Q: Tomorrow i have to go back to college. I am a student. I dont know what i am doing with my life immam. i am taking classes to make my family happy. i make money n give it2my family. i sit in class crying that im learning what i hate hate hate. on my break at work i feel miserable n cry cry cry. i work n work n have nothing2show. all they want is for me to make good money. n all my money goes to family2insurance. they keep wanting me to make money and educate tht way i can get a good proposal n they can auction me of 2 the higest bid. i dont like being a home slave. n dont want2marry2become someguys slave and repeat this cyle  it makes me sick i nvr knew this until my sister got married. so my q is this. how do i choose a carrear and be satisfied? how do i plan my life to be content? i am depressed pelse help. Thanx (xxxxxx) (name deleted by sister)

A: If you are able to answer the following — be it for your education, seeking a job, attaining a spousal partner, etc, you would be a true success.

• What does my Allah (SWT) who created me demand of me as it relates to my education/job/partner?
• What do i love to do? (Does the one i am with seek the same?)
• What is my passion? (Does the one i am with seek the same?)
• Does the things that i love to do and passionate about pay my bills and give me the lifestyle i am seeking? (Do i have true supporters in what i am seeking/wanting?)

Answer that above harmoniously and with least amount of contradiction and anguish. Your answers must not contradict each another. For example, you cannot say that you are passionate about being a restaurant owner but hate cooking and cleaning pots and cannot stand the site of veggies!! You cannot want to be a dentist but would never take math and physics while seeking the grade of A’s.  You cannot want a religious spouse while taking to the latest musical. If you can answer the above as honestly as possible, i do not care how simple the field, you would eventually be a great success, InshaAllah.

By contrast, the greater the contradiction between the responses given, the greater the anguish and greater the misery/discontent.

So be true to yourself. May Allah (SWT) bless you and all of our youth.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.