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Answer me this, ATOT, because i'm pondering the mysteries of life

Fenixgoon

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Well, just a little background:

me = 21, college student in engineering, great grades, scholarship, always at or close to the top of the class, etc (pictures of me are abundant on bbzzdd if you're curious what i look like)

i really don't feel like i've accomplished much in my life so far. i've gotten academic awards out the ass, but at the end of the day, it's just a piece of paper claiming that i'm smart. i love my major (materials engineering) but i feel like i won't really be able to apply what i'm learning in the class when it comes down to doing stuff in the real world. for everything that i've done, whether it's sports or academics, i really feel like it's meaningless... it says what i'm supposed to be, but doesn't actually prove anything. i look at a lot of things people have built - whether it's a skyscraper or an airplane or space shuttle or granite saw (really cool, saw it on history channel) or something as amazing as the LHC, and i can't help but wonder how in the world i'm supposed to call myself an engineer when it can't even begin to imagine how these things are built or how they work in the first place.

i really don't feel like i've earned anything. a friend of mine worked 3 jobs at one point so she could put herself through college. i know for sure i couldn't pull that off, and i see a lot of people who do that sort of thing.. and then i look at myself - my job is school, and that's pretty much it. but again, it's just pieces of paper - tests, awards, whatever. in the movie "trading places," jamie lee curtis takes the hand of dan akroyd and says "soft hands, never worked a day in your life." honestly, i feel like that's exactly the position im in. i look at all of the things that are available to me, and i know that there are a lot of people who aren't nearly as fortunate. but deep down, i don't think i feel grateful. or not grateful enough, anyway. it's not that i'm taking things for granted (although in some sense i am, i suppose)

i don't know what type of responses i'm looking for. i'm sure there will be plenty of good and bad ones. i just wanted to get it off my chest. in some sense, anyway.
 
Dude, you're 21, and you're either in school or just out of school. Exactly what were you expecting to have accomplished by now?
 
You might give yourself the chance to experience the real world after you graduate. College is fun but, not the real world as you have experienced. I'm biting my tongue a bit because you're only 21. Don't buy into the hype that you've got to accomplish great things before you get old and decrepit like age 30 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
Well, just a little background:

me = 21, college student in engineering, great grades, scholarship, always at or close to the top of the class, etc (pictures of me are abundant on bbzzdd if you're curious what i look like)

i really don't feel like i've accomplished much in my life so far. i've gotten academic awards out the ass, but at the end of the day, it's just a piece of paper claiming that i'm smart. i love my major (materials engineering) but i feel like i won't really be able to apply what i'm learning in the class when it comes down to doing stuff in the real world. for everything that i've done, whether it's sports or academics, i really feel like it's meaningless... it says what i'm supposed to be, but doesn't actually prove anything. i look at a lot of things people have built - whether it's a skyscraper or an airplane or space shuttle or granite saw (really cool, saw it on history channel) or something as amazing as the LHC, and i can't help but wonder how in the world i'm supposed to call myself an engineer when it can't even begin to imagine how these things are built or how they work in the first place.

i really don't feel like i've earned anything. a friend of mine worked 3 jobs at one point so she could put herself through college. i know for sure i couldn't pull that off, and i see a lot of people who do that sort of thing.. and then i look at myself - my job is school, and that's pretty much it. but again, it's just pieces of paper - tests, awards, whatever. in the movie "trading places," jamie lee curtis takes the hand of dan akroyd and says "soft hands, never worked a day in your life." honestly, i feel like that's exactly the position im in. i look at all of the things that are available to me, and i know that there are a lot of people who aren't nearly as fortunate. but deep down, i don't think i feel grateful. or not grateful enough, anyway. it's not that i'm taking things for granted (although in some sense i am, i suppose)

i don't know what type of responses i'm looking for. i'm sure there will be plenty of good and bad ones. i just wanted to get it off my chest. in some sense, anyway.
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Join a gang man, only way to get that experience.
 
fenix,

you sound like a hard working humble guy. you might not feel that you're working hard in terms of your accomplishments but you should be grateful that it comes easy/natural to you. i'm in engineering school as well and i totally agree with you on the inventions part. it really is amazing what people come up with and i can't imagine ever coming up with ideas as unique as real engineers do. just remember, if at the end of the day you're happy doing what you're doing, you are on the right path. once you get your degree, take some risks while you're still young and try different things that you think you might like. you'll soon find different atmospheres where you will find the stress you were looking for or you might find something with a nice balance of both stress and pleasure. 🙂
 
why not put a few hours of volunteer work in per week, like at the local hospital or something. maybe will give you a fresh perspective. you're only 21, broaden your horizons.
 
I read a thread just like this a couple weeks ago. "I'm 20 something and I haven't accomplished anything" Duh - you're 21. If you're well off don't feel bad about it, give back if you really want to feel good about yourself. Tutor some kids or go volunteer.

I'd be surprised if you could apply much of anything you learned before grad school anyway. "College" is so much filler these days that you don't even learn enough to get a real job with a 4 year BS afaik.
 
Originally posted by: rezinn
I read a thread just like this a couple weeks ago. "I'm 20 something and I haven't accomplished anything" Duh - you're 21. If you're well off don't feel bad about it, give back if you really want to feel good about yourself. Tutor some kids or go volunteer.

