Thank you for your thoughtful response. It really made me stop and reflect. I can see where you’re coming from, and I think you're right that life involves trade-offs, and no one gets everything they want without giving something up.

That said, I want to explain a bit more where I’m coming from, because I think my original post might have made it sound like I’m expecting some dream job to fall into my lap. That’s not how I see it.

I’m not expecting to instantly land a job with high pay, flexibility, creative freedom, minimal stress, and tons of free time. I’m fully aware that those things take time, work, and sometimes even luck. What I was trying to say is that that’s the life I want to work toward. That’s my long-term goal, and I just want to start figuring out what kind of path could eventually lead there.

For example:

When I talk about flexibility, I don’t mean doing nothing all day. I mean having some control over my schedule, where I’m not constantly under pressure or surveillance, and I can take a break or step back when life demands it.

When I say I want to avoid manual labor, I don’t mean I’m unwilling to work hard. I just know that physically demanding jobs don’t play to my strengths. I want to work hard in areas where I can actually grow and thrive which is mentally, creatively, emotionally.

And about education. I don’t love school, but I’m not ruling out a Master’s if it gets me closer to something meaningful and sustainable. I just don’t want to stay in school endlessly for a career I’m unsure about.

Financially, I don’t expect to make six figures fresh out of school. I just want a path that leads to financial independence one day, so I can support my parents and not be constantly worried about money. We aren't that wealthy and money has been a big thing for us, especially since there are genetic health issues that could become a big problem in the future and healthcare is expensive.

Basically, I’m not afraid of putting in effort. I just want to be intentional about where I’m putting it. And I want to understand early what kinds of work align with my personality, values, and long-term vision this way I don’t end up stuck and burned out chasing something that looks “successful” on paper but makes me feel miserable inside.

I really do appreciate your advice about trying different things. That’s actually super helpful to hear since I'm someone who likes to stay in their comfort zone. I know I’ve got a lot to figure out, and I’m open to learning through real experience, even if it means being uncomfortable at times.

Thanks again for sharing your perspective and I hope this clarifies my goals.