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Anyone else feel this way?
So I just finished grad school in March and took all my boards and licensure (I'm a social worker) anyways now that I'm done I feel.....completely let down. For the past seven years my focus has been plowing through school and I was always guaranteed this amazing fabulous light at the end of the tunnel...Well it's over and it's like I have nothing more to work towards. I have a good job (the job I thought would be my dream job) that makes a great salary (a salary people would kill for and no billables!), but it's almost like I have accomplished all of my professional goals at 25...it sucks.
I want to start applying to phd programs but that's not addressing the underlying issue which is that I feel empty and purposeless without school or a bigger goal. My performance at my job is starting to lag, I just don't have that huge passion I used to have in school..the light at the end of the tunnel is...retirement? That sucks. Anyone else have similar feelings?
Re: Anyone else feel this way?
Yep, I had my bachelors degree, masters degree, CPA & CFE licenses all by 24....my goal was to do it before I turned 25. I currently find myself thinking "now what?" There are no Doctorate of Accounting programs within 500 miles of where we live - not to mention, there is no reason to get a doctorate in my field unless I want to teach college.
While I'm thankful to have a job, I also lack the passion that I once had. I'm planning to obtain additional professional designations and I'm getting more involved in volunteer organizations. Good luck to you - I'm sure the hard work will eventually pay off & you'll feel fulfilled again.
it's good to hear this is somewhat normal. I love my field, but I don't think schools really ever prepare you to be done- that's not in their best interest
I will definitely look into volunteering or sitting on a board or something along that frame, that's a good idea!
i don't feel that way at all....counting down actually.
those are wonderful accomplishmentsyou'ved achieved! I would recommend volunteering or joining a NP board in your interest area.
Enjoying no more school must be a good feeling-right?
I felt this way after my BS, my MS and I expect I'll feel the same after I finish the PhD (although hopefully there will be an extended period of jumping up and down and screaming first).
I'm in engineering, so school is generally pretty challenging. I like being challenged, a lot. It was hard when I worked after my BS (before grad school) because I felt like my brain was being grossly underutilized, and that really contributed to my feelings of purposelessness.
Since I'm anticipating this feeling after my next graduation, I've started planning out other goals. I'm just a goal-driven person and I don't expect that to change so I've decided to work with it. I might try to train for a marathon, or possibly take up rock climbing or some other challenging, skill-based hobby.
Is there something non-academic that you'd like to learn how to do? Maybe learn a language or something?
Do you have a clinical license? If not, are you interested in getting one? If you already have your clinical license, have you considered doing the work to become a supervisor for interns? I know that's not getting at the root of your dilemma, but it seems like with social work, there are so many advanced specializations you can try for and use to help other would-be social workers. After that is done, you could look into a phd. It just seems like a social worker's education is never done because there are so many other things to work towards that build on what you've already done...in theory, you could be busy and working towards things all the way until you hit retirement!
I definitely understand your dilemma and hope you can find the passion again!!
Are you not challenged at your job? Perhaps you need to take on more responsibility? You have a great salary and apparently time on your hands, so why not use this opportunity to look for other ways in which you can contribute and develop?