I'd be surprised if you could apply much of anything you learned before grad school anyway. "College" is so much filler these days that you don't even learn enough to get a real job with a 4 year BS afaik.
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College was never meant "to get a real job." The purpose of college was and is to broaden your perspective on the world, to teach you to question and, to teach you how to learn. If you want technical knowledge there are great tech schools out there.

"But, everyone knows you have to go to college." Bull, college is a necessary step in your career only if your goal is to work for a corporation, who isn't going to let you use what you have learned anyway.
 
Look, Pol Pot is dead, okay? Get through school, get that degree, then get out in a real job and give back to society using the skills, education, knowledge you've obtained. That's the deal society has cut with you. Get smart, then give back. You're going to be an engineer right? You will be in a perfect position to make a meaningful difference in the lives on many if you apply yourself to solving problems that need to be solved.
 
Engineering school is 'general'. When you're done school, you are just a lowly apprentice (hence the PE license if your field requires that); everything you do now must be approved by a licensed engineer. I'm assuming you are still third or fourth year and haven't done a design project yet. Once you have done it, you should find out how much is pulled from your ass and how much actually pulls from your classes. Oh, and you're not an engineer. I made the same mistake when I was still in school. Until you have a job, are licensed and actually working on a project that doesn't get trashed after you get your grades, you are a college student studying engineering.

Also, don't feel bad about 'soft hands'. I feel the same and am looking at a career change (before I've started) cause I don't feel like what I will be doing means anything to me. The way I see it, I'll try to get a job in engineering, get some experience, live the regular civvy life, then look into something else. I'm a year older than you if you're wondering.
 
Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
So you've never worked a day in your life and you were born with a silver spoon up your ass?
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😕

Originally posted by: ironwing
Look, Pol Pot is dead, okay? Get through school, get that degree, then get out in a real job and give back to society using the skills, education, knowledge you've obtained. That's the deal society has cut with you. Get smart, then give back. You're going to be an engineer right? You will be in a perfect position to make a meaningful difference in the lives on many if you apply yourself to solving problems that need to be solved.
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😕😕

Originally posted by: rise
why not put a few hours of volunteer work in per week, like at the local hospital or something. maybe will give you a fresh perspective. you're only 21, broaden your horizons.
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there's a high school across the street from my house. maybe i can do some math/science tutoring there.
 
I am 4 years older than you, graduated from a top 2 engineering school, worked in industry for 2 years, and am now getting my masters in engineering (the major isn't important). basically, engineering school means nothing except for the fact that engineering job positions hire people with the major because it means you are a specific type of person. you'll be retrained with more applicable skills on your first job. On the plus side, engineering jobs are less demanding than say the jobs of your business friends, who are overworked and underpaid at companies like KPMG, McKinsey, PwC, because they are desperate to get something on their resume to the point where consulting companies pay them less than you will make for twice the amount of work and hours spent.

Take all the extra money you make, establish yourself, give something back to the community, and I promise you you'll feel like life is alot more fullfilling. in the end, the most important thing in life is not about money, prestige, power, or accomplishments, it is the relatiionship that you make with the people around you.
 
Originally posted by: xSauronx
Originally posted by: 91TTZ
Have you ever considered dropping out of school and working at a gas station? It may be just what you need.
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:laugh:
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that and

Join a gang man, only way to get that experience.
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got a laugh from me :laugh::thumbsup:

you know, there is a gas station manager on ninja warrior..... 😀 😛
 
have you EVER had a job?


even like a fast food job?

if not, then yes, your missing a huge part of growing up. time for a reality check.
 
I'm going through the same thing as a bio major. Although i'm no where near at the top of my class, i feel that i'm behind in my studies and that i might not end up accomplishing anything after getting my degree. Its all about the standardized exams to get into the graduate school of choice (mcat, pcat, oat, etc). I always have the fear of not being able to accomplish my goals. Unlike engineering though (except electrical since that require more specialization by getting a masters degree), if i don't get into any graduate school after four years, my degree is really useless. So the fear of not being able to put your hard learned knowledge to use in the real world is only true if your average or below average. But if your at the top of your class as you say, you'll get a job just fine. If not then perhaps getting a masters will do. Remember, with our economy as globalized as it is, your not competing with just US workers anymore. Engineers all over the world might be doing exactly what your doing for cheaper.

Brain power is worth more than hard labor by far. Remember that only a small % of the population even have a college degree. Anyone can do physical labor so don't think of flipping burgers as a real job. Its not. A real job requires a high level of skill and knowledge. As long as you love doing what you do, you'll be fine. If anything, my fear of not being able to put my knowledge to good use is higher than yours due to the inherent nature of being a bio major.

Anyone can get a useless college degree (degrees that you know isn't keep the students up late at night studying). As long as you know your degree has a demand in the US, you will be fine. I had a job, during my senior year in high school and summer thereafter. Worst waste of my life EVER. EVER! Only thing worse than that was when my friend convinced me to play WOW with him for a month but i quickly quit because the game was boring. Reality check? Working your brain is a lot harder than physical labor.
 
Originally posted by: zanejohnson
have you EVER had a job?


even like a fast food job?

if not, then yes, your missing a huge part of growing up. time for a reality check.
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i worked as a cashier at target. then i worked at a government contractor (6 month co-op). i just finished working at US ARL (another 6 month co-op). will be returning to school in a week.

see, for some of us, we can't afford to do drugs because our livelihoods depend on having a clean record.
 
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