I hear that phrase quite often while working in a retail store. Since I look younger than I actually am people think I should still be in school.
And that makes me feel bad. It makes me feel like they view me as if I’m wasting my life working in a store like that. And then I question whether that’s the truth or not.
I then tell them that I did infact go to school. I did 13 years in the public system, then another six years getting my teaching degree. After which time I realized that I didn’t like teaching.
Telling people this then makes me feel like a failure as a human being. Sure I would like to be doing more with my life. I just dont know what it is I want to do. My ideal vocation would be to stay home and raise a few kids. And maybe that will happen and I will finally feel fulfilled. But until then, I wish people would realize that what they’re saying causes me grief.
Amanda
October 16, 2015 at 10:53 pmUgh, people can be so heartless at times. I feel like some people don’t realize that their words actually hurt others. Why is it anyone’s business why you choose to work where you work, right? I’ve been working in customer service jobs for a few years now and I definitely know how you feel. I work on campus at school, so I get a slightly modified filter, but some people are just awful. I just don’t get it 🙁
It’ll be okay, though. 🙂 Don’t take any of their words to heart. It’s okay to not know what to do sometimes. I’ve felt like that everyday of my life so far. Eventually, something will happen that will just click!
Louise
November 2, 2015 at 6:33 pmIt must be upsetting to hear something like that. But really, it’s none of their business what kind of job or career path you chose to do. Besides, are these people shopping in 9-5 hours? By their logic, *shouldn’t they* be at work?
By my age, I should be married and living in my own place. No one has verbalised anything directly to me, but I feel like I’m being quietly judged.