Life being wasted

[Necroid]

Well, I always wanted to be a doctor, and made a life mistake thinking that by going to the army I would be that much more competitive and would be leading a more productive life... when in fact, it did the opposite of that. I was also afraid of debt, and was scared of failing college that I never took a real plunge into it. The job I sign up had a foreign language bonus (major reason why I sign up), but I failed in training for land navigation (I'm still bitter over this... since I written a letter all the way up to the chain of command asking to recycle... but then it got denied) so I had to change jobs (force pretty much) to a IT job I hate... and I been hating it for a year now. I pretend that I care, pretend to enjoy it, and all that pretending made me into somewho who would waste hours (months) studying something I could give two rats butts about. I don't care anymore... when I bust my butt, and I see people getting away with bare minimum. It's 90% political, and 10% work. I am not stupid, but the military makes me doubt myself, but if I am good enough for IT work through sheer hatred, I can do medical school.

And today, it's haunting me in the back of my mind that I allow myself to do this, to pursue something so I could make others happy (when they really don't care, but they act like it's important for my career success) for 1 whole year. When they place the same importance on having a clean room, and I have to act a certain way to be "normal", surrounding myself with peers that think completely different than I do.

I want to get back on track to what I really need to do with my life, and I am not young anymore (I'm 23... grauated high school at 19.5, join military at 21). I can't really do college at the moment, since the location I am at has no available colleges (and online college doesn't interest me as much), but there's a plenty of books where I am at. During high school, I wasted 40-50 hours a week doing a menial labor job I hate.... yeah this cycle of doing lame jobs hasn't end... since the Army might as well be McDonalds. But... now it's different, since if I don't do anything about it, I am going to be a loser in my eyes.

I have 8 hours a day available to my disposal, and there's nothing I want but this. Please if anyone has advice, I'll gladly take it.... since it's killing me that I am letting my life go to waste.

I am changing location in 6 months or so, so I can go back to college then.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[deleted480308]

If you find online school beneath your efforts, shadow a doc until you are at a new location

 

[Just Call Me Doc]

Since you have a lot of time over the next 6 months, I would suggest start studying for your pre-req courses. (Chem, physics, bio). Getting a leg up on them now will help you blow them out of the water in school so that you can build a strong GPA for your eventual application to med school (as well prepare you for the MCAT). You may not want to take any online classes for credit, but you may want to look at some of the free online courses just to learn, such as Coursera and Khans Academy. Some people can just read a textbook and learn while others need some form of lecture.

I know this time seems like a waste but hopefully you'll take away some wisdom and a lot of motivation from your experience. Plus, you'll get paid to study for the next 6 months and will have TA and GI Bill to help fund schooling. We all have our paths in life (there are many here that have started as late or later than you and have succeeded) so just keep your eyes on the prize and muscle through towards it.

 

[Mississippi Grind]

First, your only option is to make the best of the situation.

Second, the Army is not McDonalds.

There is a reason military service bodes well for future employment and academic endeavors. BUT if you lose perspective and become too jaded, you run the risk of getting into a lot of trouble, and really putting yourself in a precarious position. Do what they tell you to do, and keep your goals in mind. Remember that you have the post 9-11 GI Bill on the other side of it. And above all else, you don't want a DD214 with anything bad on it.

I am leaving the Army next year and I will have 10 years in, and be 30 years old. I have had an awesome time, but I have to caveat it with this : it will be what you make of it. I have had great assignments, but am now coming off a soul crushingly terrible one. But you have to find a way to maximize whatever resources you have available for your future plans.

Listen man, you only have a couple or three years to deal with it. I feel your frustration, it sounds like forever, but it's really not. Like Doc says above, just keep an eye on the goal and push through. I also sent you a PM.

 

[Bryan O’Blivion]

Sounds frustrating. Just remember, in the military, it can always get worse, and quickly. Is there an education office on your post? Often times there is one, and they will offer you free CLEP tests there. As someone else suggested, you could try Khan academy, study independently, and then take the CLEP tests, and when you go to college later, you will be able to apply them to a lot of the general education requirements which will reduced the cost and time involved in pursuing a degree.

