Will my career opportunities suffer?

Hey,

I'm hoping some of you can give me some feedback on my life long dilemma.

First of all, I'm a 20 years old student from Montreal. Hoping to join McGill university next year and later on find a fulfilling, challenging, and high paying career in IB or similar fields.

My problem results in my conflicting interests and goals in life. Along with my career goals, I've always wanted to just go and making a long trip to travel the world, leaving my life here behind (not saying this as to mean I have problems to forget about) and just go live life and have fun.

Obviously, that would not last my whole lifetime and I would come back home. What I'm worrying about though is coming back and kind of missing the boat with my career/being too old maybe, etc. I want to lead a sucessful life where I don't have to worry about money or whatever. I've never had much money in my life and am always worrying about it and if I'll be ok. Also, I often think about how I would love to move to NYC and work over there, I think I would love the city and all the new stuff/people I would encounter. I'm kinda unsure whether I should stop dreaming or if this can actually happen.

With that comes the thought of having regrets about maybe not living my life to the fullest while working some job all my life. Being 40 years old and looking back, thinking how I should have had more fun and lived more.

Lots of stuff I said kinda contradicts itself, it's probably just me being confused and not knowing what I really want/being scared of not getting that good finance job and living like some sucker the rest of my life. Any thoughts, comments, feedback you might have about anything would be really great.

/mylife.blogspot.com

 
Best Response

I think some of the really prestigious universities go as far as encouraging time after high school ("gap year") to take some time and figure out what you wanna do... kinda find out who you are. And I think I've read people saying on this site that it's never too late to go back to school.

I'm 21 and just started going back to school for accounting. I was going for music and even though that time was essentially wasted I wouldn't change it if I had the chance cause I had time to live my life the way I wanted with not much stress and I've found out a lot about myself since then.

It all comes down to you doing what you want to do and it seems like you would like to take some time before going back to school which is perfectly fine as far as I'm concerned. Not everybody is gonna go HS->college->career

live it up but maybe take some time to do your own "studying" on your own time, if you truly want a job in this field or find it interesting I'm sure you'll have no problem doing that.

If your dreams don't scare you, then they are not big enough. "There are two types of people in this world: People who say they pee in the shower, and dirty fucking liars."-Louis C.K.
 

What do you guys think about doing semesters abroad? That would interest me also and I'd be able to do both school and travel at the same time but I won't able to land interships so looking for a job after I graduate will be harder no?

Maybe I'm wrong though. Do most people here get interships every year at uni or is it just second and third year? Keep in mind I'm going to uni in Canada so it's a 3 year program for me, coming from a CEGEP.

 

I think taking a semester abroad is the most efficient way to explore what you want and not "miss the boat." Doing it fall semester would be best. Spring interferes with interviews, summer (even if it's before junior year) may not be a good representation because it's less time and you could be leaving on a high note and make you miss traveling more. Also, I wouldn't say your problem is as severe as you make it sound. Plenty of people travel for a few months, have a blast, and actually want to come back to a more structured life.

 

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