Dear millennial going through a quarter-life crisis:
I’m sorry you feel like this. I want to help but I don’t even know where to begin, particularly because I’m not sure I have everything solved, but as my psychologist has often pointed out: nobody ever does because it’s impossible to predict the future (I have that annoying ghost called GAD -generalised anxiety disorder-, so you know I think about things waaaaay too much).
Anyway, I can tell you my story and hopefully that’d be helpful (it’s long, sorry): basically I studied psychology (ironically) and found it wasn’t the right path for me. While I was studying it, I worked at a bookstore full time as well because I needed to pay for my education. Now, I realised my mistake during my last year, with only the internship and dissertation left to finish. I managed to finish it because a) I’m stubborn, b) I had a partial scholarship with the agreement I’d graduated c) a degree is better than no degree. I was 23 at that point. I was also working full time and taking more financial responsibilities at home (that’s a whole other story).
After that, I continued to work full time, I had been promoted to shift manager and was very depressed and anxious (dangerously so). I liked the people I worked with and my bosses had been very kind to me, almost like a second family but the job was very stressful. I stayed another few years because I needed the income and also because my GAD paralysed me. I had no other form of income and a bunch of debt, I needed the money and they were nice to me, so why not? Anyways, after a dangerous spiral down depression and anxiety and back again (again, my bosses were very understanding, so I stayed), I started medication and therapy.
I eventually applied for a MA in the UK (unbelievable, I still don’t know how I managed to get out of bed and do that) in a different field (translation), and surprisingly was accepted and applied for funding. My main option for this didn’t come through, but the other did. So here I am: I am a 26 years old Guatemalan in Norwich, who left a job I’ve had for 7 years to move across the world and study.
After a year, I have to come back and pay my student loan and figure out again what to do with the rest of my life. But at least, for now, I’m doing something different. I’m still very anxious about money and try not to think about the future (always, the annoying GAD ghost and the depression dementor are forever), but I sort of think the change of scenery was also kind of helpful. At least I’m trying something different and having an opportunity not everyone does (I’ll get back to that in another post).
TLDR: Obviously, not everyone gets to go back to studying and start again. For a long time I didn’t think I could, but what I’m saying is that if you need the job you have now, definitely stay there, but have something on the side: look for independent courses, volunteering, do other things and see what you’ll like. And know that you’re not alone. However, most of all know this: the ideal living that Instagram and Facebook sell where every millennial is doing what they like is BS. We’re all just doing the best we can with the resources we have because truly, that’s all we can do.
titsay
janainaart
germansingergirl
ellievsbear
discoholicmusic
dailybridgerton
gummygunk
blakekathryn
2087
