Not Knowing My Key-Area of Interests to Move Forward in Life

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Hi Everyone,

most of you probably have an area of interest that you focus on, and perhaps even have an occupation based on it.

being an aspie myself - I do know that I like drawing and music, but I dont seem to have a strong interest enough these to want to pursue them as careers/occupations. (Am currently jobless and recovering from depression).

Yes I'm aware that sometimes in Life, you just won't or don't know what you want to do in Life
(I'm a 25 year old)

But I just don't get why I don't have a particular key interest with this asperger's.

I do a little bit of drawing, I do a little bit of writing and a little bit of guitar. I'm good at listening to music and picking out sounds etc. I like a little bit of running.

But not enough of any to want to pursue any of them as a Career - So I'm really "stuck", I don't seem to want to do anything or like anything.

Also, in my country pursuing Arts and Music is not exactly a wise choice as it may not be so stable here and also, I can't be an "independent" artist etc trying to work on social networking for people to buy my art etc... I find/feel i need to work in a company under someone due to asperger's.

Although, in "hindsight" - typing this thread seems to slowly "Open" up something in me very slowly (but surely).


*Some questions to Myself to reflect upon along the way:

- Yes, it could be the depression and ocd at the moment (which is slowly lifting with the SSRI/anti-depressant I'm taking) and could be "blocking" my true desires.

- It could be my ocd to want perfection and simply not pick anything in particular because I can't make any of them a career in a perfect light to my liking.

- It could be im still growing up and am unsure what i want to do and should take my parents' advice to 'just do something/any job and slowly figure out what you want' - although I am pretty much not in favour of this having already done some jobs that are nowhere near my interests and finding that I only start getting low/bored/depressed (especially with already difficulties socialising).


So to sum up everything: I Just Don't Know What I Want To Do In Life!
which basically contradicts the general idea of how aspergergians seem to be - having a specific area of focus they can build upon.


I look forward to responses and people who may be experiencing the same. I'm trying to open up and learn about myself here.

Thanks
skribble

I sort of have this problem. My interest changes about every two years. So far I'm partway through three separate degrees.

What are these 3 interests and degrees? There might be a hidden link that you haven't thought of. I have noted that some people expect the interest to jump out at them and for them to have savant like abilities, it doesn't really work like that. It takes practice at your interest. Even most Savants really have an insane amount of obsessive practice and ritual behind them, usually coupled with a good memory.

The fact you have started 3 degrees is interesting, you clearly have a good interest in education. Is there an angle there for you? Might you make a good tutor for instance? Being able to pick up new subjects and study them at degree level is a very useful skill, you just need to find a way to use it.

The same for the OP, teaching music can be a fun and independent occupation, which might give you the pocket money, so that you can work on your own music interests.

Jason.

It can take years to figure out what you want to pursue. Also, many people decide to change tracks some years down the road. Some people, myself included, never figure it out. I am in my early 50s. Due to health problems, I no longer work, but I spent most of my working years doing temp work. This is a good way to try out different types of work, while earning money. Consider signing up with all of the agencies in your area. It is best to sign with all of them, as one may not have an assignment available for you at a particular time, while another might. The only agencies to avoid signing with are those that specialize in something that requires special training that you don't have. While some agencies are more general, others specialize in accounting/financial, executive placements, entertainment work, medical staffing, engineering work, etc. If you don't have specialized training, the general staffing agencies are the places to sign up with. They do placements in office, factory/warehouse, and light industrial work. I've done assignments in all three categories.

If you don't want to tutor someone in the stuff you all ready know, go with temping, at least for now.

English (creative writing), Computer Science, and now Biology/Neuroscience. I've considered teaching, but I think my social anxiety is a little too severe to be standing in front of a classroom. I've also considered being a science writer (like for a magazine or something). Honestly, my ideal job would be one that I don't think really exists: professional problem solver. I'm super-humanly good at seeing connections, learning how systems work, and coming up with solutions to problems that other people don't usually see. I have no idea how to get paid for that, though.

Mine do kind of, too.

Now, some careers, like journalism or being a medical researcher, that's probably a positive. And maybe more careers.

wow! I went for my breakfast about 2 hours ago - I come back and so many responses! Thank you guys!

I really appreciate it
hope to see more in time. much love, skribble.

That's kind of how I feel, I don't seem to really have any real interests.......I mean I like music and have some topics I enjoy learning about but nothing really that I really enjoy spending a lot of time doing or thinking about or acting on.

I am not really sure why this is maybe a lack of motivation related to having depression.

Very good point! (in Bold)
I keep thinking about that - how do I get paid for something that doesn't exactly exist?

Teaching in a classroom isnt really my thing though. Interestingly, I don't mind going up on stage or giving a quick presentation - I love and want the attention.

and on a different note - Just yesterday I was actually considering taking up Architecture (I do not have any diploma or college degree at the moment etc, just secondary/highschool graduation),
and then I read from numerous comments from people at a site on how they suffer as architects, but what made me change my mind was the part that Architects were: 'Hardest Hit Profession during Recessions' - you can google this. It made me reconsider a lot after that.

Thanks for your response riot_gun

"a professional problem solver"
That would be an awesome job. I frequently see the solution to problems that my family, acquaintances, friends are trying to solve. It would be nice if afterwards I could say, "that will be $20".

I have two partial graduate degrees. I am currently finishing my teachers certification for high school and hope that works out. At least it will provide an income, and it is in science, which is an interest of mine (but I do not want to do research because of the politics involved, and a dislike of paper writing).

Maybe some form of conflict resolution? Maybe there would be a role around problem solving in some large organisation? Dont know what it would be called though.

Probably not conflict resolution, so much as some sort of consultant. I imagine a business would bring me in to solve a problem, I'd spend a week or so learning how things work, and serve them up a solution. Or something like that.



You're welcome!

That sounds exactly like me... If there was such a thing as a multi-disciplinary professional problem solver, I would be an ace candidate. Outside of my own personal life, I've almost never met a problem I couldn't solve given the time and effort.

I have a BA in English Linguistics & History (dual major) that took me 10 years to earn. I would go from being on the dean's list one semester to failing the next because I would lose interest in my classes. I never took computer science courses, but for many years I was a hobbyist programmer, until I gave that up... I still dabble in Android a bit, hacking Roms and such.

I'm not good at puzzles like Sudoku, but I am great at figuring out what's wrong with something that isn't working the way it is supposed to. I think that the problem-solver ability comes from the ability to follow logical progression without getting sidetracked by red herrings... Whether that's in computer programming, finding a way to increase revenue in the workplace, or a simple brain teaser, it's all the same.

Urban planners have to do a lot of conflict resolution, solving problems in groups, finding consensus...etc. They even learn certain techniques to do that kind of stuff but based on group dynamics mostly.

Computer repair?

Those troubleshooting skills are very valuable and good troubleshooting skills are rare. Have either or any of you considered audit? This isn't as dull as it sounds and a lot of the time, it's going into a business looking at people and processes, looking for inefficiencies or weaknesses and making a recommendations report.

This has a few great features for aspies:

- you can use your observational and fault finding skills
- you are not expected to be overly sociable
- the work is normally well defined, a short investigation, report and then a new assignment

It's possibly a good way to get into problem solving and management consulting..

Jason