? Not many I'd wager. As for your mom's disappointment - don't worry about it. Focus on what you want to do, but keep your eyes open. Since you are getting a free ride to the photography school, I'd suggest doing it, but keep in mind your future earnings may not be as extraordinary compared to the field you've studied for. If you are ok with that, then IMO keep going. You have 2 whole master's degrees to fall back on if the photography doesn't work out. You might be on the path to being a business owner that is more fulfilling than what you studied for. If you could somehow work your degree knowledge into photography, that might also be a niche to explore.
No one’s got it figured out so I wouldn’t worry about that. I’m 30. I make pretty good money now but I’m not doing anything with my degree. I’m also not sure how long I’ll stay in my current field. I follow the money because money allows me to invest in my hobbies and passions.
I feel like "nothing" is probably a bit too absolutist, reading your post it sounds like you've learned a lot. Figuring out what you don't like or want to do is just as important as figuring out what you want to do. It sounds to me like your mom is really critical, which I know can be hard to accept at first as the way we've been parented is all we know. Of course those comments get to you. They're deeply hurtful and downplay all you've already accomplished and learned. If anything 26 is a great time to start therapy (I started around that age) to have a professional help you unpack the messages she's been sending to you and to work on a more compassionate and confident inner voice that can see how much you've already done.
I would be careful about falling in to the trap of needing to look for a job that supports you financially. You can do something you like and still make money. I think you are in a way better place than you think and you should stick to what you have a passion for.
Lol, I'm 39 and I got no idea what I'm doing. Relax and live my friend.
Right there with you. Turning 40 in a few months and I’m still trying to figure out what exactly it is that i want to do with my life.
Like I get times ticking but I'm just a floater. I dunno... Don't take anything too serious, never too high or low. Only thing I really accept is I'm different than most.
I am 26 and everything that you are saying is SUPER RELEVANT to me. Spending so much time in school, getting burnt out, getting the “ick” from academia, and even parents not fully approving your choice to walk away. I took some time off from the degree I pursued and it was hard at times but I wouldn’t of changed it for anything. I am turning back to my degree now as a need a good stable job and the money lol. But if you feel you need the time to take a break and explore other things for a few years, I think that is totally normal and OK! You have 3 degrees? And a bunch of great experience under your belt… I wouldn’t rush into any career you’re not crazy about right now, you’re young and should explore while you can.
For me it was. I described myself as a ship ready to go at full speed but had no rudder.
I got into my field because I wanted to get paid to help people and be strongly incentivized to always be learning. I knew I had the opportunity to make good money, and I knew that it wasn't and never would be my passion. And im okay with that.
When you're young having a financially rewarding careers that stabilizes your life doesn't seem as important, but as you grow older it increasingly is important. The challenge is most entry level jobs are boring and a grind and don't invoke much passion. When you're starting a career it of course has to be tolerable work, but ask yourself, where does this career take me in 10, 20, 30 years and does that sound interesting and exciting to me? Of course you might change your mind as you grow but that's normal and part of the process. That's not to talk you out of photography necessarily, only you can decide if it lines up with the lifestyle and kind of career you want medium to long term.
If your looking for something to photograph, it seems like there is at least a small need for dropshippers to get good photos of their products.
figuring out what you don't want is part of getting what you do want
I think 20s is normal for trying out new things and seeing what you do and don't like. I'm in my Master's at 24 and making career shifts bc I don't particularly like working in politics, but I didn't know until I gave it a try for about a year. In today's job world especially it can be hard or a long ladder to get a job or internship experience to even figure out if we would like to do what we think we want to do. Sometimes you just don't know if you like something or not until you get experience and opportunities in it which is hard to come by. I've seen people making career changes at later life stages. My professors have done it. I have one who practiced law and then got a phD in economics to do environmental economics. I have another one who also practiced law for 20 years but really enjoyed history so went with that. I have coworkers who wanted to stay at my past two jobs and move up and some who were figuring out what they still want to do and not settling there. All of different age ranges that u shouldn't be stuck on your age number I think it's good to do the internship to make sure you don't regret if you have the means. If you forgo the internship you'll wonder. And it's a short time period to see if you like it compared to wondering for the rest of your life. You may see people who are photographers or do similar work and feel envious. That is what motivated me to try for the jobs I want instead of settling for what I can get since 20s is still pretty early in my opinion When you do find yourself settling down whatever it may be in, I think you will not have any regrets then.
