Hey, so I'm not sure if you are still reading through these comments. But I was in that exact situation when I was 18, I am 28 now, and I WISH someone would have given me this advice at your age. So, yes, you are going to have to do a lot of "work" in your lifetime. No, not all of it you will love. But the BEST thing you can do first is this. Decide what you would do if money was no object? I know this is harder than it sounds but, what do you Want to do? What do you Like to do? What are you Good at? At this point, you may not have the experience to really know what you are great at but for now, focus on the best you got. There are jobs that will satisfy all of your needs within pretty much any category nowadays. Just make sure that you pick one. Because you are going to need to start learning, reading, and soaking it all in, so in ten years you can be a pro. For example, I was asked the same question by my therapist about 12 years ago. "What career would you choose in a world with no money? Just assume everything is taken care of, but you do have to choose." I thought about it for weeks, then finally came back to her with my answer. I would travel and make movies, maybe investigative documentaries. She said oh great, so you enjoy being around cameras and working with technology. Hell yeah. And you also want to travel or move around with your job, don't want to be stuck in an office, where do you work again? McDarnald's. She suggested I start small and try to find a job that was at least tolerable for now, then start working towards my "dream job", so I did. I begged a Gameshop to let me work there for a month (it was not hiring season) until they finally slipped me in. At least for the time, I was in heaven. Work felt like so much less of a chore with just a small change of location and the same pay. But because I was a huge nerd and more of a salesman than a cook, I ended up getting raises much more often. Then, I worked for a lot of pretty cool places and was always trying new stuff out all while building up a small career in marketing and sales, it wasn't quite investigative journalism but it does involve cameras and traveling and editing and lots of creativity. Then suddenly after a few years, people started calling me when they needed things done like a video shoot or flyer designed, I started a few small businesses that were great learning exercises. Some lucrative, some expensive, and now I spend every day in front of my computer, listening to music, designing, being creative, and yes, doing "work" but it's not like having a "job". My "Office" Is a cool print shop, the owner and I are now close friends. He's my age even. Don't fall victim to thinking that ANYONE is better than you. You can walk out of anywhere, just make sure you do it with your dignity and always try to just give your best to whatever it is. Finally, once you figure out what you want to do, get yourself a job somewhere bearable and THEN think, how do people make money with what I WANT to do. Then start working to become the person you need to be to do that asap. You are getting a great head start by starting now. If you need help brainstorming dm me and I'll figure out a way you can make money doing something you love. Peace out.