How Do You Discover Your Interests?

How do you find out what you're interested in?

Stratovarius said:

I don't really see any way to do this though...I mean, I don't see how you could not know what you're interested in.

There's the genetics factor, although your environment does play a large role in how you eventually turn out. I think I got into science because I went to this observatory when I was like 5 and I thought it was the coolest shit ever. So I got a telescope and some books on astronomy and naturally I just found out about other stuff. I also got my first computer all to myself when I was 7 and The Internets when I was 9 (IE 5 ftw).

Although I've tried out a lot of things.

I saw a user called "obleakpattern" on DA who draws abstract art. I thought that was epic so I bought some good art pens and a 50-pack of some large vellum paper and tried my hand at it. I actually drew what I thought were some decent pictures but it took me too long and it was hard to come up with stuff so I gave it up.

I tried poetry for a time and was pretty serious about it. I read up at the Poetry Free For All forums, looked at the guides, critiqued other's crap. But I found it difficult and eventually got bored with it so I gave that up.

I tried programming for a bit. I got C++ for dummies and worked through it (it's actually a good book...lol). It was hard and I was like..meh! I also attempted to design web pages...and failed miserably. So I gave that up.

I tried music production for a bit and piano. I got an illegal copy of FL studio, a full-sized MIDI keyboard (it was only 200 bucks which is a fucking ridiculous deal and the keys are semi-weighted so look up m-audio midi keyboards if you're interested), I studied music theory from various sources. My best friend is actually some epic music person who plays like 17 instruments so I collabed with him...It was pretty hard for me and tiring considering you can spend several hours trying to tweak a single generator and come up with crap even if you know what you're doing...So I gave that up. I still play my keyboard from time to time though even if I suck.

Idk...I basically discovered that I'm too much of an academic. I suck with people, can't be creative, I despise business-type stuff, not sure about any trade skills though. I don't think I've really tried any but I don't see how you could see which ones you like considering there's so many and you'd have to go to school for it. I'm pretty interested in permaculture and I wish I could practice it, but you have to have a lot of time for that and it requires too much prep.

So even though I've pretty much liked math forever and pwned all the kids at flashcards in elementary school, it's not like all that was a waste of time and money just because I returned to math eventually.

You shouldn't feel bad when someone says you've "quit" something, especially your parents. My dad thinks I keep giving up on stuff. I disagree. I was merely investigating and after all that time, I became even more interested in what I liked than before because I discovered what I really loved to do. But hey, I'm only 17 and who knows, I could totally change my mind in a few years and be doing something else.

Stuff I've quit and I've definitely left some stuff out: poetry, art, programming, web design, music production, basketball (used to be a starting wing), bowling (played from about age 5 to 15, 160 average FTW), airplane modeling, do-it-yourself culture, amateur astronomy, countless softwares I tried to learn, and other insignificant things...also school. Also, I don't know how many times I've switched my career plans and "what I want to be when I grow up".

So just don't be afraid to try random things, study random things, talk to random people. I don't know how many times my dad has said to me with that ugly look of his, "I don't know what's going on here. You've quit _____ and _____ and now you're getting out of ____? What's the problem? I don't want you to end up like your brother. I hope you're not headed into this downward spiral." Honestly, anyone who says stuff like this is immature and stupid. So if you're parents say things like that just ignore them. Do whatever you want.