It’s strange, isn’t it? I’m 18 now, and it took me years to start understanding myself—and honestly, I’m still figuring it out. Maybe the problem isn’t us. Maybe it’s the education system, where students are told what to do instead of being taught how to think. “Do this.” “Don’t do that.” But if we were actually taught properly, wouldn’t we eventually figure out what’s right for us on our own?
Let me explain how limited our thinking has become. Imagine being asked to draw a scenery. What comes to mind? Four mountains, a rising sun, a river, a few trees, and a small hut. That’s it. Why didn’t we imagine the valleys of Meghalaya? Or the view outside our own home? Why didn’t we think of something personal—something real?
And if you did imagine something different, something truly your own, then congratulations. You’re already thinking beyond the majority.
From Limited Thinking to Choosing AI: My Career Confusion
I used to think the same way—conservative, limited, and unable to move beyond what was already defined for me. Still, somewhere inside, I knew I wanted to do something different. I come from a science background, and choosing a computer-related field always excited me. Working on a computer felt natural and enjoyable. But subjects like physics and chemistry? They felt overwhelming and disconnected.
Then came 12th grade—the phase that completely shakes your confidence. Until class 10, you see yourself as a topper. You believe you’ve figured things out. But after choosing science, preparing for competitive exams, and finally seeing the 12th and JEE results, reality hits hard. That’s when I truly understood where I stood.
I took admission in a tier-3 college and began pursuing a B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. At first, it felt exciting again—familiar, interesting, and full of possibility. But soon, the same frustration returned. College subjects that had little to do with AI made me question everything. Why was I studying basic mechanical engineering when my interest was clearly elsewhere?
Things changed when I completed an IBM-certified course on the fundamentals of AI. That’s when AI felt exciting again—the way it did when I first discovered it. It confirmed something important: my instincts were right. AI is not just about ChatGPT or chatbots. It has real-world impact across countless domains. For now, that belief is still a theory—but it’s one I’m determined to prove.
I’ve experienced constant internal conflict while trying to choose my career. Watching others follow predefined paths only added to the confusion. My mind was filled with “do this” and “don’t do that,” and the pressure to fit in became exhausting.
Bridge Paragraph: From Confusion to Ikigai
At some point, I stopped trying to find answers outside and started questioning myself properly. I didn’t sit with a notebook and suddenly figure everything out. I used conversations—long, messy ones. I asked questions, wrote down what I liked, what frustrated me, what energized me, and what drained me. I clearly told ChatGPT that I wanted to find my Ikigai and asked it to help me understand myself better—not by giving answers, but by asking the right questions.
I used it like a thinking partner. I shared my confusion, my interest in AI, my frustration with the education system, and my habit of explaining concepts while I was still learning myself. Slowly, patterns started appearing. Teaching kept coming back. Explaining ideas gave me clarity instead of exhaustion. When I finally looked at Ikigai—what I love, what I’m good at, what the world needs, and what I can be paid for—everything started aligning. Teaching while learning, using AI to improve education, researching deeply, and writing to explain rather than impress. My Ikigai didn’t arrive as a sudden realization; it formed through honest reflection, guided questions, and consistent self-inquiry.
🔹 Prompt You Can Share (Clean & Practical)
I want to find my Ikigai. Help me by asking structured questions based on what I enjoy, what I’m good at, what frustrates me, and what gives me energy. Don’t give direct answers—guide me step by step so I can figure it out myself.
What I Learned From This Career Confusion
The biggest lesson I learned is that confusion is not a weakness—it’s data. Every phase where I felt lost was actually pointing me toward something I cared about. I realized I never hated studying; I hated memorizing without understanding. I never disliked teachers; I disliked being taught without logic or context.
I also understood that passion doesn’t always arrive fully formed. Sometimes, it begins as curiosity. Sometimes, it grows when you allow yourself to learn imperfectly and teach while learning. This is where my interests finally aligned—learning AI, questioning traditional education, researching deeply, and explaining concepts in a way that actually makes sense.
Career clarity didn’t come from choosing the “right” subject. It came from understanding how I learn, how I think, and how I want to contribute. And for me, teaching—especially while learning—became the intersection of passion, profession, mission, and vocation.
FAQs: How to Choose the Right Career
Q1: What is Ikigai, and why is it important for career choice?
Ikigai is the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Understanding your Ikigai helps you find a career that is meaningful, sustainable, and enjoyable, rather than just following societal pressure or random trends.
Q2: How can AI tools like ChatGPT help in finding career clarity?
AI tools can act as reflective partners. By asking structured questions about your interests, strengths, and frustrations, AI helps you organize thoughts and explore possibilities. It doesn’t give direct answers—it guides self-discovery and reflection.
Q3: What if I’m still confused after trying self-reflection or AI prompts?
Confusion is normal. It’s data about your preferences and limits. Keep experimenting: take small courses, write blogs, teach others, or volunteer. Observing what excites or drains you will slowly reveal your passion and vocation.
Q4: Can teaching help me discover my Ikigai?
Yes. Teaching while learning forces you to understand concepts deeply and explain them clearly. Many people realize their passion and strengths through teaching because it shows what energizes them and what they enjoy sharing with others.
Q5: How do I balance what I love with what I can earn from?
Start by exploring intersections. Identify skills that you enjoy and are good at, then research real-world opportunities where these skills are valuable. Your first job doesn’t have to be perfect—view it as a learning phase while aligning closer to your Ikigai.
Q6: Is career confusion normal at 18?
Absolutely. Most people at 18 (and even later) don’t have a clear path. The key is to focus on learning, self-reflection, and exploring experiences. Confusion is not a failure—it’s a signal guiding you toward what truly fits you.
Rather than following the race of a marathon, come to what you see as real, because today even the photos we click with filters are what we like.
So make something real in your life by following what you see and what you like. It’s easy to say, but hard to do in society.Because of the growing pressure from our surroundings to follow a certain field…
🔹 Sources & References
- IBM – Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence
IBM SkillsBuild / Cognitive Class
https://www.ibm.com/skills
https://cognitiveclass.ai - ChatGPT (OpenAI)
Used as a reflective tool for self-questioning, career clarity, and Ikigai exploration
https://chat.openai.com - Career & Ikigai References
- Ikigai Concept – Purpose-Driven Career Framework
https://positivepsychology.com/ikigai/ - Career Guidance for Students
https://www.mindtools.com - Skill-Based Career Exploration
https://www.coursera.org/articles/career-paths
- Ikigai Concept – Purpose-Driven Career Framework