u/Flaky-Language-8414

Evening lads,

How's everyone's day going? Good? Bad?

I've seen other reddit post in this type of category, so I'd figured I'd finally create one myself today.

Got less than 3 months left untill I finish my year, then it's exam time.

And honestly, this year has been absolute shit.

I'm not really worried about exams or tests, I'm worried about my future.

This is something I have been thinking since last year. Failing semester by semester, every test, every exam then think to myself; "Will I ever succeed?"

"What will I do in the future?"

I haven't really taken these thoughts seriously until this month.

I don't have plan A or B yet.

I've always said to my peers that I am looking at going into the engineering field next year, but I'm starting to think engineering was just my default answer whenever people asked what I wanted to do. I don't know if this something I actually want to do, even with the current subjects I have with me; Maths Methods, Physics. (I dropped out chemistry lasy year) They're both something I find interesting, especially Physics.

One piece of advice that I am given everytime; PRACTICE

But I never really focused, I never found the determination to practice or study everyday. I don't even study on subject I selected that I need for that course. What's the point of doing that subject when I don't learn anything?

It was all leaving things to the last minute.

Procrastination

I never really ask questions.

All of this, gave me the fear of failure.

Fear of failing.

And then I think to myself now; "I should've done this earlier" "I've should've changed before year 12" "I've should've taken Year 12 seriously"

One of the things that has taken my spirit, is Mental Health.

My Mental Health has been affecting me alot this year, especially after from failing a test and recieving the results or performance. I am aware of this, but I never picked myself up.

What I'm struggling with is actually choosing what comes after Year 12. Struggling to study/practice and prepare more before an exam or test, managing my time. I've told people for a while that I'd probably go into engineering, but recently I've realised I don't know if I actually want that, or if it was just an easy answer whenever someone asked me what I wanted to do.

So I'll tell a little bit of myself.

I'm interested in computers and technology, hardware, laptops, PC parts and that sort of thing.

But I'm also a fairly creative person. I've always enjoyed drawing, digital art and games. So now I'm looking at everything from engineering and IT to cybersecurity, design or something involving games/digital media, and I genuinely don't know where I belong.

AI is another thing that's messing with my decision. I know you shouldn't choose a career purely because it's "AI-proof", but I'm also nervous about spending years studying for something that could look completely different by the time I graduate.

But again, I'm worried that I wont succeed.

I guess what I'm asking is:

For anyone who felt completely lost at the end of Year 12, how did you eventually decide what to study?

Should I still consider engineering if I'm currently struggling with Methods and Physics, or is that a sign I should look elsewhere?

What other careers/degrees would you recommend for someone interested in computers/technology but also creative work?

And for anyone who was a terrible procrastinator in Year 12,

did you manage to turn that around at university or afterwards?

Any advice or experiences would be genuinely appreciated. I'm just trying to figure out where I go from here and what to do after this post.

I'll try to do my best to respond.

Thanks.