This upcoming Tuesday, October 11th is my 21st birthday. Now, of course, there are the gut-level reactions associated with turning 21... we will leave these unsaid. Then there are the thoughts they don't want you to hear. That's right, I'm having a quarter-life crisis, and I'm about to spill it for all of the internet to see.
The Past
Stage one of having a quarter-life crisis will cause one to take inventory of their body of work, up to that point. I think that every college-aged student has had this late night epiphany at some point. We think about where we came from, the small twists and turns along the way that led to where we are now, and how one or two big events have changed everything. The decision of where to go to school was such a big one, and has paved the way for all of our remaining futures. I have been thinking about my friends from high school and all the great, genuine times we had when we thought we were invincible. I have a newfound love and appreciation for my parents, as I begin to better understand the sacrifices associated with quality parenthood. I find myself not yearning for the past, but instead just being glad that it happened the way it did.
The Present and Future
Stage two that you will find yourself in is to evaluate where you stand now. Turning 21 means that you are most likely (hopefully) on about turn three of your undergraduate college experience. There are some obvious adult thoughts that come with junior/senior year, which can be summed up into one question: what am I going to do with my life? We start thinking about our majors, qualifications, and what makes us appealing to future employers. We try to conjure up hypothetical situations as to how we fit into the landscape of the professional world, and if that is how we want to live the rest of our lives. Our generation is set on quality of life and happiness in the workplace, and I can't wait to see how it changes what it means to be a young professional in the workplace.
Well there it is... my mini crisis illustrated for all of you to take in. I hope it does something for someone.
