Quote Originally Posted by Martinjmpr View Post
I don't agree at all. Not everyone follows the same path to get to where they are going. At 32 I was 10 years into a military career before I decided I'd gone as far in the Clinton-drawdown era military as I was likely to go at that point. So I left active duty and went back to college. I ultimately got my BA when I was 38 and my JD at 43 and didn't start working in my current "career" job until I was 44.

Now it's true I was single at the time which made a big difference - If I'd had a family I might not have had that option and that is the situation the OP is in.

Still, there are lots of people who don't go the "traditional" route and still manage to do OK.

At least the OP is actively searching for something fulfilling, it seems like lots of people just end up going with the flow and end up blowing up in a mid-life crisis in their 40's because they never did what they truly WANTED to do, but rather they did what "everyone else" told them they were SUPPOSED to do.
Yeah, that's exactly where I am at. I am trying to find something I look FORWARD to doing every day, not something I hate. I will say this about my internship, I ended up deciding becoming a full-fledged attorney was not for me. But I loved working somewhere where for once I was respected and not treated like garbage. It was an unpaid internship, my work was valued, I got great feedback from the attorney I worked for, and I actually enjoyed the work so much I made it a point to come into work early. I don't think I've ever had a job like that in my life ever where there was a sense of community and general respect between coworkers. I've worked in auto parts sales, a dealership, and even as a package handler at DIA for FedEx prior to returning to Idaho. Talk about jobs where you're treated rough and considered expendable. I guess wherever I work, I know there will be stress. However, I'd like to make a difference and work somewhere where my work and time is valued like at my internship prior. Other than becoming a Paralegal, I haven't found that niche yet.