The GI bill will be a help. But I can't agree more with the above poster. Make use of what you have, and don't get in trouble. Leave with an honorable discharge, and no LOCs etc. It can suck, but it is temporary. Try to use your time to benefit yourself, both in the short term and the long run.

 

[KaBoom'd]

I'm not nearly as sympathetic as most will be. I'd be willing to bet that you're picking and choosing details you've shared in order to recieve some anonymous forum pity. You have 8 free hours a day? You could take 6 or 9 credit hours a semester online. You could complete half of a B.S. from a state school (not a for-profit online only institution) within your remaining contract, when paired with a few electives from military courses. Most of that will be free with tuition assistance, btw. But, I'm sure you already know all of this. You signed the contract. If you don't use the time you've committed to serving wisely by exploiting all of the benefits available to you while you're in, you're the only one responsible for your "life being wasted."

 

[MrLogan13]

As a former soldier myself, I find your comparison of the Army to McDonald's to be insulting. Being junior enlisted can suck, and the Green Weenie can make things worse, but you get out of it what you put into it. Attitude is everything. Also, you are most definitely still young. I'm starting medical school at 33, man. I have a friend who started in their 40's. You have your whole life ahead of you. Make the most out of your time until you ETS.

 

[MrLogan13]

I'm not nearly as sympathetic as most will be. I'd be willing to bet that you're picking and choosing details you've shared in order to recieve some anonymous forum pity. You have 8 free hours a day? You could take 6 or 9 credit hours a semester online. You could complete half of a B.S. from a state school (not a for-profit online only institution) within your remaining contract, when paired with a few electives from military courses. Most of that will be free with tuition assistance, btw. But, I'm sure you already know all of this. You signed the contract. If you don't use the time you've committed to serving wisely by exploiting all of the benefits available to you while you're in, you're the only one responsible for your "life being wasted."

I was thinking the same thing. There are plenty of educational opportunities while on AD, at low to no cost because of tuition assistance. Schedules can be erratic, but there's usually plenty of down time while in garrison unless he was in a line unit. Which is probably not the case if he's working IT. OP, are you a 25B?

 

[KaBoom'd]

I was thinking the same thing. There are plenty of educational opportunities while on AD, at low to no cost because of tuition assistance. Schedules can be erratic, but there's usually plenty of down time while in garrison unless he was in a line unit. Which is probably not the case if he's working IT. OP, are you a 25B?

I won't pretend like my military experience hasn't been atypical, but I don't work a desk job and I've completed a ridiculous amount of online college work over the past 3 years. Those years included multiple deployments and nearly as much time in hotels between trips overseas. If he/she really wants it, they'll find a way and start leveraging the military as an advantage, not blaming it for holding them back.

 

[MrLogan13]

I won't pretend like my military experience hasn't been atypical, but I don't work a desk job and I've completed a ridiculous amount of online college work over the past 3 years. Those years included multiple deployments and nearly as much time in hotels between trips overseas. If he/she really wants it, they'll find a way and start leveraging the military as an advantage, not blaming it for holding them back.

Anything is possible with motivation and good old fashioned hard work.

 

[Necroid]

Thank you for the responses.

I stand to my opinion of the military, but they do have resources.

Its in my control to get what I want, and the outcome is mine as well. I am negative about it but Im getting over it so I can see whats ahead for me.

 

[DesertPT]

23 is not that old. A huge portion of the college population doesn't finish a bachelor's until they're closer to 30 then 20 nowadays anyway.

 

[MrLogan13]

Well, thank you for your dim view of military service. You can be sure you'll be asked about your service at any interview you attend; I was asked about it at every medical school interview I attended. If you can't talk about your service with introspection about how it has influenced your journey without being negative and calling it a waste of time then you better at least fake some motivation when the time comes.

