Friday, July 10, 2009

The twenty-somethings' revolution

I'm reading a book called Twenty Something Twenty Everything about the quarter-life crisis unique to women, especially recent college grads. This crisis is characterized by the feeling of "nothing is wrong, but nothing feels right either."
This feeling is brought on by the expectations put on us by society to figure out our lives in that period between starting college and turning 30. Decide what you want to do forever, graduate with good grades and a clear path cut for the next few years, get a fabulous job, get your own place, find the perfect man who'll let you be independent but can be relied on, get married, have kids, balance family and career, and look great in the process.
Parents remind us daily what's expected of us and keep the pressure on us to get it all together.
So, what happens if we didn't figure out exactly what we want to do while we were busy making the grades in college? What if we graduated with good grades but aren't ready to settle in one job right away? Or worse, what if we graduated into a bad economy and there isn't a job to settle into? What if the guy we love doesn't quite fit the mold of the perfect guy? What if neither of you are ready to get married and crank out the kids?
What if we're not ready to be grown-ups the day after college graduation?
I need more time. I haven't fully discovered who I am yet and I'm not completely sure what I want out of life. I need time to figure it out. Can't I be afforded that time?
I'm starting a revolution. We don't have to be perfect right now. We don't have to be perfect EVER. It's my life. I'll figure it out, but I'll figure it out on my terms.
Twenty-somethings rise up and fight against expectations. Let's do it our way.

2 comments:

  1. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to comment at age 39. Would it be helpful or does it hinder the cathartic effects?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I need this book. Reading your blog makes me happy.

    ReplyDelete