In the last year or so I started to see so many people of my age that have done truly incredible things and still doing more.
For the vast majority of my life my only goals were gettimg academic satisfaction and doing unproductive stuff in the free time to get temporary pleasure. No end goal whatsoever.
I kind of don’t know what I’ve been doing in the last 17 years while someone gets a patent on solar systems, other invents a new recyclable plastic, and another found a successful startup. I mean, they all find what they’re supposed to be doing with their lives and excel in them.
I feel overwhelmed for trying to pace up with these kind of people. Yet I don’t like the way the things are and I can’t do anything but envy those people.
Anyone with experience in this regard? How did you deal with this? Did you eventually “pace up” with these people or was it too late or an unattainable goal?
Edit: Whoops, I didn’t expect so many replies! Thanks, I’ll look into them all
Your life hasn’t even started yet. Just enjoy your life, your journey. Once you are old enough, you gonna miss this time. It’s one of the best time of your life. Playing with friends, meeting new people, exploring new things, finding hobbies. When I was 17 I was thinking only about girls. I didn’t have much responsibility outside of my study, and the biggest decision I’ve made at that time was choosing which major/ subjects I wanted to study in university. I achieved nothing when I was 17. Now I’m 35 years old, have a wife, a small house which has become our home, a small family with a daughter and a small dog, and am an attending neurosurgeon. I speak 4 languages fluently, can play music instruments (piano, guitar), sing as a hobby. I am satisfied with where I am, and the most important of all, I’m happy. :)
Just take your time. The fact that you’re thinking about your future means you are already one step ahead of most people your age. Keep doing what you think is right.
I’m really sure of that. I’m realizing how much youth affects people’s life later on directly or indirectly and it just makes me more anxious about my decisions. I’m definitely doing many mistakes that my 30 year old will remember with grief.
If I look at my past I kind of did the worst decisions I could. And I could perfectly avoid bad decisions. I just didn’t, in combination of several factors and my ignorance.
It’s time for you to make mistakes and you’d learn from them. Don’t worry too much. Trust me. :D I also did many mistakes, and if I hadn’t done the mistakes I wouldn’t be here today. In hindsight, there was a specific mistake I did, which have caused me pursuing career in neurosurgery. No joke. :)