How to find my career interest?

Hello all!

For +2, I took Math, Physics and Chemistry although I was terrified of all three subjects (because I really didn't know what I wanted to study and I even didn't know many other choices except doing economics, history, etc which were not interesting to me either). I fared very well (always in top 3 positions in class) mainly because of mugging up the concepts and due to the special attention given by teachers (once in the first year, I topped my class so became teachers' favorite student). So, end of +2 with flying colors but still no idea about what I was interested in.

Like many of my classmates, I joined engineering (still can't find a reason why I chose to?) Studies-wise, engineering was hell. I couldn't get most of the subjects into my head. Somehow, I managed to pass with average percentage.

Then, I knew that I was not good in my engineering subjects so i wouldn't get a proper job that will satisfy me. so, I chose to do higher studies in one of my engineering subject which interested me better than others. Again a wrong decision, masters studies was very tough. Finally, managed to finish it and landed in a well-paying job. The monthly pay-check was good but everyday work soon turned out to be boring, complicated and sometimes left me returning back to basics. For 2.5 years, I am still doing the job but mechanically. There is no satisfaction or atleast I don't even look forward to going to office.

When I sit back and try to understand my interests, I find a few. Some of them are English literature (I used to like it from school itself), writing (never wrote anything public except this website posts), planning and organizing (read somewhere about it being a career), beauty and hair dressing.

I don't know if any of these could be a career for me. I don't understand how to decide. Even if I decide on one of them, I don't know how to make my parents and family understand my decision. My parents already spent a lot of money on my education, so I feel I am betraying them. But, when I made all those wrong choices (engineering, masters), I didn't know what I wanted or what other options I could do. Plus, my parents wanted me to be a lecturer, do a PhD, etc but I didn't. So, again that I am going against them. Also, parents are okay if I have to stop working due to marriage and kids but I don't know how they'll take it if I say I want to change my career path. Sometimes, I get so vexed up at my job that I feel like quitting and sitting at home. But, I can't do that. I need a job and money to make me feel assured and independent.

So friends, could you please help me. Should I continue with my current job or should I try my hand at other fields? How to convince family?

Thanks for your time.

 

Hi Shinara,

Surprising to know that most of our situations match! But you have done a good job in satisfying yourself with doing things you like. I feel I should do that too but on week days work takes up maximum time and sometimes I bring work for the weekend as well so it literally drains me out to do something else other than sleep. And my dear, I have been trying to love/like my job, trying to motivate myself to work better and like my office, boss and colleagues. Like any other, boss is demanding and shockingly, colleagues are unfriendly making life difficult. So, you can imagine how I hate it. One lucky thing is I have my own room, so I close the door and work, when bored, I browse the internet. This is the only plus point I find at work. Probably, I should learn to manage my time more effectively to include activities I like.

Thanks for your reply Shinara!