Daily oral language 5

I should've been warned about some of the issues that can happen within the college, especially in this generation. Such as, how students would behave in the campus. I should've been aware that many students can tend to behave like Y7 and Y9 kids, of course, as its a standalone college, most likely alot of students got into alot of trouble back at school so they had to leave. Also, being aware that it won't be 100% quick that I will reach out and make new mates as some students may already have large group of friends from the same secondary school and may refuse to reach out to others. Not saying that due to having bad social skills; I do have good social skills although I wait for others to reach out because I had been back stabbed a few times by my best friends during the holidays.
If I was aware about some of the cons, like how college students can have this bad behaviour like also bad manners to members of the public or even the staff in the campus, I could adjust my plans slightly and go to the sixth form of my high school. Which means that, I should take some of the subjects that I hate seriously, such as GCSE English Literature and Combined Science (Though I passed in that subject); my sixth form needs 6 GCSEs at grades 5 and above, including Maths, English Language, English Literature. Sixth form students are the ones who would actually grow up and be like minded, because a sixth form is owned (predominantly) by the school, so the staff do still give the same consequences.
Why they behave like this? Well, colleges usually give freedom and have less rules. Many students take it the wrong way and think freedom means they can do all the bad things they couldn't do in school; I've witnessed stuff such as drug uses, condoms everywhere etc.
With the betrayal being happened, if I was at my sixth form, I would move on effortlessly as I will be with others that were familiar from the get go and my self esteem and trust will come back immediately or may never even go. My school did got worse, but I'd rather suffer from biased policies instead of wasting time having to interfere with hundreds of strangers in the college who aren't so like minded.
Anyways, I just wanted to get this out of my chest.
What about you all? What stuff you should've known before college?

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for some realistic advice and insights on my current job search situation in Shanghai. Here’s a bit about my background and what I’m facing:
My Background:

• Nationality: EU citizen
• Education: Studied in the UK for 5 years. I hold a BSc in Computer Science (First-class Honours) and an MSc in Advanced Computer Science (Merit).
• Experience: 3+ years in software development:
  • 2 years at a private company
  • 1 year at a government research agency working on control software for particle accelerators
  • All work experience was before & during my undergrad and postgrad studies (all full-time: office, remote, and placement year).
• Relevant Languages: Fluent in English (though not a native speaker), very limited Mandarin.

Visa Situation:

• Looking to stay in Shanghai for around 2 years.
• My passport doesn't allow long-stay multi-entry L visas. I’ve managed to get a 60-day single-entry L visa before (considered rare for my passport), but I’ve been told by the visa people that I can’t stay longer than 6 months within a 12-month period using short-term L visas.
• Therefore, I need to secure a work (Z) visa or, as a last resort, an X1 student visa (though scholarship applications for this year seem to be closed).

Job Search Efforts:

• Applied to over 200 jobs at 100+ companies (multinationals, domestic companies, schools, etc.) in the past 2 months.
• Used multiple job platforms: LinkedIn, Indeed, GlassDoor, LaowaiCarrer, eChinaCities, HiredChina, SmartShanghai, LiePin (猎聘), and ZhiLianTuiTui (智联推推).
• Applied to a variety of positions: software-related, IT and tech support, CS/Programming & ESL teaching, customer support call centers, SEO optimization, QA/Localisation, marketing, various internships, etc.
• I've been open and flexible in my job search, willing to make sacrifices in career progression for roles I may be overqualified for or not directly related to my background.

Challenges:

• Multinationals seem to only need seniors or team leads with many more years of experience and have, for the most part, ghosted me.
• Expat websites are flooded with listings for teaching jobs that have good benefits and (frustratingly) loose requirements but require native English speakers.
• Many English-related jobs (localization, proofreading, digital content creation, translation QA, user research, etc.) inexplicably require native English speakers. Despite being able to excel in these roles and achieve a high IELTS/TOEFL score if needed, I am deemed unqualified solely due to my passport.
• HR on Chinese job boards have shown a lot of interest in me, but most Chinese companies don’t seem to be currently hiring international talent.

Current Plan:

• Planning to stay in Shanghai later this year for as long as my tourist visa allows, to continue job hunting in person. I am hoping that this will simplify the process and improve my chances. I will have, at most, 3 months on my L visa.
• If during that time I still don't manage to secure work, I really won't know what else to do, as I may not be issued another L visa.

My Question:
I'm currently in a bind. With my background and qualifications, finding a good programming job in Europe wouldn't be too difficult. However, in Shanghai, it's been so challenging to find any job, even those I'm grossly overqualified for, no matter how much I lower my standards regarding career progression and compensation. Although I could find a remote job, that wouldn't solve my visa issue.
Given my qualifications and experience, what are the realistic chances of finding any job in Shanghai that provides a livable wage and normal work hours? Any advice on navigating the job market or improving my odds would be greatly appreciated. Has anyone been in a similar situation or have insights on making this work?
Thank you!

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Many struggles with staying sober in recovery....these are from a project I have been working on that can best be used by people struggling with co-occuring disorders....

1. Reflect on a specific moment when you successfully navigated a challenging situation without resorting to substance use. Explore the emotions, strategies, and support systems that played a role.
   
2. Consider the positive changes in your relationships since embarking on your recovery journey. Describe an interaction that showcased improved communication or understanding, highlighting the growth you've experienced.
   
3. Share a personal accomplishment that you attribute to your commitment to sobriety. Explore the skills and strengths you discovered within yourself during this journey.
   
4. Dive into the concept of self-forgiveness by recounting a time when you forgave yourself for past mistakes or actions related to your addiction. Explore the emotional process and its impact on your overall well-being.
   
5. Detail a newfound passion or hobby that has emerged in your life post-recovery. Explore how this interest contributes to your sense of purpose and fulfillment.
   

Step Four Questions:

• How have your priorities shifted since maintaining sobriety, and what role do they play in your daily life?
  
• Reflect on the support networks that have been crucial to your recovery. How have these connections evolved, and how do they contribute to your ongoing journey?
  
• Explore the concept of resilience by describing a setback you encountered and overcame during your recovery. What coping mechanisms did you employ, and how did they reinforce your commitment to sobriety?
  
• Consider the ways in which your perspective on happiness and fulfillment has transformed. How does gratitude play a role in sustaining your contentment on this journey of recovery?