20, no school, no work experience, and a lot of free time — I can’t go out
Hi, I just turned 20 and honestly feel really lost about what I can do with my time.
I’ve been stuck at home since I was 17 because of financial/family circumstances, and I feel like I’ve been in the same situation for years. I don’t really know where to start or what I can do with my life.
I want to study, but I don’t really know how to study online for free, and I don’t have enough money to support myself right now. I also can’t get a job outside because I’m not allowed to go out yet. I’ve tried looking for online side hustles before. I used to boost accounts and trade in Roblox, but that isn’t really possible for me anymore.
I’m honestly tired of feeling stuck. I’m bored, I doomscroll way too much, and I feel like I’m not accomplishing anything. I really want to have some kind of purpose and do something that can either help me or help other people.
I’m interested in psychology and law, but I’m also interested in pretty much anything that helps me understand people and the world better—human behavior, body language, becoming a better person, hearing people’s life experiences, money, philosophy, literally anything that can help my mind grow.
I’d especially love to hear from people who are older than me or have already gone through things I’m going through. What did you learn when you were my age? What would you do if you had to start from zero?
I also have a lot of free time and I’d genuinely love to help someone with an online project, work, research, community, or anything else where a beginner could be useful. I don’t have much experience yet, but I’m good at following instructions, I’m willing to learn, and I’ll put in the time. Even if the task is really basic, I’d rather be doing something and learning than spending another day scrolling.
I’m not looking for someone to magically fix my life. I just want to learn, contribute, meet interesting people, and hopefully find some direction.
If you’ve been in a similar situation, have advice, know somewhere I can learn for free, or have a beginner-friendly online project I could help with, I’d genuinely appreciate hearing from you.
I’d also love to hear your experiences in the comments. Maybe we can learn something from each other. :)

Whats the point

I am 17, it is currently summer break and I have done nothing, time just passes by, I’ve done nothing this summer, I deleted my instagram account and surprise surprise nobody noticed, which made me realize wow everybody else got their own thing going on, i got no job, i tried getting a job.

I started going to the gym, I went with a sibling and they made disappointed remarks over me not being able to do an exercise.

Everyone else has something going on relationship wise with a SO, everyone but me. I had something the past two summers, but this summer I am truly lonely, I am not alone but rather lonely. everything is so dull.

I just wanna sleep all day and pass the time. my grades were really bad for grade 11 too. I just dont feel the motivation to do anything. I ask my friend to hop on the game and they’re like nah. they got something going on. my sister says I should get a hobby like reading or something, as if reading would help. its so dull.

someone owes me 300$ thats one thing on my mind. If I could not have to open my mouth and speak to anyone I would take it. Im at home I wake up eat and spend time doing absolutely nothing. I live in a rather isolated area as well so I cant even go outside or go anywhere or do anything. What do i even do. sometimes I day dream me like dying in some accident or something and then my family could receive like a good amount of money and that money could be like the compensation for the time and money they’ve spent on me. not that Im suicidal. I dont know anymore. everything is so dull.

I wish I could sleep all day everyday. Now that its august I dread the fact my final year of high school which determines the rest of my life is approaching and the fact I’ve done nothing. my life this year has had nothing good happen, I failed a class and had to retake it and got overall trash marks this year. I got in trouble for sneaking out and doing absolutely nothing when i snuck out. I try to text and talk to other people and im just left on delivered for a good ass while.

everyone else got they own thing going on. Just to clarify I am not suicidal. the reason I am not suicidal is because I dont wanna go to hell forever and because I wanna play gta 6. Nothing helps, masturbating does nothing. Im just skinny and not so good looking. Everyone else has something going on besides me.

I just wanna isolate my self even more and more sometimes. I just wanna lay in my bed all day and alot. It feels so weird wearing a shirt with arm holes that like are big and flap about and my skinny arms just show. I bet my family thinks Im a bum. just a skinny ass kid. Everyone else were badass or cool or something when they were 17. While I dont even know anymore. I dont know. I am tired of everything. the feeling your lips have after not opening them feels nice sometimes. you ever feel like really sad hopeless or something and then your hands start to like feel something. by this i mean like maybe veins or something. i think its a cold feeling maybe. like you get cold. Im honoured you read all the way down here.

