u/Conscious-Golf-2238

I’m 23F, turning 24 in a few months. I graduated college a couple of years ago, and since then I’ve really struggled with the job hunt. At this point, I’ve basically given up on it for now. But something else has been on my mind lately: has anyone actually managed to form genuine friendships during their 20s?

I had a falling out with my high school friend group, which is all in the past now. Then university came around… and so did COVID. My first two years of uni were completely online, so I never really got the chance to make friends. When we eventually went back to in-person classes, most of my classes were mostly guys, and the one girl I did have in class had a habit of being pretty judgmental, so that friendship didn’t really work out either. After graduation, we eventually stopped talking.

Now I’m kind of wondering if I missed my chance.

For some context, I’m not particularly secular or liberal, and I think part of why I sometimes feel like an outcast is because I don’t really fit neatly into the social expectations here. I don’t cover my hair, which isn’t exactly unusual, but it’s still more common for girls here to cover than not. I also don’t follow a specific sect within Islam and simply identify as Muslim, which for some reason can be a surprisingly big deal here. (Not trying to be judgmental, I’m just explaining my own experience.)

At the same time, I’m also into things that might make me seem different from the more conservative people around me. I love English pop music, Disney, rom-coms, and all those cliché TV shows with love triangles and ridiculous relationship drama 😂. I listen to Arabic music too, obviously, but I’ve never really felt like I belonged to one particular social or religious group.

I think that’s where a lot of my feeling like an outcast comes from. It’s not that I have a problem with people who are more religious or who follow a particular sect — I just don’t want people to assume that because of my background, I’m supposed to think, dress, behave, or live a certain way.

I want friends who can respect that I’m Muslim and that I come from this background without making assumptions about what kind of person I should be because of it. And preferably people who share some of my interests and would actually enjoy going to concerts, festivals, watching movies, going out, etc. together.

So yeah, do y’all think it’s actually possible to make genuine friends at this age? If you’ve made close friends in your 20s, where did you meet them? Because sometimes it genuinely feels like I missed the window for making friends and that I should just stop hoping 😭

Ps: my message requests are turned off so to all the creeps , go away :)

This might sound weird, but I think Luis having his mom's power has something to do with who his father is. I know everyone assumes that his father is Maui, but if Descendants 6 even happens or gets announced—especially with all the drama, the fact that Kylie and Malia only signed a two-movie deal, and Malia making a cameo in Hidden Heroes—would they even care enough to focus on Luis or reveal who his father is?
I am a fan of Strongheart and do see the chemistry, but I feel like in the movie Luis was just a companion. Most of his scenes were either "saving Red," bickering with Max and Hazel, or dancing with Red. I mean, when it came to the original Core 4, only Mal’s father was ever revealed. We never learned who Jane’s or Uma’s fathers were, nor do we know who the VKs' and HK’s other parents are.
Side note: As much as I like Strongheart, Red falling for Luis despite him saying he doesn't trust VKs and low-key hating on Max’s father is pretty funny to me. 😂

Has anyone ever purchased something from eBay and actually received it ?😂
I’m thinking of buying something from a seller on there but I feel it would be risky , specially during this time

I’ve seen some theaters here in BH offering a 3D screening for the new Spider-Man movie. Does that mean you still have to wear those annoying glasses that hurt your head the whole time? 😂 I haven’t seen many 3D movies shown in theaters for a few years now, so it’s a bit weird.

