EU Feeling Anxious and Powerless

[Clo]

Hi everyone,
I’m in my twenties and I’ve been struggling a lot these days with anxiety related to animal abuse. I’ve made the decision long time ago that I would dedicate my career to help ending some of the most cruel practices inflicted to animals.
However, after graduating from law school I’m having a hard time finding the right path to achieve this goal. I’ve set these enormous expectations on myself, as it seems to be the only way to calm my anxiety when looking at the issue. Being a bit lost in my career at the moment makes me feel powerless.
I guess I just wanted to share this to you as my family and friends aren’t that concerned about animals. Hearing your experiences and advices would be great.
Thanks

 

[shyvas]

You don't mention in which country you have obtained your law degree. However, you could contact the following company and see whether they have any job opportunities. If not perhaps they could provide you with some guidance. Rest assured we are never helpless, but only losing our way at times.

It may not be much of a consolation but many of us experience the same thing; most people including our family members aren't that concerned about animal rights! I even have my cousin's daughter who is a vegetarian. However, she goes fishing and owns a fur coat. Where's the logic in that. I find is so very sad.

You are not alone in this cruel world. We are a very small bunch of animal rights activists who also provide a huge support to other fellow activists.

Opportunities | Advocates for Animals | UK Law Firm

Advocates for Animals offers a range of legal experience from animal welfare law through to animal rights law, for those wishing to practice law and the UK's first animal law firm.

www.advocates-for-animals.com

 

[Emma JC]

welcome to the forum and I hope that you can find some support and comfort here

I grew up in an atmosphere that it was emphasized that we had to "save the world" and it affected me for a long time, so I do understand the impulse to go all out in your passion for the animals. Over time I have come to realize that being a kind and joyful person and treating people and animals and the environment well comes easier when I treat myself well and live as an example and not as a "preacher".

@shyvas has given you great advice and I would also suggest that even if you have to take a "regular" law job to start and volunteer for the animals on the side, then you may work your way towards combining your passion for law and for the animals in the future. @shyvas does a huge amount of activism for animals as well as be a major contributor here and helps so many of stay motivated - there are many many ways to help so please do not despair and do what you can, when you can and be sure to find joy in the process.

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[1956]

Hi everyone,
I’m in my twenties and I’ve been struggling a lot these days with anxiety related to animal abuse. I’ve made the decision long time ago that I would dedicate my career to help ending some of the most cruel practices inflicted to animals.
However, after graduating from law school I’m having a hard time finding the right path to achieve this goal. I’ve set these enormous expectations on myself, as it seems to be the only way to calm my anxiety when looking at the issue. Being a bit lost in my career at the moment makes me feel powerless.
I guess I just wanted to share this to you as my family and friends aren’t that concerned about animals. Hearing your experiences and advices would be great.
Thanks

Hello @Clo and welcome to the forum…
First off I would like to Congratulate you on graduating from law school! Well done!!
What I would like to remind you of is that you are Already helping the Animals simply by being a Vegan!
Please remember that you are doing More than Most people are doing because You have made the choice to be Vegan.
I imagine that the majority of Vegans are not able to directly support the Animals through their careers, we just do whatever we can However we can! At this point in your life finding fulfilling work that doesn’t do Harm seems like a good place to start to me…
Anxiety has always been an issue for me as well and I just try to stay True to my Values and Ethics…
My main career was working as a gardener… I didn’t do a lot to directly Help animals, however, I was always aware of how I could impact them and I did my Best to make sure that impact was Positive!
Please don’t be discouraged feeling like you are not doing Enough!
Look after yourself - because if you are not feeling well - you won’t be able to Help the animals…

 

[Clo]

Hi again,

Thanks a lot to all of you who replied to my message It brings me confort reading you. Sometimes the changes needed seem so big that we forgot about what we are already achieving.

@shyvas I’m located in France. I will definitely contact the organisation you mentioned ! Thanks for the advice. I am also considering developing valuable skills in other fields that I could use later in my career for animals, while volunteering in the meantime.

 

[ewomack]

It's fantastic that you have this goal, @Clo! "Human Exceptionalism" has run a little wild over the past, well, few millennia, with a few exceptions here and there. We often forget that we share the planet with other critters. I'm glad that you haven't and that you've also acquired some skills to attempt to address the issue. A law degree should go a long way in getting you into this field. I'm in the US, so I don't know the situation in France, but many "non-profit" organizations here really want lawyers on their boards. I'm not sure if France has something equivalent, but one path would be to volunteer for such an organization to meet people and make connections. Also, I think this was already said, but I know starting out in my career my possibilities were more limited, but as I gained experience I started having more say on what kind of companies I wanted to work for. So getting on your desired path may just take time. Get some great experience in the meantime and think about how it could contribute to getting to where you want to go. A legal background should give you plenty of opportunities over time. Bonne chance!

 

[bgmnts]

If someone with a law degree is struggling to help animals then God knows how the rest of us are managing! Ha.

I get days where it's really bad. I encounter some of the horrible dismissal of the issue or just think about the suffering and I can't sleep properly or function. Hate it, and hate caring about things when it gets like that.

Tried volunteering at a small animal sanctuary one time but struggled physically and so practical distractions are off the table. I mostly just keep myself distracted with books or trying to engage in creative works.

 

[shyvas]

Have you tried contacting the FBB? You also have some job offers on Indeed:

Nous rejoindre : Travailler pour la protection animale

Rejoignez la Fondation Brigitte Bardot et participez à nos actions pour la protection des animaux. Une mission qui fait la différence.

www.fondationbrigittebardot.fr

 

[bgmnts]

Have you tried contacting the FBB? You also have some job offers on Indeed:

Nous rejoindre : Travailler pour la protection animale

Rejoignez la Fondation Brigitte Bardot et participez à nos actions pour la protection des animaux. Une mission qui fait la différence.

www.fondationbrigittebardot.fr

Oh I shall have a look at this. I have finally been judged as having limited capacity for work, so at the moment I am hoping to ease myself back into work and volunteering and try to improve my health.

This Brigitte Bardot foundation looks interesting.

 

[Clo]

Thanks for the suggestion @shyvas !
The issue in France (probably in Europe in general), is that many many people apply for jobs in the non-profit sector - which is at the same time very encouraging.
Last September, I applied for an entry-level job at a non-profit that really matched my education and professional experience (i just completed a traineeship at the government, precisely within the institution they wanted to approach through lobbying). I didn’t even get an interview because they received +200 applications.
But im gonna keep my hopes up. Another option is working for the government and waiting for the right opportunity to shift one decision in favor of animals. Takes time and patience