If you can answer this question, you're my hero?

Question

I look at myself and I see how I have all these friends and it's just the same people every single day for the next three years (i'm a freshman), but what else? this seriously doesn't give me a push for wanting to continue going...it just doesn't...it'll be the same. I don't even know what I want to do in college. I find myslef lowing interest in even trying in school thas why my grades lowered becausethere's no goal ...nothing that i'm striving for. it's just sort of empty learning. I wish I had a goal and knew what I wanted to be but I don't. why don't i? then even if i know what to be then what? college then "career". Then what? work for the next days of my life. of my life. oh yeahthat really makes me look forward to it. *sarcasm* but seriously then what? i die. and boom i'm forgotten forever. like what the hell?! what's the point? if you could answer this question, give me a reason to tell me that we're all NOT just doing basically the same thing.

Answer 1

As a mental health professional with 20+ years experience, now retired, and a three time university graduate, and a father of two young adults who are struggling with similar concerns as yours, let me share a bit of what I've learned over the years.

As a three time university graduate, I can tell you from first hand, personal experience, that I can truly understand your perspective of what you think the next three years will be like, BUT, let me tell you that you couldn't be further from the truth if you worked on it for decades. I was in college for approximately 10 or 11 years, and I can truly tell you that your experiences, and the people you meet will be as varied and serendipitous and interesting - and sometimes boring - as anything you can imagine. I can tell you that I can look back over my decade or so in college and can never recall all the very interesting people, students and professors alike, that I met and knew for one length of time or another. As well, the courses, although titled and described at registration, can be as different from their description, and as interesting and exciting, or, yes, even boring, as you can imagine. For example, I had a Political Science professor who was truly the living / spitting image of the cartoon character of Mr. Magoo, truly, and yet I found out during the semester that he had been a CIA man in the Middle East and Africa for 25 years before becoming a professor, and, looking at and listening to him, you'd NEVER believe it. And then there was the history professor who, after some weeks into the course, revealed that he had been a Nazi soldier during WWII, and had escaped to South America during the war, along with many other Nazis who didn't realize what Hitler was doing to the Jews, or so he says. And then there was the Korean professor who had been a boy during the Korean war, and told of how his "back yard", as we Americans would call it, was bomb-cratered from an incredible number of bombing attacks on nearby communist Korean and Chinese soldiers. Oh, and then there was the Senior English professor who, on final exam day, realized I was not sitting in my usual seat, but in the back row between two sorority girls who invited me to sit back their with them because they knew I hadn't studied that course all semester long. The professor, in a wonderfully cheerful and playful voice, asked me what I was doing back there, and, not satisfied with my lying answer, invited me to sit up front with her by her desk. When she realized I knew absolutely NOTHING to put answers on the test, as the other students finished their test and I was still sitting there with an empty test sheet, she started putting the answers on the board. When I started laughing, she asked me what I was laughing about. I told her that I knew she was putting the answers on the board, but I didn't even know enough to know where to put the answers on the test form . . . and she passed me!! Of course, one of those sorority girls, of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority, was in a Southern History course with me, and she had the professor so bum-fuzzled because of her beauty, that she skipped class on the days of the exams, only to return on the days the exams were passed back out, copied all the answers, and then took the make-up exam, and made a 100, all the time. And then there was the class that was only two weeks long, and was completed on a trip to Mexico City, to see how they ran their government, or their "government" ran them, and it was a LOT of fun and very educational. And I could go on and on about special projects that I was involved in that were directly impacting the local urban community or involved actually writing a book on how to get elected to office in Texas where I live, or compiling a folder on Constitutional law that was so neat and precise that one of my classmates who was also a "biggie" in a moderate size publishing company spoke to me about letting his company publish my folder as a book. I was so astonished that I just couldn't believe he was serious, so I turned him down. Oh how I wish I hadn't turned him down. And then there was the course on human sexuality that I took as one of my courses to get into the mental health field, where we had men and women speaking very personally and openly about their sexual wishes, desires, experiences, all while involved in serious research in libraries, etc.. You think you don't get embarrassed or don't turn red? HAH!!!!! Even your make-up wouldn't cover your redness. And the people I met, students and professors alike, are too innumerable to detail. I will tell you about the French professors who, as a part of their attempt to get us totally involved in the French culture, had cheese fondu parties at their houses once a week, where we'd bring the wine and actually cook the fondu while the "party" was going on, and no one was allowed to speak English!! Talk about fun and exciting!! And the list goes on and on and on and on . . . . !!!!