People are probably going to disagree and hate my opinion, but here goes:
Red x Luis: They actually have chemistry, and them "not making sense" on paper is what makes Descendants the franchise that it is. Think about Mal and Ben, Jane and Carlos, or Evie and Doug—a lot of those couples didn't make sense initially either! The core key to relationships in this franchise has always been how "opposites attract." Red has always wanted to find her own path, try different things, and experience a life outside of Wonderland. Luis, on the other hand, just does what everyone expects from him. It’s kind of like Troy and Gabriella if you think about it. Also, >!in!< >!The Rise of Red!<>!, we saw Red simping over King Charming for a moment before Chloe pointed out that he was just the teenage version of her dad.!< Red clearly has a thing for guys similar to Luis and Charming—that's just her type!
Furthermore, Red and Max wouldn't work. She already knew Max and never saw him that way. >!Bonding over her "understanding what he’s going through" doesn't make sense considering that in the new timeline, Red doesn't share the same problems as him.!< Yes, Red lived in isolation and Luis's family might be too much for her to handle, but Ben's royal life was too much for Mal at first, and they worked it out in the end. >!Besides, they are still in the early stages. If a sixth movie happens, they will probably end up together (I mean, he literally has her picture in his locker, Chessy referred to Luis as her "boyfriend" when Red got stuck in the maze and Red didn't deny it, plus he has Bridget's approval).!<
Red x Chloe: They were always written as friends. Most of their best friendship moments were improvised by Malia and Kylie anyway (prior to all the drama). Even if the writers ever decided to take a romantic route with Chloe's character again, it wouldn't be with Red. >!Also, in!< >!Locker Diaries!<>!, Red was totally blushing over Luis, and Chloe was only annoyed because she was stuck to that bracelet while Luis was flexing at the wrong time—it wasn't due to jealousy!!<
The Pocket Watch: >!It made complete sense that they destroyed it instead of using it to go back in time again. They had already altered and ruined so many things by traveling back the first time. Going back a second time would have just caused even more problems.!<

Has anyone actually gotten a response after applying for a job through one of these accounts, where the company turned out to be legitimate? Since most of them don't mention the company name, you're essentially sending your CV to a sketchy-looking, anonymous email address.

As someone who has been struggling to find a full-time job, I started volunteering and recently accepted a remote internship—even though I absolutely hate working from home—just to boost my resume. However, when it comes to my search for full-time employment, will this volunteering and remote internship actually count as experience? Do employers value remote internships?

Does anyone go to this theater?
I went today and no one else was there but me 😂
I figured it might be because I went in the morning during school/work hours,
but idk.
Are people more likely to show up at night?
I actually haven’t gone to the theater since 2018 I think and the last movie theater I went to was Saar Cinema 🥲 However this is the first time Ive ever been in a movie theater all by myself.

Is anyone else bothered by the heavy use of AI that most companies and restaurants around here rely on? Honestly, it feels really cheap, and there’s no creativity involved at all. The computer does everything for them—from storyboards to motion graphics—and they actually have the audacity to call it “art” and “evolution”.
It has reached a point where I’m actively boycotting places that use AI-generated ads, and I’ve also stopped contacting people and businesses that use it for these purposes. That’s weird for me because I’ve never been the type of person to completely shut someone off.
To be honest, I don’t know if this feeling comes from the fact that most companies have rejected me for not including AI-generated work in my portfolio, but it genuinely feels like using your imagination and creating your own work is becoming pointless. It seems like they just want the computer to do everything.
Disclaimer: I’m not against AI in general. What I’m against is the way it’s being used. If things continue in this direction, many jobs could literally disappear—actors, directors, videographers, motion designers, graphic designers, and many other creative professionals.

هل عمركم رحتون مقابلة حسيتوا أنكم جبتوا ام العيد وسلكتون واجد من كثر التوتر والإحراج وان الجو كان غريب؟😂
شاركوني** بعض المواقف علشان اهون على نفسيّ**** ش**وي 😭😭

This part specifically confuses me. Some people say it’s better to not include it, while others say you’re more likely to get hired if you do. I used a resume with a photo for two years, but recently switched to one without a photo because many people told me it’s more ATS-friendly.

Just saw a job post for Burger King in Bahrain , guess it is coming back for real

What are some certifications I can get that might boost my chances of finding a job? I tried getting a diploma in HR, but it never worked out. Honestly, I'm not a risk-taker, and I'm afraid I might waste my time getting certified in something that won't help me find a job.

Is it actually worth getting a certification in something else?

I graduated with a multimedia systems degree almost 2 years ago, and honestly, the field feels impossible right now. AI is taking over, the market is super competitive, and employers want people who use AI tools rather than designing from scratch. Plus, they always ask for a ton of experience. I’ve worked on my portfolio and my work is okay, but it’s clearly not enough for them. To be real, I didn’t even enjoy my major anyway.

So now, after 2 years, I’m thinking: what if I just get certified in project management or something?

But I have a couple of honest doubts:

1. Is it even worth it if I’m just getting the certification from a random training institute?
2. Does a certification actually help if I have zero real work experience in that field?

Right now, all I have on my resume is a 2-month training & development internship, a 1-month internship at a tiny "media" company, and about 9 months of volunteer work where I teach, design slides, and help organize activity days and trips.

Would love to hear some real advice on whether this is a smart move or a waste of time.