 

[j4pac]

Dude, don't even attempt to go to medical school. You've got a piss poor attitude and look like you are the type of guy who would complain about working in porn for a living. Quit feeling sorry for yourself and maybe you can find a silver lining in this entire situation. You are veteran for goodness sakes. You will be desirable to employers (including medical schools) because supposedly the military instills discipline and work ethic. You are completely ruining it for yourself.

You and only you are responsible for your own issues...until you figure that out...don't waste your time and money.

 

[Mississippi Grind]

Thank you for the responses.

I stand to my opinion of the military, but they do have resources.

Its in my control to get what I want, and the outcome is mine as well. I am negative about it but Im getting over it so I can see whats ahead for me.

Ride that out if you want, but the Army probably has the same opinion of you as you have of it.

 

[medic86]

Piss-poor attitude.

Good luck, OP.

 

[Necroid]

Thank you

 

[Necroid]

Well, thank you for your dim view of military service. You can be sure you'll be asked about your service at any interview you attend; I was asked about it at every medical school interview I attended. If you can't talk about your service with introspection about how it has influenced your journey without being negative and calling it a waste of time then you better at least fake some motivation when the time comes.

Yes I can.

Best thing I ever done to serve my country and the people of my country. I love my military service experience because I saw direct reflection of my service in the people I meet. It instill discipline and integrity which will carry me through medical school...

~
Its the perfect opportunity to use my military experience since I deserve too.

 

[Rogert]

Well, thank you for your dim view of military service. You can be sure you'll be asked about your service at any interview you attend; I was asked about it at every medical school interview I attended. If you can't talk about your service with introspection about how it has influenced your journey without being negative and calling it a waste of time then you better at least fake some motivation when the time comes.

You can be negative and still show you learned something. You don't have to like everything you do.

 

[MrLogan13]

You can be negative and still show you learned something. You don't have to like everything you do.

That's true, there are plenty of things to learn from situations and experiences you don't like. I don't think anyone is knocking the OP for disliking his current position in the military; there's definitely plenty to dislike. However, I think what has rubbed many of us the wrong way is the OP's condescending attitude that military service is beneath him. It's one thing to go through a hardship and learn from it, it's another to have a completely negative outlook and attitude.

 

[MrLogan13]

Yes I can.

Best thing I ever done to serve my country and the people of my country. I love my military service experience because I saw direct reflection of my service in the people I meet. It instill discipline and integrity which will carry me through medical school...

~
Its the perfect opportunity to use my military experience since I deserve too.

I sincerely hope that you'll have greater introspection about your service, good or bad, when it comes time to talk about it so that you don't give this type of cliché response.

 

[Necroid]

Im done discussing military. I can have opinions, and nor do I need to brainwash myself about them.

 

[efex101]

to the OP, yes you an have opinions and you should. it is important to reflect on those and once you start interviewing be tactful but honest as adcoms will key in on any BS (talking from experience). start taking pre-reqs, volunteering and keep your chin up.

 

[Remedium85]

I just have to add this...you should be grateful you have a job in the military that allows you EIGHT hours a day to complete school, because in the civilian world...that ain't the case. My husband is Army SF and he barely has enough time to sleep, let alone pursue a college education while working. The military very much encourages service members to pursue their education, on the civilian side, not too many employers are going to encourage you to pursue college, give you the time, and then pay for it! 23 isn't too old for anything, let alone med school! Also, look into the Army's program for enlisted soldiers to pursue medical school while in the military. The school is in Bethesda, MD. I believe.

 

[MrLogan13]

Im done discussing military. I can have opinions, and nor do I need to brainwash myself about them.

No one said you couldn't have an opinion. Lots of things suck in the military. No one said you had to love it. But the fact that you find military service beneath you is a very condescending attitude and does not reflect positively on your maturity. Your opinion isn't what is offensive, it's the way you've presented it.

