Finding Work and Studying can be Difficult...

Hi @Defending_Roses, Welcome to the forums, thankyou for having the strength and courage to reach out.

You sound as though you are young and still finding your way in the world after surviving the education system. It can be very daunting finding a career path. If the beauty course is something you're interested in and passionate about then go for it. Don't forget it can be common to change professions a few times throughout your life, so don't feel locked in to one thing forever. If you can find a career you love and enjoy then you are very lucky indeed as work doesn't seem as bad when it's enjoyable. So if there's a career that calls out to you, that excites or intrigues you, go for it, or go for a career related to that one.

In regards to feeling guilty about not paying board, I dare say your parents understand, as they may have been in a similar situation when they were your age (we won't mention the lower cost of living back then though).

The school system fails many people, the thing is though we grow, we mature, so we will be in a different mindset than when we were younger. If you don't try then there's no chance of succeeding, plus without trying you'll always wonder if you would have succeeded.

In the meantime try to keep your spirits up, do what you feel you need to do to survive, as in listen to your body and mind, practise self love, self compassion and always try your best (remember your best varies from day to day, one days best could be just getting out of bed, whilst another days best could be conquering the world).

Only because you can't see good things coming, it doesn't mean they aren't.

@Former-Member thank you, it's nothing I'm not used to, but I'm kinda just feeling down after my home forum is closing and all this other stuff came up.

I am technically young, but I graduated in 2023 and am nearly 20 this year. The school I was at was super ableist and they pushed me to stop coming into school and just do it online, but of course I pushed back and did it in person anyways. Beauty services I have no idea if it's my passion. I love art and I love music, but music is harder to get a career in, and I've never even thought how make-up could come into it. I just worry knowing I didn't get much info when I was at school to maybe one day do this. All I've ever known is Hospitality and Retail, but both of those have been messing with my anxiety and while I'm good at it, I feel so awful working in that industry. I think it's my fear of not having a plan and wasting my time and money when I just need some stable work for a steadier income than this.

They haven't brought it up since we last discussed it when I graduated, but I always feel so guilty because I can't get more work and I'm the eldest of 5 kids, so eldest daughter syndrome, and I don't have my own car yet either so I'm working towards that too. And I'm paying for a studio membership for my aerials to help keep me sane, but even that makes me feel guilty. I just feel awful for existing, and that's what's making it difficult. I'm safe, just that's how it all kinda melds together into this one big snowball of worry and guilt and sadness

I'm currently surviving as best I can, I just wish it was a little easier to do. Hopefully I can get this exhaustion under control so I can work better in the next little while.

Thank you for your kind words, it's much appreciated!

I'm a moderator on the other site I was on, and I guess it feels weird knowing I won't be one of those again for a while since it's shutting down and all that hope I could give others is kinda going down the drain. I know I can help out here too, but it's just so similar to the layout and it makes me a little sad either way.

@Defending_Roses urgh, it's such a tough one, isn't it. I can really relate to what you're talking about in your post.

I am a little older than you. I've been to Uni and have been spit out the other end. I've had an established primary school teaching career and after 13 months away due to burn out and what I now acknowledge was some really big mental health challenges, I'm trying to rebuild some stability in that career.

Since graduating Uni though, I've done many "jobs" seeking one that resonates with who I am. I worked in a kitchen while at Uni, I worked as an Early Childhood Educator and earned my diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care. I got my qualification in Personal Training and group Fitness and ran my own business for two years. I completed a small business management course and a couple of years ago I completed my certification to be a Hollistic Creative Arts Therapist.

When I stepped away from teaching in 2023, I did Support work, working with children, adolescents and young adults to help them and their families manage distance education, home learning, and life skill building and I made a return to Early Childhood education

I'm now back teaching a Grade 5/6 class and studying a Grad Cert in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. The future I want for myself does not involve teaching in a traditional school setting.

My advice for what it's worth - choose something you're passionate about, or interested in and go from there. As you get older and life circumstances change, know that it's okay to pivot and change directions. The beauty of study now is that it's so much more accessible and there are so many options. We are never stuck on one path.

I'm gonna tag @Till23 in this too, to offer wisdom and support.

@NightFury wow, you've certainly been around many places of work in your life!

I know its okay to change a bunch of times, I just don't want to make the wrong second step. I'm currently paying off a qualification I didnt end up doing, and I don't want to make that mistake again either.

I'm just waiting for the withdrawal to go through so I can get subsidised training at Tafe for this other course.

Tafe worries me a bit though, I tried to do a diploma of community services there and all they focused kn was my disability, instead of helping with my learning needs which was what I really needed to minimise my disability issues. Hopefully this qualification is better because it's much more hands on, but I just worry a bit about it. If I go back and don't ask for any support with it, I don't know what may or may not be flagged that I've returned. I'll just see how I go I think, but still its niggling in the back of my mind.

Hi @Defending_Roses I think I know what forum you’re talking about, as I’m currently active on there too - though not as active as I am on here. The volunteers (builders) there have been amazing! Though it is sad to see that it has come to an end.. but regardless, welcome to the forums, and I hope that you’ll enjoy your time on here! ❤️

I’m really sorry that you’re going through this at the moment, the cost of living crisis that we’re all dealing with at the moment is awful, and it’s something that really needs to change!!

I definitely feel you on the fixed mindset when it comes to trying to find a career path that we know can be suitable for us. I’m personally someone who has a fixed mindset on things all the time which I know isn’t necessarily the best thing to have, but at the same time it’s so easy for us to easily have doubts on ourselves when we feel that things don’t end up going the way we wish or want it to head into.

I saw on your other reply that you’re currently 20 years old, I’m also in my 20s but just a few years older. So I feel like you and I can easily connect with each other and get to know more about each other as we are both within the age range 🙂

I think what’s most important about finding a course to study at is definitely know that the area of the course that you want to do is something you know that you’re fully passionate about and that you can see yourself doing. So if you think that doing beauty services is something you’re passionate about and would see yourself in doing as part of a career possibly, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take the course. But of course, whenever you feel that you’re ready to - no pressure! 🙂 it’s totally never too late to try something new no matter what and when/what age you are.

From my experience, after I finished high school back in 2020, I’ve spent the past 4 years doing TAFE courses (1 was a diploma that I did in 2021 for a bit that I dropped out early on and never went back, the other ones were two different Cert IV (Accounting/Bookkeeping & I.T) courses I did from 2022-2024 and I did both in part time mode. Never completed/graduated from those either). Fast forward to early this year, I started doing an undergraduate certificate in fine (visual) arts & then I’ll be starting my first ever bachelor degree (of psychological sciences) this upcoming July.

ooof! yeah I have read that some universities (even their accessibility services) aren’t super helpful when it comes to providing and accomodating the appropriate support needs for those that do need them. That’s part of why I’m thankful that the university I’m going to be starting my bachelor degree at this upcoming July (which I’ve read that) their accessibility services there seem to have been the most supportive and helpful when it comes to providing the appropriate support needs for those like us that do need it. I wouldn’t want to switch universities because of it, and I do hope by the time I’m gonna be studying at that university that my opinion and experience dealing with the accessibility services there wouldn’t change for the worst.

I have my fingers crossed for you that by doing the beauty services course that they’ll be able to provide you the more better support that you need and deserve with ❤️