The Millennials

So, in doing a bit of research on emerging adulthood, I came across this article (The Millennials: Confident. Connected. Open to Change) that had an embedded survey. And while I could say I was definitely sick of seeing Qualtrics Surveys (I just took about a hundred for one of my classes), I took this one also!

Because interestingly, it was called How Millennial Are You?

Definitely related to my field. So, I thought, ya this might be worthwhile.

Now for those less familiar, the Millennial Generation consists of individuals born after 1980 (and for those of us who aren’t so good at math, the rough age demographic is between 18-30.)  

The survey wasn’t very long, and consisted of only multiple- choice questions (luckily, no text answer responses!) General questions asked my age, my hometown, etc.

Then, I started to get a lot of technology-related questions like: How many hours of television did you watch in the last 24 hours? Approximately, how many text messages did you send in the last 24 hours? And to round off the 24-hour questioning segment, how many newspaper articles did you read in the past day?

I think the Pew Research Center is trying to hint at something. Maybe we are technology-dependent…? You know, just maybe.

(Or actually, I think “technology-savvy” might be more appropriate. Excuse my diction J)

Then the next set of questions got a little more personal and opinion-based. For example, do you think people of different races marrying each other is a: good thing for society, bad thing for society, or neutral?  

Now, my answer was “a good thing for society.” And to be honest, I can’t imagine anyone really clicking the “bad thing” option. Especially in LA. And even in the Bay Area (where I’m from), you see little HAPA kids everywhere and hundreds of other cool combinations.

Not to mention my roommate is half Nigerian, half Armenian. And another of my roommates is half Korean/half Caucasian. Like the article emphasizes, the Millennials are the most racially and ethnically diverse generation, a trend that will most likely continue due to our liberalness and open attitudes towards change.

Because why not? Culture adds so much to an individual’s personality and lifestyle. And in addition to bridging the cultural divide, mixing it up can only amp up the benefits.

Another interesting question asked how important to me was leading a religious life. I said no—and for many reasons. For one, as a biology major and a person who generally loves facts and black and white, I feel like religion constantly contradicts science. Secondly, I don’t feel like it’s physically necessary to go to church in order to be a good person and have good morals.

And while for a variety of reasons, the Millennial Generation seems to agree. According to the article, one in four individuals between the ages of 18-29 were not affiliated with a religion. But (and this is a big but!), the Millennials did not necessarily pray any less that their parents/grandparents.

Religion is too traditional for us. Especially, when homosexuality and stem-cell research are the topics. And so, many people view religion as an obstacle in the way of social and medical advancement.

And finally, one of the last characteristics I will mention from the article is that the Millennial Generation is very well educated. This is in part due to our knowledge-driven economy; people need higher degrees of certification and so, are enrolling at higher and higher rates for both undergraduate and graduate education.

This may seem like pretty obvious stuff, but I think it’s important to note. We are a very unique generation, and the time we spend between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood only adds to our individuality as a group, and to our individuality as people.

Experience, experience, experience!

Every Sunday I volunteer at a hospital in Santa Monica, specifically at the nurse’s station of the post-partum wing. My shift starts at 10:00 am, and including traffic and getting-ready time, I wake up at about 8:30 am. (On a Sunday….!!!! Let’s keep in mind that I am a college student, and one that likes to sleep in whenever possible.) And once I’m there, I answer phone calls and occasionally make the trip down to the basement lab or to a patient’s room for water, juice, and other requests.

But today I did something crazy… I just quit!

                                                                                   

I just felt like it wasn’t a good use of my time, and I had more things to do that were worthwhile of my Sundays—namely sleep and homework. Now, those who are familiar with the pre-med path must really be thinking, “this girl’s crazy!” Self-sabotage at it’s finest.

But you know, I honestly felt like I was underappreciated—one volunteer among millions, just eager to add another title to their resume. Resume-fillers!!!

It seems that those of us in our twenties are pressured by society to accept just about any work or volunteer position, all for the sake of experience. And yes, obviously, experience is important—it should teach us valuable lessons in the work field or in life, generally.

But does it really?

Because at the hospital I was volunteering at, I didn’t learn very much. Like I said before, I was basically the secretary slash errand girl… And I definitely didn’t sign up for that! I wanted to learn more about the healthcare system, and daily procedures as a doctor. You know, the exciting stuff! (And granted, I understand that as a volunteer, I have no certification to do anything. Literally. But I should at least feel appreciated for spending so much of my time doing someone else’s work. I think the term is bitch work …?)  

But then, without this so-called experience, you won’t get a job and you definitely won’t get into med school! So, we are forced to apply for all of these useless positions. Sort of a tradeoff: do this, or you won’t get what you want.

So, in this sense, the concept of emerging adulthood isn’t necessarily due to just us kids. Contrary to popular belief, we aren’t reluctant to grow up or to accept the responsibilities associated with being an adult—we aren’t lazy to make something of our lives.