 

[rangerdad]

OP is perfectly fine to plan on the future while disliking the present. At the same time is up to you to be proficient in all areas of your current service (MOS, leadership, fitness etc...). The military provided me with many opportunities to change my situations. I volunteered and served with special units, study and work harder to earn rank faster, applied for schools and special programs etc.... You are too early in your career to understand the system and processes but that's expected.
Finally, if you really want to leave the service you will figure out a way, but I promise it will take the same effort and time as doing the right thing and becoming the best soldier your possible can. At the end use your experiences and later benefits to become a physician, which will definitely be more challenging than serving as a private in the US ARMY. Good luck!

 

[nosoddy]

I'll chime in; you'll need to get good at framing your service in a way that shows it provided growth. I was an 0311, and there were some horrible, terrible run-in's with the dreaded green weenie / blue falcon combo. But, I bailed after 5 with a nifty looking 214 and a few good stories, and it has carried me well into my college years. I'm tying up an NRP degree, and rolling into another 40 credits for a Bio BS in preparation for MCAT. Both degrees have been paid for with that delicious Post 9/11, and my wife and I certainly enjoy the BAH from that.

You don't have to like it, but you need to pull the good out of it and frame it into a talking point. Even though you don't want to discuss it, everywhere I have been I've provided a 214, and even during my clinical rotations for NRP I've had my arm twisted into discussing my background. Unless you at least tie a bit of humor into your service, you are going to rub the wrong people the wrong way.

Good luck.

 

[Mississippi Grind]

Since this is like the thread that will never die; one more thing I'd like to chime in. There is a reason the benefits are so great. Because it can be hard and uncomfortable. It isn't always so, but sometimes it is.

There are probably a lot of people of this forum, and I'm going to include myself, who spent years away from their families either in Iraq or Afghanistan, or in training for Iraq or Afghanistan. One of the single largest benefits we received for this was our GI Bill. The same GI Bill you are getting for sitting in Korea doing IT work. I don't say that to cheapen your job, because all jobs in the military really are important for it to function. But when you wave the "omg the army is beneath me and ruining my life" flag, it probably pisses a few people off who went year long (or more) stretches of not knowing if they were going to die every time they rolled out. It would be hard to contextualize something like this since you literally have no concept of it, but our generation of soldiers, sailors, and marines had to put in a level of work you can't even begin to imagine.

Just to get the same benefits you are receiving.

Do your job, make the best of it, and go to medical school man.

 

[MrLogan13]

You don't have to like it, but you need to pull the good out of it and frame it into a talking point. Even though you don't want to discuss it, everywhere I have been I've provided a 214, and even during my clinical rotations for NRP I've had my arm twisted into discussing my background. Unless you at least tie a bit of humor into your service, you are going to rub the wrong people the wrong way.

Good luck.

Since this is like the thread that will never die; one more thing I'd like to chime in. There is a reason the benefits are so great. Because it can be hard and uncomfortable. It isn't always so, but sometimes it is.

There are probably a lot of people of this forum, and I'm going to include myself, who spent years away from their families either in Iraq or Afghanistan, or in training for Iraq or Afghanistan. One of the single largest benefits we received for this was our GI Bill. The same GI Bill you are getting for sitting in Korea doing IT work. I don't say that to cheapen your job, because all jobs in the military really are important for it to function. But when you wave the "omg the army is beneath me and ruining my life" flag, it probably pisses a few people off who went year long (or more) stretches of not knowing if they were going to die every time they rolled out. It would be hard to contextualize something like this since you literally have no concept of it, but our generation of soldiers, sailors, and marines had to put in a level of work you can't even begin to imagine.

Just to get the same benefits you are receiving.

Do your job, make the best of it, and go to medical school man.

Exactly what I've been trying to articulate. OP doesn't have to like it, but having the attitude like the work is beneath him is hugely insulting and immature.

 

[Zachman]

Take classes online through University of New England. It's pricey but they are well put together and respected as a pioneer program in online science classes. I took Chem I and Bio I while I was in Afghanistan. There's a lot you can do while in the Army to set yourself up for success in school afterwards. No need to despair.