**TLDR: M27, 700k in savings, living alone, no idea what career I want to have, although I see some of my strengths - advice needed!**
Hi there, I'm 27, based in Europe. I'm posting here because I genuinely do not know what to do with my life. 700k in savings sounds very privileged, I'm aware. Believe me or not, it gives too much freedom, and I didn't do anything to get that money - stay with me.
**With 12,** I started a YouTube channel and did it for 8 years as a hobby, while doing an education in the media industry. I never earned a lot of money with it, as the job "influencer" wasn't really a thing then, and my community was always small. I loved being in front of the camera tho, enjoyed the storytelling and video editing - all self-taught. I even landed a few roles professionally in front of the camera. But these were one-off gigs, if you land them you're lucky, but nobody hands them to you on a regular basis. I always thought I wanted to become a presenter. Important to mention here that our country is tiny, a very weird dialect, so not many opportunities in this field.
**With 20,** I did an internship at a local news station as a reporter. While I enjoyed the talking to guests and the editing, journalism is screwed. I saw in-person how our station got bought by investors, crunched together, and saw no opportunity to have a career there. People in their 50's with kids lost their jobs in front of my eyes, and I said to myself that I don't want to end up like this. I was really into politics and global stuff back then, and hence quite bothered by the local aspect, as we had to report about things happening in our little village I really didn't care about.
**With 21,** I started a bachelors degree and my parents kicked me out. They said they don't want to support me anymore, and said "go figure it out yourself". So I worked: Internship at a startup, later a role there. Sometimes still work in-front of the camera. The degree was very broad one (business and technology), and I knew very early that not a single topic interested me. To not disappoint myself and my parents, I continued, not knowing what I needed it for - I mostly did it in order to have a university degree, which you need if you wanna go abroad.
**With 23,** I had to quit the job because the startup got acquired (no money made here). I tried freelancing for some companies mostly in social media after, but it never really took off. I mostly lived off savings since then and occasional small contracts, while finishing the degree.
**With 25,** I wrapped up my degree and went to China to learn Chinese for some months - something I always wanted to do, although with no clear goal in mid. That's also when I inherited 700k in stocks from a relative I never met in my life. I didn't do anything to get that money, feels wrong to have it, never touched it, and it feels overwhelming. I really don't know what to do with it, as I don't want to screw it up. It also gives me a lot of freedom - almost TOO much freedom.
**My core issue:** I feel like I started so much, but it didn't lead to anything. I genuinely do not know what I want to do as a career and I would love to have a topic, a role or even a company, where I can invest my soul into it. I get up in the morning and don't know why I get up. I tried applying to jobs since I'm back, but no luck here and I have been unemployed for 4 months now. The only strengths I know is my communication skills (both in-person and in-front of the camera), my interest for languages, storytelling and global happenings.
I was thinking about going back to China to learn more Chinese, do a graduate degree (although no idea what), or even just some travelling - **but all this feels just like a delay of my big question**. Also, the more I slack around, the more money I consume, and growing up in a family with a tight budget, I feel really hesitant to spend it.
I'm aware this is a privileged situation and you can hate me for it - but I have never felt more stuck in my life, knowing that I could literally to EVERYTHING – it paralyses me.