I was thinking about what type of job I want to have once I finally get out of school and…erm…get a job. So what could a person who doesn’t like others, has no real talent, isn’t good at public speaking, and isn’t a very good writer do with their life? Besides become the President. Someone currently already has filled that position. So seriously, what job could I do?
If you don’t have any talents, I guess you could work at McDonald’s. But I sincerely doubt that you have no ability whatsoever.
What are you in school for? Are you talkinhg about a summer job or a permanent job? What are your qualifications? Where do you live? Do you have any physical disabilities that would preclude you from any particular task?
As I’m fond of pointing out, there is a neverending demand for long haul truck drivers. Pays awfully well.
Well I’m still a youngin, 14, so I still got a ways to go. I live near Chicago, no bad physical disabilities to keep me from work, and I’m smart and such, I just don’t have any outstanding talent.
Talent is by FAR secondary to ability to learn and brains. ‘Talent’ implies some sort of mystical force bestowed upon one by fate or God or somesuch. It just ain’t happening.
Instead you need to spend the rest of your secondary schooling and at LEAST the first two years of college trying everything and screwing it up. Only by trying things will you find out what you like…not what your ‘talent’ is.
So act, play music, screw around with computers, play sports, write, tinker, do everything.
I, as a functioning adult, hereby give you this benediction:
Go forth! Screw around!
mischievous grin
As someone who was in your shoes not too long ago, my suggestion is to not be intimidated by things you don’t think you can do.
I didn’t think I could do technical writing for a small plastics company over the summer, but I did it and made more than $4000 bucks for the initiative that summer.
Don’t let a perceived lack of talent/social skills hold you back. Apply for things that you find interesting- don’t hold back if something really strikes your intrest.
Only problem is that I don’t really have anything that strikes my intrest. School is an insane bore for me. I don’t have one thing I’m intrested in. Which is why I’m worried if I’ll be stuck in a job in which I hate all my life.
Since you’re stuck in l’ennui, I’d suggest traveling. See if your local Rotary Club will sponser you overseas, then pick some country randomly on the map. See the world, maybe learn another language.
If you’re still bored in 4 years, there’s nothing like Americorps to keep you busy.
Better you go out and try things you might like than never know for sure.
Well, I’m not really much older than you, so I don’t have the slightest idea what I’m talking about, but here’s my advice. There’s got to be something you enjoy doing, right? If there’s not, is there anything you’ve even seen and gone, “Hey, that’s cool” to?
Figure out at least one thing like that. Persue it. If it turns out you don’t like it, you may find something else in the process.
Also, don’t stress about your future yet. Seriously. I’m assuming you’ve got at least two or three years of high school left. Plus, college, or at least some time before you’re expected to “grow up”. ONe of my friends just graduated, and was in pretty much the same situation. His solution? He’s going backpacking through Europe for part of this year, then at least a semester at Community College when he gets back. I thoroughly agree with Jonathan Chance. Go forth and do stuff.
flamingbananas, I’m surprised at your modesty (false modesty that is)! You have shown exceptional wit and solid writing skills in every post I have seen from you, you have a marvelous sense of humor (albeit a bit wicked), and you understand how to behave in a public forum, a skill many adults lack. Do not begin to sell yourself short in any way. If need be, think of it this way: by putting yourself down, you are insulting my judgment because I have taken quite a liking to you, and someone a fabulous as I does not take a liking to talentless flutterbys (well, maybe if they’re men, but only for a while).
Now, that said, I second Jonathan Chance. You do not need to know right now what you passion(s) is(are), and being bored in school is usually more a sign of a good mind than of a dull one. Dabble in stuff. Get the books An Incomplete Education and Mental Floss: Condensed Knowledge. Both are very readable books that will give you a look at a variety of subjects–follow up on any that catch your attention. In your first years of college (and as much as you can in high school), take all sorts of classes–look at everything that will fulfill say, a social sciences requirement, try to find out which professor has the best reputation (for teaching a good class, not just for giving easy tests), and take her class, or pick the class that is the farthest outside your sphere of knowledge–Australian history, or the sociology of Upper Mongolia. You may not find a career, but you may find something to love.
Don’t think you need to know what you are going to do with your life at this, or any other age. In the first place, you need to live more life to know what you want to do with the rest of it, and in the second place, you’ll change your mind any number of times. Maybe even after you’ve started on your career. I started out as a teacher, went to law school, worked as a labor organizer, and am now a labor lawyer. At 43, I think I’ll be here for a while, but, you know, being an arbitrator appeals to me, or a law professor, and I’m not quite ready to abandon my dream of being discovered as the next big Broadway actress, either. Or a writer.
So don’t stress out about it, even when you’re friends are talking about what they have to do now the be accepted into medical school in ten years. Just take some chances, and keep your eyes open for opportunities, have fun and don’t drink, smoke, take drugs or get pregnent (obligatory adult sermonizing).
And, most importantly, preview, preview, preview! :smack: 
Join the club. Most people tolerate their jobs…not too many actually love it. The fact that you’re not interested in much probably has to do with your age. Once you get out there in high school and start sampling what life has to offer, you may change your mind.
Whether you like it or not, you’ll still have to work, so just pick something that pays the bills and go for it.
If only we could actually all find jobs that had to do with what we like doing AND be paid well enough for them… Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike my job- hell, I’m one of the few people with an English degree that you’ll find doing something degree related- but I’d like health insurance and steadier hours…
Hey, you can do what I did!
Do ya like computers? Do you like sitting on your butt all day and occasionally moving things? Then talk to the Technology Department at your school. Every summer since my freshman year of High School I’ve worked for the Tech Department. Guess what we do? We move computers, then sit around, then play on the internet and maybe load some software and hopefully at the end of the day we’ll have accomplished something. Last summer I worked for 4 weeks and made over $700. Not too bad. Just a suggestion, but I don’t even know if your school is big enough to want/need your help. I started when I was 14 (I’m 18 now and still working for the Tech Dept)
I am SO seeing if my school has that. Yay! Computers and laziness!