But we definitely are pushed towards establishing our careers only after we having completed/tried this, this, and that—a checklist for our future careers. Consequently, much of our time is spent satisfying these requirements and having these jobs/positions that don’t mean very much to us (other than how it can help our futures.) So, time is delayed. And it isn’t until we are much older that we have established our careers and are ready to begin the rest of our lives.

So, there it is. My complaining segment of the day! Hope you enjoyed my take on work experience and emerging adulthood. 

money on my mind

It’s weird that’s it been almost three years now, but I remember my college decision process very distinctly. 

It was between UC San Diego (what with their excellent science rep and it being the destination of many of my friends) and USC (which brought a sense of excitement that couldn’t be rivaled.) The latter seemed so new, and fresh. Something so different from what I already knew. 

So I decided to go to SC.

But in my decision-making process, I made a pros and cons list for each school. And I remember one major con for going to SC (and being in LA in general), was that I would become swept up in materialism and wanting success purely for superficial reasons.

And I remember the way I described it to people…

What if all I care about is the latest, most expensive purse? Or clothing item? Or pair of shoes? Or (insert here)?

Basically, would I be concerned with money—having it, making it, spending it?

Now I don’t think my attitudes have changed quite so sharply and superficially, as I had imagined. But there is definitely a subtle change, and one that I am not really proud of.

It’s not like I came from a farm or anything quite so extreme, but Los Angeles—to me—brings out some pretty bad things in people. And I think it’s pretty evident in the younger generations. So many people have such greedy attitudes, and purely money-driven goals for the future.

For instance, I know of a friend who is contemplating between two very different paths. One: going to med school, and becoming a surgeon. Or two: creating a tech business with his friends. In my opinion, he clearly loves technology, inventing, and thinking of new ideas, but he has never let the idea of med school slip away.

But then, when you ask him: then why not be a doctor?!

He says they don’t make enough money. (I’m pretty sure a surgeon makes excess of $400,000……..)

Hearing this made me pretty worried. Because our generation is like this! Yes, we are a generation of do-ers and go-getters, but how much of this is due to reasons of personal advancement? Or to be blunt—for money?

(And you know, I don’t want to be mistaken here. Or judged off the bat. I completely understand the importance of money in our society; it undoubtedly opens the door for many opportunities and in providing for your family. Don’t get me wrong..)

But I think so much of our youth is dedicated to getting ahead, dedicated to being wealthy.

I know for me, I didn’t want to waste any time. I knew I’d be in school for eight years (four for undergrad, and four for medical school.) So I thought: you can’t diddle daddle!

Start now!

But once undergrad is completed, I definitely plan on taking this break. I want to forget about things for a while, and just be.

Is that okay, society?

Take a break for a while, enjoy some time with myself and others, and not correlate the future with money!!

Here comes the bride!

So, I’m sure that everyone has heard this scandalous, juicy bit of gossip: Kim K. is getting a divorce!!

Oooh, surprise.

No one saw that coming.

Crazy news.                                                              

Haha.

Because not only was their relationship less than a year (and I mean total time that they knew each other…….), but they were only hubby and wife for 72 days! Maybe I should repeat. 72 days!!!!

And you know, this is just normal talk for us. It seems that every day we hear of a new couple that has split, whether in the celebrity circle, political sphere, or personal realm. It’s common stuff, and quite frankly just discouraging to even the biggest of optimists. Definitely makes people not want to get married.

But to all of our relationship skeptics, there is hope!

A little bit of good news! A little pep to your step! The divorce rate has started to go down!

It climbed throughout the 60s and 70s, and eventually reached its peak in the 80s at 5.3 divorces per 1,000 people. Finally, the rate has decreased by one-third to 3.6 divorces per 1,000 people.

And this is why: The age at first marriage (for both men and women) has gotten significantly higher over the past 50 years.

If we scale back to just over fifty years ago—1960—the average age of first marriage for men and women was 22.8 and 20.3 years old, respectively.

(Keep in mind that if this were still true, I might currently be married. Definitely a scary thought, and one I would not hope for.)

And for 2010, the numbers had gone up to 28.2 and 26.1—about a six-year difference for both groups.

Now, there are many reasons for this increase in marital age. But in my opinion, it is due to emerging adulthood and all of its consequences. Younger generations have postponed marriage for a variety of reasons, some of which include graduate school and higher education or career advancement.

Or you know, maybe this delay is simply due to personal growth—finding out who you are (and what you really want!) before rushing to the alter. Because that would be a really good idea—and good for all of the parties involved. Namely—children.

If most of divorces in America are due to “irreconcilable difference,” maybe much of the problem is that engaged couples don’t know too much about each other. And if we look back at Kim Kardashian, this seems to be the reason for the 72-day marriage.

