So, I'm a first-generation college student. I have no idea what the path in life is supposed to be like or what to do. I've gone through college with severe mental health issues, recovering from a traumatic childhood that left me basically non functioning in everything but school.
I've been in therapy all 4 years of college and I've feeling a lot better now, but it feels like now that I have my head above water I'm looking back at the grades I maintained and realizing I should've picked internships. I didn't have energy with the CPTSD and the depression to do projects outside of class. Last year it was so bad I had to go to an intensive outpatient program. I scraped together my degree and I'm proud of myself for doing that on top of being ill, but it just doesn't feel like enough in this job market and it feels like just when I finally got air to breathe, I'm going to drown again.
I know from having an immigrant family whose lived in poverty my entire life and being one of the only people in my family to go to college that it can be a lot worse. But I just really don't have anyone to lean on. I don't have a family. Getting a job is life or death for me.
I've decided I want to try and get my Master in Library Science. I have to find a cheap program I can try to afford and I'm interviewing for library jobs. I'm hoping that if I get my master's I can have an explanation for a gap in my resume. But I just really need time, and I don't have any left.
While I work in libraries and work on my masters I plan to learn full stack web development pipeline. I think web development is really interesting to me and I want to develop a passion for it, and I feel like I finally have the energy to do this on top of other endeavors.
Is there any stories of people who had an unconventional path in their cs career? I know I'm not a failure and I've had to go through a hardship but compared to everyone who has a leg up I feel so behind.