u/MacaroonSerious5532

I’m 22F and live in London, Ontario. I honestly feel completely defeated with where my life has ended up.

A combination of mental health struggles and bad decisions with school left me at 22 without a degree. I currently work full time at a bank. The pay isn’t amazing, but in this economy I know having a stable full-time job is still something to be grateful for. I’m trying to save money and rebuild.

What makes this harder is that I used to be a very high-achieving student. I had honours throughout high school and first year university, so watching myself fall behind has been brutal mentally. I feel embarrassed and honestly ashamed of how much time I’ve lost.

I don’t want to stay in London long term, but financially I probably have no choice for now. My current plan is to apply for engineering and stay in my hometown to save money while finishing school, assuming I even get accepted.

I think what’s really getting to me is comparing myself to people my age. I see others travelling, graduating, getting good jobs, moving to bigger cities, dating, building lives for themselves, while I feel like I’ve spent the last 5 years stuck and accomplishing nothing.

emotionally it feels like I permanently ruined my future and wasted my early 20s. I constantly wish I could go back and redo everything differently.

For anyone who’s been in a similar situation:

- How did you stop feeling overwhelmed by regret?

- How did you mentally push through the years it took to rebuild your life?

- And did things actually get better later, or did you always feel “behind”?

I could really use some perspective right now.

I’m currently an EasyLine Representative at TD (L04), and I’m at a crossroads career-wise. I’m already in university as a science student, but I took a gap year and have been working full-time at TD during that time.

I’ve always been drawn toward STEM, engineering, space, academia, etc. That’s been the dream for a long time.

The issue is that I’m trying to be realistic too.

I’m considering going back to school for engineering as a transfer student, but I haven’t even been accepted yet, and the path feels risky. Engineering is obviously demanding, and part of me wonders whether I’m gambling a stable career path for something uncertain.

At the same time, I’m curious how far someone in my current position could realistically advance within TD without a degree. For anyone who started in EasyLine/customer service at TD (or another bank), especially without a completed degree:

- How long did it take you to move into better roles?

- What departments/paths were realistically accessible?

- Did you hit a ceiling without a degree?

- Were you able to build a career you actually enjoyed?

I think I’m struggling between “follow the dream” and “be practical.” I don’t expect to become an astronaut or genius researcher or anything unrealistic, but I also don’t want to spend years wondering what could’ve happened if I tried.

Would appreciate honest perspectives from people who’ve been in similar situations.

I’m currently an EasyLine Representative at TD (L04), and I’m at a crossroads career-wise. I’m already in university as a science student, but I took a gap year and have been working full-time at TD during that time.

I’ve always been drawn toward STEM, engineering, space, academia, etc. That’s been the dream for a long time.

The issue is that I’m trying to be realistic too.

I’m considering going back to school for engineering as a transfer student, but I haven’t even been accepted yet, and the path feels risky. Engineering is obviously demanding, and part of me wonders whether I’m gambling a stable career path for something uncertain.

At the same time, I’m curious how far someone in my current position could realistically advance within TD without a degree. For anyone who started in EasyLine/customer service at TD (or another bank), especially without a completed degree:

- How long did it take you to move into better roles?

- What departments/paths were realistically accessible?

- Did you hit a ceiling without a degree?

- Were you able to build a career you actually enjoyed?

I think I’m struggling between “follow the dream” and “be practical.” I don’t expect to become an astronaut or genius researcher or anything unrealistic, but I also don’t want to spend years wondering what could’ve happened if I tried.

Would appreciate honest perspectives from people who’ve been in similar situations.

If I enroll in a course and drop it before may 8th (the last day to enroll in the course) will it show up as WDN or not be on my record at all? I’m confused

So I’m working a full time job 9:30-5:30pm. Wondering if it’s possible to still attain an 85+ in calc 1000 while working these hours? What has been your experience taking summer classes while working full time?

Thanks