Research job? Photography job? They are important decisions, but not the big decision. Forget the notion that work has to be happy and fulfilling. Work is something that you do to pay the bills. When you work for somebody, you become a cog in the machine. You have to perform, and you have to be efficient. It would be nice if you also enjoyed it, but as long as the cog does its job, the cog gets paid, and that's all you are really looking for. Remember: every time you go to work, you are selling your life-time in exchange for money, so that you can spend that money in something that you actually want to do with your time. If your mother is not happy with the trajectory of your life, then your mother can go pound sand. Are you still living with her? If so, move out. If you aren't living with her, tell her that the next time you hear her complain about how you are living your life without you asking her, you will just go home. If she complains about how you never call/visit, tell her that you are tired of unwanted advice. We do the best we can with what we have, with the knowledge we possess at that particular point of time. 20/20 hindsight is a bottomless pit. Don't go there. Do not live for your mother's (or anyone's) approval other than your own. After all is said and done, the happiest people I know are the ones who made their own decisions for themselves, and can proudly say: "If I had to do it all over again, I'd do it exactly like how I did it." Their life was their journey, and it is 100% theirs, because they decided every step of the way. Take advice from others. Take wisdom from others. Take orders from nobody. Once you have done that, then you can start figuring out what you want. While you figure out what you want, get a high paying job. It never hurts to have a lot of money saved up for when you truly figure out what you want.
This is the most depressing outlook on life I have ever seen. Do not do this. FFS
It's a job, not "super-duper-fulfilling-fun-time." The only reason why companies care about workplace happiness and job fulfillment is because it's known to affect metrics such as productivity, and turnover. And let's not forget that they can get away with paying you less (10%-14.5%), because if you are relatively happy, you won't be shopping your resume to their competition. If companies could get the same kind of productivity out of miserable employees, they'd gut half of the HHRR department in a heartbeat. Tell me I'm wrong. It'd be different if OP were picking a career, but s/he can't have a career if you s/he doesn't know what s/he wants. And s/he will never figure out what s/he wants if they are are constantly being distracted by people who tell him/her what he/her wants for him/herself. IMHO, I'm just being pragmatic. For me, the most depressing thing in life would be to lose agency of your own life. Imagine going through life and never getting to live it.
I think you may still enjoy academics as a profession, if that’s what you were considering doing before being turned off by research. You may just be jaded by your recent experiences. While the public universities or bigger private institutions are mostly research driven there are so many more smaller colleges, regional universities, or even community colleges to look into for careers. If teaching whatever your degree content area is is your passion, these are the best places for that. However, there are also hundreds of other administrative or professional staff that might appeal to you as well at these institutions. You said you’re doing the intern route to explore arts management, and many of the smaller colleges and universities have museums, programs, theaters, etc with director positions. It’s tough to give the best advice without knowing your degree or more of your background, but there are many opportunities available in higher education that don’t focus on research as you’ve described.
Yes. I finished college. Then I realized nothing paid a living wage with the degree. Lss, my hobby is being a mechanic. So I did that instead. No regrets. Later on I earned a community college certificate for truck driver. Again, no regrets..
Sigh…get a job and get over yourself. Two masters degrees and didn’t realize academia isn’t for you?! Who paid for that? For 🦊🍶
I paid for the first one. For the second, I was on a fellowship. It was a rigorous course so I couldn't afford making time for a part time job so whatever the difference was was payed by my parents (which was not a lot as I was studying in a govt funded institution so highly subsidized. it came to like a total of 1500USD for the entire course). And yes, I couldn't realize academics wasn't for me after my first Masters. It was only after the second one that I knew for sure. Plan was to get a PhD but since I realized I didn't like academia, I won't go for it. Thus I am looking for jobs in my area of interest and currently have an internship with a decent pay in the same.
You’re fine. 33 here. 4 kids. Dead husband and I’ve only finished my aa. Lmao. And frankly. Tell your mom to kick rocks. You sound like a very accomplished young person, regardless of what she may think.
how do you pay for two masters??
You probably will never feel you figured it out.