Teen looking for guidance on life after high school

Dear Abby: I’m 18 and live with my boyfriend, “Austin,” at his parents’ house because my mom is too much for me.

I graduated with no plan. I was going to follow Austin to school, but then he changed his mind about college. I’m happy to stay in Colorado, but I feel like I don’t have much going for myself.

Austin already has a job. I have applied for more than 10 jobs and haven’t heard back. I was thinking of doing online classes, but I have no clue what to study. How will I know what I want to do?

Going Nowhere Dear Going Nowhere: I don’t know what jobs you have been applying for, but you may not be qualified. If you haven’t already asked Austin and his parents what they think you might be doing wrong, you should.

You should also contact the nearest university extension department for career counseling. Generally, the classes in which you have excelled are the areas you should explore.

P.S. I don’t know why you are on the outs with your mother, but if it has anything to do with the fact that you planned to not complete your education, I’m advising you to patch up the relationship because that plan is, indeed, leading you nowhere. Dear Abby: How far into a committed relationship should the profiles come down from the dating sites? Mine came down within weeks. It’s been a year, and my boyfriend’s are still up. He claims he’s too lazy to unsubscribe. We use the same computer, and he has left his e-mail open more than once. I clicked into a few of them and that’s how I found out that he doesn’t seem to be active. But still?

Nervous in Michigan Dear Nervous: Your boyfriend may check his dating sites occasionally for an ego boost. However, the appropriate time to unsubscribe would be when a couple decides to be exclusive.