Does anyone actually enjoy their office job?

Wow, you really hate your job! I've got an office job, but I don't hate it. I find it quite enjoyable most days. When I graduated collage, I did find myself in a field that I could not imagine myself doing for the next 50 years. I was lucky to find an internal transfer into a different department of the same company that was across the country that was more towards my interest. So for me to finally find a job now that I now mostly like, it took another 3-4 jobs in between that transition to get me to my "happy" place. Is my current job the the perfect job? No, but it's certainly a most acceptable job in an area that I'm interested in. I do know people who just hate their jobs in general. Maybe it's their management, maybe it's the co-workers they don't like, maybe it's just the work it self...which sounds like you. I would recommend you spend some of the time watching the clock to find time to apply for volunteer teaching gigs or finding another job that's more suited to your interest. Life has trade-offs. You will likely have to take a pay cut or work extra hard to get into the field of your choice, but if you're truly passionate about working with people or the area of your choosing, you'll do great and advance quickly. If nothing else, you will not be sitting in a soul-sucking desk job for the next 20 years. Best of luck to you!

Back before I graduated, I had an office job.   The job was rather routine, but it was on Park Avenue in mid-town Manhattan, so at least getting out for lunch was interesting.  I explored around the offices a bit in my spare time and found where the computer programmers sat.   I introduced myself and managed to parlay that into far more interesting work in subsequent summers. If you hate your job, just look for ways to make it more interesting.

The first thing you should do is make a retreat into the quiet--both physically, and to hear the whispers of your heart. Take a week, or long weekend vacation alone, and find some trails to walk and listen to your heart. When you have discerned it, go gently with your mind, and calmly plan the steps you need to take to achieve your vocation and essence of your life, and gift to the common good. Good Luck!

I freelance and have what many would consider and interesting job that usually takes place in an office environment. Does that make me feel good on a Sunday evening, thinking about going back to work tomorrow? Hell no. I freelance because after a few months in a new role I get the same agitation you experience and need to get out of there again. I usually get a little time off between contracts to clear my head, get outside, get healthy and work on some other creative projects or try my hand at something new. The thing that's helped me in the past when I feel as trapped as you feel is to book a trip somewhere alone and really spend some time asking myself the hard questions. Getting away from your usual environment allows you to get some perspective and not be making tough choices when you are emotionally charged. Also I wouldn't feel like any decision you make is going to burn bridges and confine you to a particular path for the rest of your life. You seem like you are intelligent and skilled enough to be employable so if you want to try out some other things then try them. Worst case is you'll be back looking for work again with some interesting experiences under your belt, heard of 'T' shaped people? Another point I wanted to make is that when you look at most decisions, there is one option driven by fear and one by desire. They thing is to weigh up whether the fear is rational enough to prevent you from doing what you want to do. If the fear is falling behind your peers, not continually increasing your earning potential, wasting time the time you spent studying, or disappointing a family member, then I know what my answer would be. Because sacrificing your happiness for any of those reasons does not seem rational to me.