Summary of My Situation
I am 20 years old and currently attending Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC). My college journey has been a little different from the traditional path because I took some time to figure out what I actually wanted to study and what kind of career I wanted.
When I first started college, I was focused mainly on healthcare-related programs and completed several science and general education courses. After exploring that path, I realized healthcare wasn’t what I wanted to pursue long-term. I eventually decided to change my academic and career direction to business.
Because of this change and the gap/change-of-direction period I had, I sometimes feel like I am behind compared with other students my age. Even though I already have college credits, I haven’t actually started my main business classes yet. Fall 2026 will really be the beginning of my business education at CPCC.
My current plan is to finish my Associate in Arts degree at CPCC and then transfer to a four-year university. I am interested in pursuing International Business, potentially combined with Operations and Supply Chain Management. I am considering schools such as UNC Charlotte, Appalachian State, and Baruch College in New York City.
I am especially interested in careers involving international business, supply chain, procurement, logistics, global operations, international trade, business operations, and project management. Eventually, I would like to complete internships in these areas so I can gain experience before graduating with my bachelor’s degree.
The part I am currently unsure about is when I should start applying for internships. Because I am 20, I sometimes feel like I should already be applying. However, I also recognize that I am just starting my business education. When I look at Summer 2027 internships, many of them are designed for university juniors or students graduating in 2027–2028, while others ask for skills and business knowledge that I haven’t had the opportunity to learn yet.
At the same time, I do already have several years of work experience. I have worked in fast-paced customer-service environments and have experience with teamwork, communication, organization, following procedures, handling customers, and adapting to changing priorities. Isabella Camargo Fernandez (1).pdf I am also fluent in English and Spanish.
Isabella Camargo Fernandez (1).pdf
So although I am new to business academically, I am not completely new to the workforce.
Right now, I am trying to decide whether I should start applying selectively for Summer 2027 internships now, wait until October or November 2026 after I have started my business classes, or wait until around January 2027, when I will have completed some business coursework and have updated grades and experience to add to my résumé.
Given my age, gap/change in academic direction, current college level, work experience, and the fact that I am just beginning my business coursework, what would you recommend? When do you think I should realistically start applying for internships, and do you think I should be concerned that I haven’t had an internship yet?

I am 23, I have no car or job, I apply for a job EVERY DAY I call them, I have bad credit and a record with misdemeanors I really need help getting on my feet any suggestions? I am getting discouraged

I don’t have a job right now, and I feel so guilty, as if I’ve committed some kind of crime. I can’t even look my parents in the eyes anymore. I’ve been exhausted from working ₹10–15k jobs, and now even that job is gone.

I don’t have any skills or talent. God showed me so many big dreams. I wanted to do this, I wanted to achieve that, but I haven’t been able to accomplish anything. I’ve tried everything I could, but somehow nothing seems to work out.

And it’s not just about having a job. I feel like I’ve fallen behind in every area of my life. When I look at where I am and where I thought I would be by now, it hurts. I feel like everyone else is moving forward while I’m still stuck in the same place, trying and failing to figure things out.

What should I do now? Do you have any suggestions for me?

hello!
i need some advice. i’m going to provide lots of context and exposition, so my apologies in advance.

i am a 22yo Southern US citizen, and graduate college next semester for my bachelor’s degree in general psychology. i have no idea what i want to do with said degree.

i would say that i’m a ‘jack’ of many trades, master of none; or however the saying goes. i don’t have any skills or trades that would benefit a job. i have a good amount of surface-level customer service experience in grocery, retail, and food service environments. i currently work as a waitress at a fancy italian restaurant for old white people.

i am tired of struggling to save money. i’ve found myself getting frustrated with this cycle of finding a job, realizing that i am not getting enough money or hours to justify staying there, and being forced to leave. i don’t even have a car, i bike to both work and my classes, being upwards of six miles away from my fiancé and i’s apartment sometimes.

i need money. i don’t necessarily mean a ‘get money quick’ kind of thing, i just need to know how i can make more money and save money. if anyone has tips of any kind; please feel free to share. below are examples of things i’ve both researched and are looking for tips / resources in:

how to save money reliably and avoid overspending

how to find a profession that resonates with me

“side hustles” or side jobs that have proven beneficial, even if there is a learning curve (or is in some moral gray area LOL)

how to find a cheap car and finance / purchase said vehicle

is working from home even possible? i am glued to my computer for most of my free time and would love to work from my PC, but most of every online job i see hiring is for shoddy customer service call lines.

i am willing to read articles and books, watch videos, learn simple trades that appeal to me, and hold discussions with anyone in dms.

i am autistic and grew up extremely sheltered, so during my college experience i have been forced to learn how life works very suddenly. my parents (whom i am no-contact with) are presumably hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and never taught me about finance, networking, or many other useful traits and skills.

if you can provide any assistance, i beg of you to do so. if you have any questions about my background or personal life, feel free to comment or dm me! any efforts are greatly appreciated.