No dreams or aspirations (credit, degrees, owner, college degree)

[Zorro84]

Hi

I never had any dreams or aspirations in my life when I was growing up. I don't know why? But I didn't. Now as I reflect back on my life, I wonder what would have happen if I had dreams or aspirations of finding my dream job that I would be passionate about. As a senior today, I know what my dream job would have been and that would be to have played in the National Basketball Association, the NBA.

I grew up in the ghetto, but did not play outside the projects I lived in. There were no places I knew of where I could place organized basketball. I did not started playing basketball until we moved to the suburbs of Long Island. I was 14 years old by that time and most kids I played with were in the playground of the school I attended public school later on in life.

I did not try out for the school's basketball team. I guess I though I wouldn't be good enough to make it on a team. I never played organized basketball on a team till I was 16 or 17 years old. Kind of late for a player.

I have had a successful career working for the federal government i.e. 38 years and earn three college degrees in my life. But I never found a job I was passionate about after retiring from government. The jobs I took had more to due with my degree field, but not jobs I was passionate about. They were good paying jobs and that's all I cared about to supplement my retirement.

Has anyone never had any dreams or aspirations in life. Of knowing what you want to become in life? What was it you were passionate as far as your dream job? Where there reasons you never dream or had aspirations in life? Was it due to the environment you grew up in life? Was it a lack of education or finances that prevent you from reaching your dream job. Or other circumstances not mentioned here? Is the reason you never dream or had aspirations had to do with socialism, economics, lack of education, health reasons, mental illness or disabilities?

Or is it because it not a level playing field out there for everyone? Or is it because you placed limitations on yourself as far as finding your dream job. And that it's not the fault of society you never achieved finding the job you would be passionate about? May be not having any dreams or aspirations has nothing to do with anyone particular ethnic group. I like to hear anyone's though on this topic. Have yourself a good day. And God Bless

[DPolo]

I am exactly your age. We are immigrants from Soviet Union. We came here when I was 13 years old. My parents started out working min wage job, but by the time I was 18 we had the income of upper middle class and lived in an expensive area.

In highscool I did the bear minimum. I would simply show up to class, that's it. In my spear time I smoked weed and drunk beer with friends. I had a min wage job at a local supermarket. After graduating highshool I had no idea what to do with my life. Dad said that should I get a job, mom said that since I like to play with computers I should get a computer job. So I went to a 3 month training program and and got my first job as MS Access programmer. It paid $21/h. I was working in computer programming and making money, but mom was on my case that I need a degree. So I found a distance learning program from a Russian School (In Russia) The school had a good reputation and you can study by mail and you have to come-in to a specific location in Manhattan to take exams. The total cost of that B.S. Degree was like $13k. Read a book take a test no big deal, the degree is in business, it's not like one has to be a genius to get a general business degree.

For some reason in 2004 I decided to waste my time on a masters degree in Accounting at local university (that degree makes me qualified for a CPA license). After graduation I was harassed by recruiters to come and work for $15 - $25/h doing jobs I had no interest doing. Basically today I curse off accounting recruiters and refuse to conduct business with fiance complelty. If an accountant comes to me says I need software I simply curse them off and insult them.

Generally speaking if your are good at doing something and you get paid nice money for your time, that's as close as it get's to being passionate

[s1alker]

No ambition here either. As long as the bills are paid, and I have some discretionary income to peruse what I feel makes life worth living for me I'm pretty content. No interested in a high powered job, long commutes, living in a overpriced COL area, etc.

[statisticsnerd]

Dream jobs don't exist. That's why they're called dreams.

[Ceig]

I'm 30 and still struggling to find something I can somewhat enjoy doing for the rest of my working life. Since high school, I've only been able to keep jobs for roughly 2-3 years, if that, before quitting and finding something else. I went to college and literally have hundreds of credits earned, but no degrees. This was due to me continually signing up for different electives, certifications, degrees while trying to find something that interests me. I would take all the technical classes and always skipped the general ed classes which is why I ultimately never gotten the certs/degrees.

Right now, I'm part of a 5 year apprenticeship program (currently on my 4th year) for a skilled trade that I honestly don't care about. Why I do it? I don't know. I struggle to find the motivation to go to work. Once I complete the program and get my journeyman license, I'll more than likely find something else and then quit. I don't know if this is some kind of psychological thing or what but, I think at 30 I should be somewhat settled, job wise.

I did play soccer in the 90s but quit once I hit high school. As far as dream job goes, that probably would of been mine. Today, I pretty much feel like a robot running on a program with no emotions.

[MLSFan]

get married and have kids? having someone depending on you is a good motivator if you don't already

[Dennis Schroeder]

I wanted to be a pro skateboarder but broke my back when I was 17 and got sidelined for too long to get back into it. I never got my pop back either. Then I wanted to be an artist but got sidetracked into computers and math , worked too hard in silicon valley for 10 years and finally got into game design and development which is pretty close to my dream.

I think a lot of guys dream of sports careers or other stuff that isn't very job related. It's hard to find a guy who dreams about human resources or corporate accounting. However, the ones that do probably do very well for themselves.

[bentstrider]

My dreams tend to change once I learn of the difficulties the path entails.
I once thought I was definitely on the way to becoming a cop or fighter pilot.
Never did I once realize in my youth that I'd be instead piloting an 80,000 pound rolling fuel guzzler.

That said, I don't think the truth really sets anyone free.
If anything, it condemns them.

[Staggerlee666]

I have drifted in my life for a long time. Didn't have any aim in high school, didn't know what I wanted to study in college and what career I wanted to choose. Naturally, I just fell into jobs. It was all my fault really. The world moves aside for the men and women who know what they want.

And the funny thing is, life gives you back exactly what you want from it. If you are not ambitious and you don't know what you want, it gives you scraps. If you are negative and a downer it gives you constant misery. If you do know what you want in life and go out to get, you most certainly do.

Read the biography of every successful person ever. They always say that they knew exactly what they wanted to do from day 1. They had a clear vision.

[G-fused]

Playing in the NBA? OP sounds like he's 15 yrs old. No aspirations and worked towards nothing but OP was still able to have had a cushy job, good benefits, and I assume a decent living because of it. Absolutely nothing to lament but much to be thankful for.

I understand kids being unrealistic but adults who've gone through the rigamaroll of life? That confuses me.

I'm no star either OP, not a model or a pop singer or a sports star or famous actor. That teenage hope has faded and has been replaced with reality. I am very thankful and happy with what I do have - mostly my health but also a good living and a family (which I put energy into building).

Lamenting that you were not a pro basketball player is weird, move on man.

Best of luck