And then, one day you may graduate, and you may decide to go to graduate school, and you may be married by then, and being a married student is a very difficult and tricky thing to achieve, but I wouldn't trade those memories for anything in the world.

Oh, yes, in one sense you'll be doing the same thing everybody else does, but if you really DO IT, academically speaking, I can guarantee you that by the time you graduate, you'll never know you were in an "institution" / college / university, with hundreds or thousands of other people, doing the very same thing you are, making their way in the world. You'll have wonderful, and sad, and exciting memories that you will realize are the emotional and mental staple of every graduate, every young person who, when they started, hadn't a CLUE as to "what they wanted to be when they 'grew up' ", but came out with a diploma or diplomas, and very marketable skills, and a world of memories that you wouldn't trade for the world.

You know, I think I'm going to try to print out my answer to you. I don't think I ever said it better, and my son and daughter both need to read this, to hear this. I know they get down too, and I hear you do too, but, read and re-read my answer to you, and trust me, that if you stick to the basics, just to get through, you'll meet some of the most wonderful people, students and professors both, and have some of the most wonderful memories of your life, AND have a very marketable skill when you get those piece(s) of paper / diploma(s) to frame and hang on your walls with pride and joy.

I'll shut up now. I know I've gone on long enough. I hope you, and my son and daughter, all see how wonderful all those seemingly boring years of college-to-come, really are, once you let yourself be immersed in the studies, and in your classmates and professors. You'll never be sorry you did. God Bless you.

Answer 2

Thank you, oh kind and thoughful government people, for giving us a rounded education. Seriously, I hear you on this one. You see, I'm an english person. I just don't get math or see a need to. When am I ever going to need algebra? To pass a test, graduate, pass the SAT and pass college. Then I can forget about it forever and go on with my life. I'm a sophmore, and last year I got so frusterated I typed out a furious essay on the cons of recieving a rounded education. It really helped me feel better. Now I just get through the subjects I don't like and focus on the ones I do. I'm not really sure about what I want to do with my life, but I don't let that bother me. We still have quite a ways to go before any major decision making needs to be done!
Please don't be depressed. There is a point to every day. Try to make a list of what you are thankful for. Maybe that will help put purpose back into your life. Can you help someone, make another kid smile today? Those little things really add up and give happiness and meaning. Life isn't all that bad. Just when you make it to be.

Answer 3

I have this same problem. Sorta.
You just dont see the future being any better than the present, and its like theres nothing to look forward to. Like you feel the rest of your life is going to be a waste and nothing will happen. It probably scares you to look to the future (it does me) because you dont know what to expect, ur afraid it will be awful.
If Im right then me and you are going through the same thing (Im a freshman too by the way)
But one thing I can tell you that is a little important is things change. Whether you want them to or not (it sounds like you want them to) You might wake up five years from now and be at a different place, with different people, you might be a completely different person, and maybe you wont even talk to the friends u have now.

Answer 4

What can I say? Life's a b*tch and then you die. This is true, but you still want to make the ride as pleasant as possible. Friends are great, but they are not why you are there. Your goal is to get the best grades possible, and decide what you want to be and go after it. You will end up with a great job so you can afford all of the niceties that you like and take vacations in Barbados. Having a good life is hard work, but it's worth it. Look at the alternative route that many have taken. You will find a great guy along the way somewhere, have kids, and forget all about these "why"s.

Answer 5

Its not the fact what people is doing but the fact is why is it being done. Deed is not the main thing; thinking behind it is the main point to place the concentration. Same task different people do it with different point of view. Try to locate & understand their view of thinking then you will find that all are just not doing basically the same thing. If I could get you by my side then it would be easy enough to make you understand. Anyway though you have the quality to raise question I hope you will be able to find the answer also. Wish you all the best.

Answer 6

Your question is "is there any meaning to life?" and "what is it?".
You are great to find yourself at this point in life when you can actually find meaning and live a life worth living.But please understand that this question has been the base of human study througout its history so it will take more than two minutes to find a good answer.

