Dream slipping as each day goes by

[futuresmarket]

I am 19 years old and for the last 6 years i have wanted to be an investment banker.
There have been barely any successful people in my family I have been brought up by a very tough European family, I have seen my family battle though every problem possible the only thing keeping me together is the dream to one day be the king on wall street, I’m studying the degree I need to get the job I want at university although I am struggling to the point I think I am going to have to drop out. All throughout my school life I have always struggled never been able to get anything right when it came to technical graphs or maths I’m absolutely useless at it. I always thought I’d be able to get it together when it comes to my university degree but it seems that’s not the case, I cannot afford to get extra help and I wouldn’t waste the money anyway I cannot sleep at night I’m always up thinking I can never relax everyday I see friends doing well at school and I’m their pretending I’m doing fine when really I just feel like going home and lying in bed listening to my iPod. I feel like these dreams I have are just a cover up of how stupid I really am I’m going nowhere in life no company would hire me I can’t even get though first year at university. I always tell myself I should go to the doctor at get tested for a learning deficiency but then if it came back positive I know that would be it all over for me I’d be nothing just like the rest of my family. My dreams are stupid they only feel good when I have my earphone in my ear with an inspirational song playing or when I watch the movie trailer of the new wall st money but when that’s over its back to reality back to the shit results I get the fact is I can’t grasp anything I am literally dump and at this stage I am going to get nowhere in life.
I just wish I had a brain my stress levels are far too high for someone my age I just don’t know what to do I have little confidence left I just don’t want my destiny to be decided this way I wish I could figure out an answer to help me get onto the right track. If you have been in a similar career making situation please let me know it would really help.

[DepressedTrader]

Hey Futuresmarket.

I hate to discourage you but honestly I think you should you look for happiness somewhere else. Others that don't know what becoming an investment banker entails might think I shouldn't be discouraging you, but frankly based on your post you don't stand a chance unless you can IMMEDIATELY make a complete 180 in your life. You don't have to waste either you would already be way behind your competition.

As I'm sure you know investment banking is probably one of the most competitive job's in the world. There will be 10,000 people for one position and those 10,000 people will have impressive resumes. Having a 3.8 GPA from Harvard or another IVY league school while being the president of 5 different clubs and having worked 60 hours per week to pay for your tuition and living expenses at the same time is not only normal but frankly expected and about the minimum to even get a first interview. And of course you would just be average compared to your competition.

Investment bankers are the very stereotype of overachievers on steroids. Unless if what you typed is a complete joke, if those thoughts are in your head you are by far to mentally weak to become an investment banker.

So I'd suggest just accepting it and finding something else to make yourself happy. You are young and have the world ahead of you. Believe me you can find something that else that will at least satisfy you. You don't need to be an investment banker, and don't forget in the end investment bankers are really nothing more than glorified salesmen anyway. Highly paid though yes...

[better-days]

i think everyone needs dreams, they are goals that you can work towards in life, but not when they are starting to harm you, drag you down (emotionally) which yours may be doing. i don't want to say give up on it as i don't you know you so i don't know the whole situation properly, just what you have posted. but you may be as well preparing a abck up plan in case this doesn;t turn out the way you hoped it would as it's not being negative, it's being prepared for the worst, should it arise.
you must have doen soemthing right to be able to attend university int he first place- they don't just accept anyone for courses.
i don't think going to the doctors about learning difficulties if its based purely on the maths and graphics side- I'm hopeless at maths too. you can't be good at everything. however, if you have other reasons to suspect that you have learning difficulties, then i would reccommend that you see the doctor as if you do, then you could work with your University to plan a teaching plan that best suits you and your needs.


we're the same age and when I was at college, i studied for animal care and husbandry. It was a three year course and i was a couple of months into it. then i started getting bullied by the class and my friends turned on me and tried to blame me for the bullying, that it was my fault they had started on me. I quit the course. i had never missed a day and hadn't been late and always had my work done on time. at the timer i accepted that maybe it wasn't for me, as i had other dreams and ambitions, but i regret so much not fighting more to stay there and so that part of me is saying that if you want it badly enough, fight for it.

ultimeately, you need to go with your judgement on this one, and whatever you decide, i wish you luck and happiness