Of course, there are those rare cases. Two of my roommates both have parents that wed in their late teens (at 19-years old, to be specific.) Both couples are still together, and happily married. But this is definitely not something that you hear about often, because I’m sure that I am not alone in saying that I know more friends with divorced parents, than those with married parents.

Fortunately, the divorce rate is decreasing and I’m glad to say that this is accomplished by the younger generations. And so in this case, it seems okay to live in your parents’ house for a couple of years longer, and put off graduation until a few years down the road. It’s all in the hope for lower divorce rates, and happier marriages!

LOL. 

Doing it for my family!

So far, my blog on emerging adulthood has turned into one primarily dedicated to a discussion on higher education.

And really, it’s been a pretty biased one—I have been critiquing the institution right and left. (What is the benefit of college? Is it worth the costs? Does it really equate with adulthood and maturity?) Yadda yadda yadda.

So now to all of my readers, I must offer some sort of apology. I must seem like the world’s biggest opponent of higher education! Someone who can’t stand where she’s at, and who can’t wait to get out of it! When in reality, I am in college—and one that definitely has its faults (namely, tuition)—and yet I’m having a blast!

(Obviously, there are those G.E. classes on the Incas, or on English poetry and what not. I can live without those.) But generally, I’m learning a lot about myself, and having a fabulous time in doing so…Meeting the most interesting people, and having those infamous all nighters.

Not to mention, this is the undergraduate education I need in order to apply for med school!

And you know, I almost feel guilty about all of the critiquing I’ve been doing.  Because every time I’ve written something negative about higher education, I’m reminded of something that my mother used to tell my older sister and me. She was speaking about her own mother, and how in the years prior to her early death, she constantly emphasized the importance of education and how it can take you from any stage in life to the highest levels of success.

Because no matter what, you will always have your education.

And boy, could my mom take this to the next level… If you have an education, you will always be self-sufficient, and capable of making your own decisions. It will establish your independency for the future. And finally, one day, it will help you to provide for your family—something that every parent will do anything to accomplish.  

I think this is something that all second generation kids can relate too. For instance, in my family, both of my parents grew up in very humble households. My mother worked in the family shop—in between her university classes, and my father was the first in his family to finish high school. And after coming to America, they lived in New York Apartments infested with cockroaches, struggling to make ends meet all for the future family they would have.

And so now—knowing all that my parents have done for my sisters and me—I would love nothing more than to make them proud. To receive an education, so that I could be a more complete, and more knowledgeable person and that one day, I can provide for my parents when they are not able to anymore.

(Oh, and to also pay them back for my $200,000 college tuition debt!!! Eeeek.)

A Look into Community College

I remember three main things about Freshman Orientation:

1) Meeting so many new people

2) Talking SO FAST in order to meet all of these people

3) Getting countless pieces of paperwork and informational packets

And of these informational packets (how to manage your time in college, how to meet professors, how to make friends, the usual How To’s), I received a handout that outlined the next four years of college—as a biological sciences major.

“Take these four classes this semester. Take these the next,” and so on… until you graduate college in 2013. And the verbal advice that I was given:

Freshman/ Sophomore Year: Begin volunteering in a hospital or get lab experience. Or better yet, do both!

Junior Year: Prep for your MCATS. Take your MCATs.

Senior Year: Apply! And make sure you get in.

It didn’t quite occur to me then, but achieving a science degree is honestly a science in itself: Do this. Do that. Don’t do that, and you’re golden!

And now, back to my current situation, and fast-forwarded two full years..

While many of my friends have started taking their MCAT preparatory classes—or have even taken the test already—I have just started on the volunteering stage. I am now a volunteer in the post-partum department of a hospital in Santa Monica where I have met other student volunteers, also on the pre-med path.

Two of the girls I work with both go to community colleges, and told me that they had specifically chosen that route to medical school—rather than just going to a four-year undergraduate university. They said: with smaller classroom sizes, it’s much easier to meet professors and receive one-on-one help on materialà better grades, better letters of rec, and thus, admission into other undergraduate schools or to medical school.

(Now, this definitely got me a little riled up. I specifically remember USC tour guides boasting of an average classroom size of 26 students. I’m pretty sure every single one of my science classes has had an average of 300 students…… Just putting that out there.)

And it was pretty clear after talking to these girls that they had no doubt about acceptance into USC and UCLA in the next year, and possibly into an Ivy. It seemed like a done deal, and definitely a less stressful path to university/med school (only two courses a semester!)

After hearing about the advantages of community college, I was reminded of a Facebook status posted by this guy from my high school. Honestly, I didn’t know this kid well, but from what I did know, he had no interest in academia, did a lot of drugs, and partied a little too much in high school. He ended up not attending a four-year university, and eventually enrolled in a nearby community college. This past summer he wrote this status:

“Talked to the UC Davis counselor today…I’m going to be going in the fall…LMAO to all the nerds who got into UC Davis straight outta high school…I’ve been doing whatever the fuck I want and now I’m where you guys are at…and I’ll be going even higher.”