I am pasting the web adress of the conferences given by Ravi Zacharias. He has devoted his life explaining and giving reson and logic to answer this questions to places such as Hardvard, Presidents and assembly men from different countries who come with presumptions from religions all over the world. He is very compeling!
Some of the titles of his conferences has been:
"In search of Meaning"
"What is Worthwhile Under the Sun"
"The pursuit of meaning: Regaining the Wonder"

At first it might sound too complicated and "too intellectual" but keep listening. My first lenguage is not English and when I listened to him the first time I was just out of high school. So take your time, is worthy for all what life is worth!!!!


http://www.rzim.org/radio/archives.php?p=LMPT&o=40&i=10

His radio programs are called Let My people Think, so if you start doing a lot of thinking, great thinking... life full of meaning has gotten a good start!

Answer 7

Sadly we are all doing the same bull ****,
i know i was a freshman 4 years ago, but now starting college I'm still lost, people say that college is going to be the best days of your life, but hey that's an opinion, personally i hate college with a passion, ....but here is somewhere where u can look forward, and this is TRUE...in high school ur suck with the same people for 4 years or whatever, ur forced to be friends with them, even if u dont want to, yet u have to be nice with them cuz u need them and they need you....but college is a whole other ball game, you get to pick your friends, and if you find someone that you hate... so what you move on college is SOOOO much bigger then high school....and well im a freshman in college so i have no idea what i wanna do, parents say to become a doctor,... i wanna go into fine arts...or whatever. BUT I DON'T know.. and until you reach your 2nd year of college your most likely not going to know what you still wanna do, thats normal i promise, and the people who do are just plain lucky and i hate them. but hun take it one day at a time and enjoy every moment of it cuz your going to look back on day and miss it. i sadly miss my preepy/ jockey school.
work maybe hard sometime but u have to find yourself a hobby to do to freshen up your day and not drag u down...like listen to ur fav song or band, or go out run play sports, school activities, hanging with your close friends after school. anything to spice it up.

You will get by and survive just be strong and positive..... easier said then done i kno.. but its possible

much love

Answer 8

ok, i so know what you're going through rite now. im a sophmore and i didn't know what i was goung to do in life until the END of my freshman year. Don't just give up in life.....try your hardest in EVERY subject and what ever you end up liking the most, or what ever you have the best grade in, do a little research on careers that deal with that subject and try to pursue it. for me it's biology and anatomy so i'm going to go into general surgery and maybe later on into cardio(iono, things can always change)

having the same friends may seem boring now, but it's a good and secure group that can help you out most when you need it most....but meeting new peolpe isn't so hard either...join some clubs or sports or something

don't worry about collage so much now, it's still far far away. heck, im in a collage oriented program at school and i still never think about it.

everyone goes through this in their life...all of my freinds have no idea what they want to do (and they're all juniors)

if you still want to talk, im here for you :D
*just aim the screen name dangnhu92 or e-mail me k?

Answer 9

I went through the same thing when I was in high school. I was so freaking bored I about hit myself over the head. If you feel like you have no drive, then it's up to YOU to challenge yourself at home.

High school is just something you go through so that you can get into college and study what YOU want to study. Just wait it out and in the mean time, find things to do outside of school that will challenge and inspire you! Find out what you're passionate about, find several things you're passionate about and indulge.

Your right. Life doesn't have meaning until you GIVE it meaning.

I hope this helps somehow and good luck!

Answer 10

i just got over that i am a freshman 2 , u felt high school was gonna b a life changing experience but it's not! dont give up because once u figure it out u'll b screwed because u gave up , try meeting a nice guy to get ur adrenaline up or go do something crazy ( be safe) and fun with ur friends , like truth or dare (be safe) just to put some meaning back into ur life. to tell u the truth i have 2 take my advice 2 but its starting to work!

Answer 11

My husband went through what you are going through when he went back to school after working for 7 years after high school. It's scary, but you're not alone! I personally beleive that if you make your personal homelife fun and interesting and worthwhile, the rest will follow. Yeah, most of us do go out and work, but what you bring to your job is unique. You will touch peoples lives as they will touch yours. At school, try finding an explorations class or meeting with someone at your career center to see if they can help you find a suitable major. I went to school for business originally, I will graduate with a BA in psych and possibly go one to law school or an MBA, even though I really want to work with animals. I am just determined to find a way to blend them. You need to find out what interests you, and find like minded people. College is scary especially as a freshman but you'll get through it