Submitted by blambo126 t3_118u3qm in LifeProTips
Some background info: As long as I can remember I've wanted to make video games, I managed to make this my career path and I went through 8 years of study to reach that goal.
After graduating I spend half a year looking for a job and was about to give up and look for an IT helpdesk job, started studying for that as well looking into getting Comptia A+ certifications since I don't have any experience or education in that area.
Then literally the last employer I send my resume before I'd give up told me I could come and work for them as a 3d artist, my dream job ever since I was a kid. It's a very big company as well, it's a well paid job, my coleagues are all amazing and very friendly and helpfull yet I don't feel any motivation what so ever. The work I have to do is not the most compelling, but it's not a bad way by any means to make a living and it's in my field of expertise.
So with all this going for me, I still manage to complain... I can't stop thinking about that IT job I'd been studying for on the side in case things went bottom side up for me in the games industry, wanting to start traineeships, follow courses, get a carreer started in that field of work. but I don't feel I can justify it. Not towards my parents, who supported me financially during my school days. Not towards my girlfriend, who's been pacienly waiting for me to finally get a steady income to be able to contribute to our future. Not to anyone tbh as they'd all think I lost my marbles giving up on this opportunity. And mostly not to myself as I'd hate to edmit I want to give up on 8 years of blood sweat and tears just because I'd rather be a helpdesk employee.
what would you do?
kenikickit t1_j9j4v5x wrote
that’s rough, friend. sometimes, the idea of something can get so big that once you get to it, you feel let down. but that feeling might fade as your expectations come back down to earth.
i’d honestly say, try and stick with it at least until you see the culmination of your work so far. hopefully that means seeing it in a finished project that people can play. if the work itself isn’t proving to be satisfying to you, maybe the end result can be motivation - working on it is the hard part, but knowing what it’ll feel like to see something YOU made in a game might make the difference.
if that doesn’t work, don’t guilt yourself. shift focus and find a career that’ll give you satisfaction. you shot for your goals, and that’s admirable. sometimes what we think we want isn’t what it seems. but you only get one life and you deserve to feel fulfilled in what you do with it.
plus, you’ll always have the credentials that got you this job, which hopefully means they can get you another if you change your mind again, assuming you leave this job amicably.