Hmm…

So here, I’ve come across polar personalities that have gone through the community college route in order to get to a 4-year university. Obviously, I know it requires a lot of hard work to succeed in any given environment, but I just wonder why 4-year colleges are so highly regarded. It’s like we’re all ending up at the same place! Regardless of our backgrounds, we are ending up at the same schools, and with the same credentials. What specifically are college institutions providing for us, other than just a good reputation?

Something I’ve been thinking about..

Another article on Steve Jobs

I woke up from a nap this afternoon to my roommate’s words: Steve Jobs has passed.

And three hours later, I think it’s safe to say that everyone has heard. And everyone is reading about it. Myself included. I got lost in descriptions of Jobs: He was a visionary, a man who changed the face of technology, communication and entertainment, and someone who will forever be remembered along the likes of Edison and Einstein.

And he was also—as I had forgotten until just recently—a college dropout.

I re-watched his 2005 Stanford commencement speech, and this time paying scrutinous attention to his “three stories.”

In the first, he spoke of leaving Reed College, a decision he described as one of the best of his life.

In the second, about his work with Apple, and his premature termination from the company.

And finally, in the third, about death.

And it was this third segment that really hit hard:

Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

And it is with these words that emerging adulthood can be explained. In a time where many people criticize our generation (after all, we are often called Generation Me—those that are lazy, self-centered, and entitled)—Steve Jobs give us a reason to keep going as we are. This time in our lives is a time of change, and honestly, who cares if we take the time now to find our passions and dedicate our lives to just that.

Clearly, Jobs had it right.

And I’m not just saying this because he dropped out of college, and ended up creating one of the most successful companies of our time. It is because he lived every day of his life with the idea that if one day he looked in the mirror and didn’t like what he was doing, he would change it.

So in short, here’s what I got from his speech. Make the most of your life, because it will undoubtedly come to an end. Because if on this soul-searching, self-defining journey, you find that college is not for you—or for that matter, any of our socially defined milestones in life is not for you—follow your own path and do what makes you happy. And as cheesy as it sounds, it really is that simple.

And quite funny.

Because I find myself wondering just why his words seem so powerful now.. I mean, I thought it was a good speech the first time around. Is it simply a byproduct of exposure and repetition? Or more likely, is it because they are the words of a dead man?

(Sorry to be blunt. But I think that’s needed.)

We are all going to die, and so life will eventually end. Make the most of it, and take the time now to figure out what that means.

B.S.: Bachelor of Science or BullShit?

College! The four years after high school in which we delve into philosophical discussions, have more all-nighters than we could have ever imagined, and learn the basic survival skills of everyday life (cooking, laundry, the works..)

OH! And let’s not forget the all-night partying!!! And partying!!! And partying!!!

Making memories that we will never forget..

But in all seriousness—and without the late nights in mind—I have had so many eye-opening experiences these past two years, having learnt so much more about myself (my goals, tendencies, and attitude towards the world in which we live in.)

And I have met some of the most amazing people—each with their own crazy experiences and stories to tell.

But now the question is: would I attribute these learning experiences to my college education?

I’m not quite sure that my answer is yes.

But what I can attribute to my college education is a whopping debt of $50,000… per year! We enroll at a college institution as a security blanket, a false promise that a degree will ensure us a steady job, benefits, and comfortable lifestyle. And what do we get?!

A title of B.S.: Bachelor of Science, or simply just Bullshit.

Now, Peter Thiel is infamously known for sharing this same view. The PayPal cofounder, venture capitalist, and hedge fund manager has had a knack of determining the next “bubble,” and resulting market crash. In 2000, he accurately predicted the dot-com burst, and has since argued that this bubble—“when something is overvalued and intensely believed”—has shifted from the Internet to the housing market, and now to the higher education system. 

And his reason for criticizing the institution of college: it’s exclusivity.

He finds it really ironic that highly regarded universities (such as Harvard, and the like) reject such a large proportion of applicants each year. If Harvard was the best education out there, why should only a percentage of the population receive it? It is Darwinism at its core—survival of the fittest—but also, a “justification for being mean.”

(The Harvard acceptance rate is now 6.2%.....................)

Now, I’m not saying that coming to college wasn’t worth it, or that I should have skipped this step in my pathway of “emerging adulthood.” Because after all, I need a college degree to apply to medical school—there is actually no way around that one! It just seems so weird to me that a college degree means so much and so little at the same time. Without one, we can only dream of getting a full-time job, but with one, the odds are only slightly better.

And you know what this means right? More money needed for graduate schools!

All of this is just so promising…

Trio

Hello, World

As a student here at the University of Southern California, it seems just plain stupid to discuss the importance of secondary education. After all, we are taught from a very young age—by our parents as well as society—to apply in our senior years of high school and jump straight into our plans for the future. Within a month of those vital acceptance letters we choose our destination and before we know it, we have chosen our majors as freshmen in college!

I was seventeen at this time, and younger than most of my friends who were at voting age. I had no idea what was ahead of me—jobs, relationships, and opportunities—let alone how to do my own laundry or cook my own meals. (And you know, if we’re being totally honest here, I still don’t! Take it from someone who has recently mistaken fabric softener for laundry detergent, and who has yet to cook anything outside of a Trader Joe’s frozen foods box.) But let’s get back to the point…

When I think back from two years ago, I wonder just how mature and prepared my friends and I really were. And to think that we’d be college graduates and out in the real world in just four years… crazy! Because in reality, what is the rush? Why is there such an emphasis on a social timeline in which we are college graduates in our early 20s, and married and with a steady job just a few years later?

Now a junior, I am really starting to feel the effects of these social expectations. And just the thought of my classmates already taking their MCATs and preparing for Med School applications is frightening. Not to mention, the push for internships and lab experience in the field.

Is it just me, or are we still so young??

There are so many expectations placed upon us, and at such a young age, that it has really made me think about the benefits of gap years and waiting periods—taking my time to do things at my own pace. And to learn more about the world and myself before I take that step for further education.

Of course, I am at school now and it would be impractical to think that I could just take some time off, strap on a backpack, and trek through Europe (how fun would that be!!!)  

But I mean…let’s get real. My parent’s would kill me!

I would be “wasting” their money, getting off track, and essentially making them very nervous.  But I’ve definitely realized that life plans must be self-constructed and not based on societal, or even familial expectations.

And so, over the next fifteen weeks, I plan to delve further into the theory of emerging adulthood—the transitory gap years between ages 18-25 (or however long it really takes us to become full-fledged “adults.”) This will include a debate on the importance of higher education—what is the value of a college degree in today’s economy? Do the benefits outweigh the costs, or is this higher education bubble—as PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel controversially claims—about to burst? And as we go further along the social timeline and with the pressure of marriage, children, and career, I will examine the alternative pathways to achieving these goals. Maybe the institution of marriage is outdated, or simply postponed for the newer generations. And with more advanced technology and fertility treatments, a female’s 20s shouldn’t be labeled as the baby-making years. Because our notion of a fulfilling life shouldn’t be so time-oriented, or based on the order and immediacy in which we accomplish our goals.

Profile

“Milk the pigeon” is a slang term from the 1800s, roughly translated to “to endeavor at impossibilities.” And it is a phrase our blogger Alexander Heyne views as especially symbolic for his readers: those that are stuck in a “crappy 9-5,” “major life path they’re forced to take,” or “motions in a life that has nothing inherently worthwhile about it.” And his advice for this lifestyle: CHANGE IT. With his frequent posts, he aims to inspire others.

He passionately seeks:

I hope as a community we can start a revolution of pigeon-milking, ass-kicking, boundary-surpassing tough sons of bitches who will truly change the way people view life and everything that comes with it. Here’s to saying piss off to the deferred life plan, and seizing every damn thing you’ve ever wanted from life.

Now according to the Alexa Blog Ranking, Milk the Pigeon’s traffic rank is 9,505,404 and unfortunately only has one site linking in (eek!). So, it would probably be safe to say that his site isn’t the most viewed, but you know what, I really like what he’s got to say.

One of his posts that particularly got my attention was “My Excuse for Drunken Debaucherous Affairs: Emerging Adulthood in a Nutshell.” And as I’m sure you can tell, the post name itself got me hooked!

C’mon now: drunken…debaucherous…affairs... What’s not to love?!  

He begins this post with a napkin-drawn diagram for his future, which shows the probable consequences of either moving back in with his parents, going to graduate school, getting a job, volunteering, or moving to China.  But none of the traditional routes are particularly stimulating, and there Heyne begins his take on emerging adulthood or as he calls it, “I’m a Big Boy Now,” the transitory years between 18-25. In this post, he speaks of ambition, endless possibilities, and finding your purpose in life. But instead of sounding overly preachy or self-righteous (as I know many people can), he relates to his readers through a very casual writing style—which includes a lot of swear words and bold emphases. Because after reading each post, I feel like I’ve had an “Ah-ha!” moment—a sort of clarity for the future—and one not from my parents, but from a guy my age looking to make a difference.

Now that’s cool.

Another of Heyne’s posts that really struck me was “Humanity’s Greatest Flaw: Quit Comparing Yourself to Others!” He begins this post with a quote by Chinese philosopher Lao-Tze, which delves into being oneself and not competing with others. He follows with a quote by author Nido Qubein that stems along those same lines.

And my first impression: Wow! This guy is worldly.

The frequent use of quotes throughout his blog show that although Heyne’s writing style is very informal (he once referred to having kids as “poppin’ out a couple lil’ shit machines”), he is very well read and knowledgeable. Because clearly, he knows how to turn it up a notch!

Further on in this post, he talks about how society is getting more and more skilled with every year and how as a result, there is this enormous pressure to succeed—to accomplish goals and get ahead of others or what he calls “societal sickness of comparison.” Like Heyne blogs, “most of us are stuck in a time-sensitive period where we are focused on ‘achievement’ and obtaining things that ‘prove’ we have succeeded in life” when we should really be doing what makes up happy. And after this little bit of advice, Heyne asks us to “Milk that. Chew on it. Ponder it,” which really made me do just that.

I plan on incorporating many of Heyne’s views into my own blog with similar posts relating to our social timelines and pressure to follow a major life pathway. But in contrast, mine will focus less on traveling and advice for avoiding this lifestyle and more on the emerging adulthood theory itself. In all, expect to see Heyne’s writing featured throughout my blog posts! 

Voice Critique

You know, it was very strange… having turned 20 this past week. I know that as a junior, most of my peers have reached this milestone months ago, or possibly don’t even care about this birthday in comparison to the next. But for me, I felt very weird. Maybe it was the thought of shedding that “teenager” label that has been at my side for the past 7 years, or possibly just nostalgia for the past—the embarrassingly funny moments in middle school, high school, and even in college. But mainly, I attribute this feeling to the responsibilities and time-sensitive decisions that are quickly approaching in regards to my future. What does adulthood entail? And more importantly, am I ready for it???

You might just say I experienced my quarter-life crisis.

Ms. Morgan’s blog “Surviving 20-Something” also shares this apprehension. In a post reviewing a New York Times article on emerging adulthood, Ms. Morgan shows her readers a sarcastic, yet sincere approach towards understanding our construct of time and emphasis on accomplishments.

She begins by defining the five milestones—as considered in the article—that are required before she can “consider herself fully ‘adult.’”

And what exactly are these standards? She lists the following:

1.     Completing school

2.     Leaving home

3.     Becoming financially independent of parents

4.     Getting married

5.     Having kids

But that’s not all. For each standard, she adds her own interjections as to what the criteria means and to what extend can she cross off each item on the checklist.

For instance, her response for leaving home: “(now I’ve done this a few times, have come back and now am trying to leave again. Hm? Maybe I’ll give myself ½ a mark.) Half a CHECK!” And in response to the benchmark for children, she jokingly asks if her “cats count?”

But overall, only two and a half “CHECKS!” For Ms. Morgan.

After realizing this, she declares “I am not an adult, can I go back to bed now?” This cheeky attitude proves that she clearly doesn’t view herself as adolescent (I mean.. obviously! She is 28. And she knows it). But this simultaneously allows her to critique society’s standards for adulthood. Why do we view these accomplishments as the only measure of success (and adulthood), rather than—as Ms. Morgan describes—just “being happy” and “confident and comfortable in her own skin?”

She asks her readers “did I miss that day in school somewhere? Was I too busy coloring outside the lines in Kindergarten (haha who are we kidding you know I stayed inside the lines)?” Again, she is cheeky! She questions when everyone decided on the criteria for adulthood, and why she seems to be the only rebellious one. After all, she used to color inside the lines..

Later in the post, she throws in tidbits of pop culture—she mentions celebrity couples rushing to the alter and America’s newer take on casual sex: “maybe we’ll start a trend of not mimicking Hollywood and marrying every wo/man that comes into our bed and then…heaven forbid…decrease the divorce rate?” Similarly, she argues why she should sprint towards establishing a career, when it only leads to “dying of a cardiac arrest in her 50s.” Here, the use of sarcasm adds to her main point—why should we rush towards careers, marriage, and other social milestones in life?

And although she is very witty in her writing, she reminds us that she is serious about changing the standards. Throughout the article, she addresses the ultimate significance of waiting, arguing that by learning more about ourselves and the different cultures around the world, we can pursue careers that really matter to us and raise a new generation of individuals—ones that are not “xenophobic and prejudice” to the unknown.

Finally, she highlights a response from the original article, in which the author acknowledges the 20s as a time for travel, experiments, and adventures. Now, Ms. Morgan makes sure we are aware that this concession only comes after 10 pages of lecturing. And her response: “Hm? Didn’t I just say that?” (Touche, Ms. Morgan!)

In another blog post, “Dumb in Your 20s,” Ms. Morgan displays a more casual, but still very humorous attitude towards the meaning of adulthood. Again, this is in response to an article, but unlike in the previous post, she adds, interjects, and italicizes her personal thoughts to the original article itself—an accumulation of lifestyle habits and realizations about life as a 20-year old. And in an intro to this referenced article, Ms. Morgan shares her hope that others will also confess as she did, “Oh crap? That’s TOTALLY me!” By doing so, she enables her readers to relate, and feel comfortable reading the post.  

For instance, when responding to the notion that during our 20s we go through an average of eight jobs, she types her answer with several ellipses, showing stream-of-consciousness and a casual tone to her writing: “okay let’s count…since I graduated college (because work study jobs don’t count) I’ve had ….five….six jobs….Guess I’m right on track. lol.”

And humorously, she admits, “I plead the fifth,” in response to the belief that 20-somethings spend money on frivolous things. She is funny! And this allows us—as readers—to connect with her writing.

Finally, her common use of exclamation marks adds to her excitement about the topic and her routine OMGs and LOLs, as shown earlier, adds to the colloquial feel of her response.

           

Although Ms. Morgan’s tone changes somewhat between the different blog posts, she has an overall humor to her writing, critiquing our emphasis on time and transition to adulthood.

But either way, I am hooked on Ms. Morgan!

 

 

Twenty Years OLD?

You know, it was very strange… having turned 20 this past week. I know that as a junior, most of my peers have reached this milestone months ago, or possibly don’t even care about this birthday in comparison to the next. But for me, I felt very weird. Maybe it was the thought of shedding that “teenager” label that has been at my side for the past 7 years, or possibly just nostalgia for the past—the embarrassingly funny moments in middle school, high school, and even in college. But mainly, I attribute this feeling to the responsibilities and time-sensitive decisions that are quickly approaching in regards to my future. Just what does adulthood entail?

Ms. Morgan’s blog “Surviving 20-Something” seems to also share this apprehensive view. In a post reviewing a New York Times article about emerging adulthood, Ms. Morgan shows her readers a sarcastic, yet sincere approach towards understanding our construct of time and emphasis on accomplishments. She begins by defining the five milestones—as considered in the article—that are required before she can “consider myself fully ‘adult.’” Now ironically, Ms. Morgan places the word “adult” in quotations, even though she is 28 years old and technically ten years beyond the age defined by the word. She lists the five standards—completing school, leaving home, becoming financially independent of parents, getting married, and having children—and for each, she adds her own interjections as to what the criteria really means. For instance, in a personal checklist for these standards, Ms. Morgan gives herself half a checkmark for leaving home, since she humorously admits to have done so many times before and in response to the benchmark for children, asks if her “cats count?” And after realizing that she has only 2 ½ out of the five milestones, she declares “I am not an adult, can I go back to bed now?” This cheeky attitude proves that she clearly doesn’t view herself as adolescent, and simultaneously allows her to critique society’s standards for adulthood. Why do we view these accomplishments as the only measure of success, rather than—as Ms. Morgan describes—just “being happy” and “confident and comfortable in my own skin?”

And in addition to throwing in tidbits of pop culture—she mentions Hollywood couples rushing to the alter and America’s newer take on casual sex—Ms. Morgan reminds us that she is serious about changing our standards. Throughout the article, she addresses the ultimate significance of waiting, arguing that by learning more about ourselves and the different cultures around the world, we can pursue careers that really matter to us and raise a new generation of unprejudiced individuals.

           

In another blog post, “Dumb in Your 20s,” Ms. Morgan displays a more casual, but still very humorous attitude towards the meaning of adulthood. Again, this is in response to an article, but unlike in the previous post, she adds, interjects, and italicizes her personal thoughts to the original article itself—an accumulation of lifestyle habits and realizations about life as a 20-year old. And in an intro to this referenced article, Ms. Morgan shares her hope that others will also confess as she did, “Oh crap? That’s TOTALLY me!” By doing so, she enables her readers to relate, and feel comfortable reading the post.  Similarly, when responding to the notion that during our 20s we go through an average of eight jobs, she types her answer with many ellipses, showing a stream-of-consciousness and casual tone to her writing. And since we are on the topic of Ms. Morgan’s punctuation, I should note that her common use of exclamation marks adds to her excitement about the topic and sense of relatedness. Finally, her use of “lol” and “OMG” adds to the colloquial feel of her response.

            

Although Ms. Morgan’s tone isn’t identical in the different blog posts, she has an overall humor to her writing in her critique of our emphasis on time and transition to adulthood. 

Blog Profile: Milk the Pigeon

For a while, I thought I might not find any blogs related to my topic—none seemed to really relate social milestones to our perception of time. But it wasn’t until I changed up my search and looked for blogs on the theory of emerging adulthood, that I finally found my guy! Alexander Heyne. At first glance, Milk The Pigeon, seems to be the musings of a 20-something year old looking to fulfill his life with travel and added excitement. Just one look at his subheading, “Live Life Boldly: A Memento For All Those Lost 20 Somethings,” made me think his blog was solely about finding adventure, but really, it details his search for greater purpose in life.

