There’s so much I want to do in life and it’s frustrating me
I (19F) have so much I want to do in life and it feels impossible and it’s frustrating and upsetting.
I did my A Levels last year and got terrible grades so took a gap year, not to resit but to try get into university (which I did!) and just have a break from education. I’ve been on a family holiday, learnt basic music theory, practiced my driving theory test a few times and got into university and am probably going to get promoted at work.
However, now that it’s nearly summer there’s so much I want to do in life and before I start uni but also before I die and it’s hurting me. I’ve started learning 3 languages on duolingo but im just at the basics, I’ve taught myself how to play sudoku but I want to learn how to play chess. I know how to play 3 medium difficulty songs on acoustic guitar but want to improve on my electric and also learn harmonica and piano. I want to have been to every country before im 60 but I’ve only ever been abroad twice at 19.
It’s the same career wise. I’m doing a sociology undergraduate this September and originally wanted to teach primary school or in a prison but now I want to work in public health and health disparity research but part of me wants to work in the civil service as a diplomat or on the politics side but part of me wants to do a masters and PhD and become very well educated.
I grew up working class and poor and I work in McDonald’s currently surrounded by people who’ve settled into a life of just scraping by enough to survive. My brother has diagnosed ADHD and uses that as an excuse for EVERYTHING (can’t do a degree, can’t get a new job, can’t pick up a new hobby, can’t make time to see us) and I feel like I need to be trilingual with 4 degrees and able to play 4 instruments and live on a tropical island to be fulfilled and prove to my family that I’ve broken the statistic. My sister and cousins don’t work and sit and claim benefits and watch tv all day which also annoys me.
Is this an unhealthy way of thinking? Is it possible for someone like me who grew up poor yet neurotypical in a neurodivergent family to speak 4 languages fluently and know how to play 4 instruments in depth and travel the world? Am I doing okay so far?
Sorry if some of this is disgruntled sounding.
Posted May 12, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC