My Experiences In A Time Of Uncertainty
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

My Experiences In A Time Of Uncertainty

I was never so aware that there were so many people who disapproved of who I am.

20
My Experiences In A Time Of Uncertainty

From a dear friend of mine:

Heisenberg. Does that name ring a bell? No, I’m not referring to AMC’s hit show, “Breaking Bad.” I’m referring to the pioneering 20th century German physicist Werner Heisenberg. You might recall from your mildly boring, daydream-filled high school physics class that this man’s claim to science fame was his “Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle,” which basically tells us that we are fundamentally limited on our ability to predict how quantum particles will behave on a subatomic level. Don’t worry though, I’m not here to discuss quantum mechanics. I’m more interested in the other part. The part that all of us experience, and that weighs on our minds day in and day out, but that we never really give much thought to: uncertainty.

For many people (myself included) we live in a time of uncertainty. After the most recent election cycle, people of various groups, nationalities, sexualities, etcetera all face the future with a large degree of uncertainty, wondering if the next four years will be stormy for them. This country is divided in a big way, and all sides seem vicious in the defense of their beliefs. I caught myself thinking over this as I was walking through an airport not too long ago, looking at the sea of the faces around me. As a non-heterosexual, I have become guarded in my speech. I watch what I say and who I say it around carefully, and meet most sentences with a certain level of apprehension. I’ve received threats of violence against my sexuality before, and I’ve been called the six letter “F” word more times than I can count, but never before have I looked at a crowded room and felt such unease around strangers. I don’t know these people. I don’t know what they believe in. Before 2016 this never bothered me, but before 2016 I was never so aware that there was such a large portion of people that disapproved of who I am, or who hated me simply because I was being me. Let me tell you, it’s not a good feeling. However, I felt another form of uncertainty. Being a white male, I looked at the faces of the women and people of other races around me, and I was uncertain how they perceived me. It’s no secret that white males are one of Trump’s biggest demographics, so when these people look me in the eye, what are they thinking? Are they suspicious of me? Do they feel a sense of disdain for me simply because some of my cohorts harbor an aversion toward them? Or is there something that I can do or say to them that will prove that I’m not one of those people? This type of uncertainty is a tricky thing to overcome.

As a millennial I face a wide degree of uncertainty. Some of you non-millennials might read this thinking, “oh, here we go…” and I understand that everyone has their own problems, but each generation faces a unique set of problems that the previous generations didn’t have to account for. In this day and age it seems that there are more college graduates than there are jobs requiring college degrees. It seems I’m one of the lucky few that found a job within two months of graduating college that was both directly related to my field of study AND that paid well above minimum wage. Part of it was that I had worked my ass off in college and graduated in under four years with honors, but the other half came back to the old saying, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Had I not buddied up with people I knew in my field through high school and college, I probably never would’ve landed this job. This scenario is not the same for millions of millennials, and the whole time I was getting my degree there was a little voice in the back of my head saying, what if… The job field in my particular field of study is already quite saturated. What if I have to move back in with my parents for a few years? The licensing process for my job is long and rigorous, and there’s a ton of liability involved. What if I screw up and have to start my life all over? There’s a lot of pressure on me to find a job that’s “productive and prolific,” rather than creative and effervescent. What if I get stuck with a job I hate for the rest of my life? These questions that our minds conjure up leave us with a very uneasy type of uncertainty.

In general, I feel that most forms of uncertainty stem from humanity’s fear of the unknown, and unless you’re some type of clairvoyant (in which case I’d appreciate next week’s Powerball numbers), the future is the pinnacle of the unknown. We don’t know for sure what tomorrow’s stock market prices are going to be, or what our next big “life event” will be, or even how the next day’s weather will really turn out, and I think on some subconscious, yet fundamental level, that scares us. Humans are all about knowledge and control, and you can’t control what you can’t predict, but if there’s any advice that I can give people from my own personal experience, it’s that you have to face each day with courage and confidence; courage that you have the ability to overcome any obstacle that life might throw at you, and confidence that even if you fail, you did the right thing.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

53659
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

34525
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

956995
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

181696
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments