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Please be honest do you feel like a loser being over the age of 30 working a retail and or food service job? Personally I'm in retail and I feel it

I never went to college because I felt I didn't need a piece of paper to prove to people I was smart or worthy which sounded noble at the time. I still don't really feel that college is meant for me because it doesn't excite me and I don't know what to do anyway. Then there's the financial aspect of it all. I wasn't willing to take on that amount of debt at the time for not knowing what to do with myself. I still don't know what to do and I'm 35 here come december.

They say comparison is the thief of joy but it's human to compare and it's human to see how you measure up. Well it's pretty obvious to anyone with eyes that I do not measure up at all. On paper and in practice I'm just some mid 30's loser with no career, living in a crappy apartment, no family of my own just sort of drifting through life. I mean shoot I don't even have a car right now or any money in my bank account because I make just enough to cover my bills and not a whole lot to work with after. Meanwhile I look at my brother who has all the markings of success, I look at my best friend who has done well for himself, I look at others I graduated with back in the day who have their own shops, careers, heck one lady got her own realtor billboard recently. It's hard not to feel so small and insignificant when you see others living it up like Larry. I am glad they are doing well but it still stings. There's still that voice in my head that says you got the better grades why isn't that you. They partied hard in school and you were a diligent student an academic and here you are a loser selling vapes to people.

A man possessed and I never do this kind of stuff found the old Class of 2008 facebook page and I anonymously posted because I am a weenie about how in a few more years it will mark 20 years since we graduated and that I will not be attending any reunion because I accomplished nothing in life and have nothing to say to anyone. I wrote that I hope others have done better than I have. Shockingly people saw it and wrote nice things. I don't know what drove me to write all that because I never do things like that. I was nearly driven to download tiktok and go on a sob filled cry fest but I refrained because I do not want to put myself out there like that. I guess part of me wanted to know if there was anyone else out there like me. I spent my entire day off in bed mostly because I just couldn't move. I don't think I got out of bed until 1pm give or take and that was only because I needed to go to the bathroom.
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BillyMack · 46-50, M
I’m sorry to hear that. But the comparison game is tough to overcome but it’s better to avoid. I know people over 30 in food service or retail and they are doing well. All depends on your marker of success.

Are you happy? Do you get to do things you enjoy? I’d be careful of comparing on socials because those are peoples highlight reels.
When I turned 31 I took a programming course at a local college and then worked as a programmer for the next 30 years. Made decent money. Maybe look at something like that? If your claim of being smart is true, this should be easy enough to figure out.
Lots of other careers out there that pay well too. Electrician/Plumber/Captain, all kinds of stuff. Find a union job, or government job (although being in government in US right now may not be a good thing). Sitting around complaining won't help you move forward.
HootyTheNightOwl · 41-45
Actually, I loved working retail. If I could go back now I would love to return to retail and achieve some of my personal goals in the career.

I wouldn't have bothered going into the casino job, though - the temporary boss they gave me hated my guts and made it unbearable for me to work there.

Maybe, I'd work more towards getting onboard cruise ships nowadays... I like the idea of getting paid to travel and paying next to nothing in bills.
Stop comparing and start setting goals for yourself. College isn’t just for a piece of paper, it’s a goal that gets you on your way to whatever career you desire. Some people start doing awesome things at 18, some at 22, others at 52. Time will pass weather you accomplish things or not, might as well start now.
4meAndyou · F
I was a retail manager for many years before I transferred into the field of human services. I LOVED being the manager of a hardware store!!! It was not like work at all. I enjoyed the heck out of it...and I never felt "Less Than"...until the ex began to compare me to the wife of his boss who made lots more money.
Captainjackass · 31-35, M
It’s never to late to change. I didn’t go to school until I was 28 and still worked full time crappy jobs while I went part time. You just need a plan and the ambition to work hard at it.
@Captainjackass Why does he even need to change? You're legit proving his post right
What you're dealing with?
10% Anxiety
90% Absolute Burnout
...
I am sorry you're going through this; no one deserves to be looked down upon like they're just common bin fodder.
lilylovesgaming1986 · 36-40, F
I think a lot of people look at what is around them for work that will tell u what kind of degree to go after. For me it would be nursing and oil fields and some kind of sells
MntoNc · 36-40, M
You can always look for another job. You can bend your resume here and there on your skills and your job duties at whatever company youre currently working at. Then theres the option of getting promoted at whatever job youre working at if thats your goal.
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BlobbyMcBlobface · 56-60, M
The fact that you earn a living means you're definitely not a loser, unlike those who spend their lives avoiding work to live on benefits.
@BlobbyMcBlobface The system hasn't given up on them, they learned how to milk the system fraudulently, and get away with it.
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Monalisasmith86 · 41-45, F
No if you’re the manager or the ceo I wouldn’t lol
separatetheheart · 31-35, M
@Movingthegoalpost I am not a manager currently, I've been here almost 2 years in my current role.
Monalisasmith86 · 41-45, F
@separatetheheart oh ok that’s ok there heaps of streams in retail if you really use it and apply yourself ok doesn’t matter where you start
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AnnaWasHere · 22-25, FNew
Promotion is unlikely. There's always a son or nephew next in line. Maybe try something else.

 
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