“Milk the pigeon” is a slang term from the 1800s, roughly translated to “to endeavor at impossibilities.” Heyne views this phrase symbolic for his blog and its readers, those that are stuck in a “crappy 9-5,” “major life path we’re forced to take,” or “motions in a life that has nothing inherently worthwhile about it.” And his advice for this lifestyle: CHANGE IT. With his frequent posts, he aims to inspire others and passionately seeks:

I hope as a community we can start a revolution of pigeon-milking, ass-kicking, boundary-surpassing tough sons of bitches who will truly change the way people view life and everything that comes with it. Here’s to saying piss off to the deferred life plan, and seizing every damn thing you’ve ever wanted from life.

Now according to the Alexa Blog Ranking, Milk the Pigeon’s traffic rank is 9,505,404 and unfortunately only has one site linking in. So, it would probably be safe to say that his site isn’t the most viewed, but you know what, I really like what he’s got to say. One of his posts that particularly got my attention was “My Excuse for Drunken Debaucherous Affairs: Emerging Adulthood in a Nutshell.” And as I’m sure you can tell, the post name itself got me hooked! He begins this post with a napkin-drawn diagram for his future, which shows the probable consequences of either moving back in with his parents, going to graduate school, getting a job, volunteering, or moving to China.  But none of the traditional routes are particularly stimulating, and there Heyne begins his take on emerging adulthood or as he calls it, “I’m a Big Boy Now,” the transitory years between 18-25. In this post, he speaks of ambition, endless possibilities, and finding your purpose in life. But instead of sounding overly preachy or self-righteous, he relates to his readers through a very casual writing style—which includes a lot of swear words and bold emphases. Because after reading each post, I feel like I’ve had an “Ah-ha!” moment, and one not from my parents, but from a guy my age looking to make a difference.

            

Another of Heyne’s posts that really struck me was “Humanity’s Greatest Flaw: Quit Comparing Yourself to Others!” He begins this post with a quote by Chinese philosopher Lao-Tze, which delves into being oneself and not competing with others. Later he follows with a quote by author Nido Qubein that stems along those same lines. The inclusion of these quotes shows that although Heyne’s writing style is very informal, he is very worldly and knowledgeable. Further on in this post, he talks about how society is getting more and more skilled with every year and how as a result, there is this enormous pressure to succeed—to accomplish goals and get ahead of others or what he calls “societal sickness of comparison.” Like Heyne blogs, “most of us are stuck in a time-sensitive period where we are focused on ‘achievement’ and obtaining things that ‘prove’ we have succeeded in life” when we should really be doing what makes up happy. And after this little bit of advice, Heyne asks us to “Milk that. Chew on it. Ponder it,” which really made me do just that.

            

I plan on incorporating many of Heyne’s views into my own blog with similar posts relating to our social timelines and pressure to follow a major life pathway. But in contrast, mine will focus less on traveling and advice for avoiding this lifestyle and more on the emerging adulthood theory itself. 

Hello World: I Hate Our Social Timeline

As a student here at the University of Southern California, it seems just plain stupid to discuss the importance of secondary education. After all, we are taught from a very young age—by our parents as well as society—to apply in our senior years of high school and jump straight into our plans for the future. Within a month of those vital acceptance letters we choose our destination and before we know it, we have chosen our majors as freshmen in college! I was seventeen at this time, younger than most of my friends who were at voting age. And to be honest, I had no idea what was ahead of me—let alone how to do my own laundry or cook my own meals. So now, when I think back from two years ago, I wonder just how mature and prepared my friends and I really were. And to think that we’d be college graduates and out in the real world in just four years.. Crazy! Because in reality, what is the rush? Why is there such an emphasis on a social timeline in which we are college graduates in our early 20s, and married and with a steady job just a few years later? 

Now a junior, I am really starting to feel the effects of these social expectations. And just the thought of my classmates already taking their MCATs and preparing for med school applications is frightening. Not to mention, the push for internships and lab experience in the field. Is it just me, or are we still so young?? There are so many expectations placed upon us, and at such a young age, that it has really made me think about the benefits of gap years and waiting periods—taking my time to do things at my own pace. And to learn more about the world and myself before I take that step for further education. 

Of course, I am at school now and it would be impractical to think that I could just take some time off to trek through Europe, Africa, or Asia. I mean… my parents would kill me! I would be “wasting” their money, getting off track, and making them nervous, but I’ve definitely realized that life plans must be self-constructed and not based on societal, or even familial expectations. And so, over the next fifteen weeks, I plan to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of going to college right after high school, as well as the seemingly decline of the value of a college degree in today’s economy. And as we go along the social timeline and with the pressure of marriage, children, and career, I will examine the alternative pathways to achieving these goals. Marriage may be overrated.. And maybe the timespan for having children shouldn’t be a huge factor anymore with newer treatments and technology. Because our notion of a fulfilling life shouldn’t be so time-oriented, or based on the order in which we accomplish our goals.