The Quarterlife Crisis

My dad is a sweetheart. Nothing better than a retired cop with a big heart! He is an amazing father and I strongly believe that I inherited his determination and writing skills. The lovely man had quite the surprise for me when I got home yesterday.

Dad: Hey Tegan! I found a book at the library for you today!

Tegan: Score! a.) I need a new book b.) I don't have time to go to the library.

I bounced out of my room to see what he picked up for me. No, it was not the Twilight Series.

The book is called, Conquering Your Quarterlife Crisis: Advice from Twentysomethings Who Have Been There and Survived.

At first I was a little offended, "Dad. Are you saying I'm having a quarterlife crisis?!?!" He laughed and told me he just thought the book would be interesting and insightful. After a brief spat, I came around and realized that he was simply trying to provide advice and I decided to at least leaf through it on my morning commute.

The book is written by the same author as Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities so I don't know how I feel about her as a writer, but this book seems half alright. I could relate to a few sections and it was nice to read stories about people my age who have made it!

If you have never heard of the quarterlife crisis, here is more information about it:

The quarterlife crisis is a term applied to the period of life immediately following the major changes of adolescence, usually ranging from the early twenties to the early thirties. The term is named by analogy with mid-life crisis.

Characteristics of quarterlife crisis may include:

• feeling "not good enough" because one can't find a job that is at one's academic/intellectual level
• frustration with the working world, and finding a suitable job or career
• confusion of identity
• insecurity regarding the near future
• insecurity concerning long-term plans, life goals
• insecurity regarding present accomplishments
• re-evaluation of close interpersonal relationships
• lack of friendships or romantic relationships, sexual frustration, and involuntary celibacy
• disappointment with one's job
• nostalgia for university, college, high school or elementary school life
• tendency to hold stronger opinions
• boredom with social interactions
• loss of closeness to high school and college friends
• financially-rooted stress (overwhelming college loans, unanticipatedly high cost of living, etc.)
• loneliness, depression and suicide
• desire to have children
• a sense that everyone is, somehow, doing better than you
• frustration with societal ills

These emotions and insecurities are not uncommon at this age, nor at any age in adult life. In the context of the quarterlife crisis, however, they occur shortly after a young person – usually an educated professional, in this context – enters the "real world". Entering adult life and coming to terms with its responsibilities, some individuals find themselves experiencing career stagnation or extreme insecurity. The individual often realizes the real world is tougher, more competitive and less forgiving than they imagined. Furthermore, the qualifications they have spent so much time and money earning are not likely to prepare them for this disillusionment.

This is pretty serious stuff people. I did a little more research and ABC recently covered this issue. Personally, I can relate to a few of the symptoms. I don't feel like I'm in a full out quarterlife crisis, but it isn't hard to see why some recent graduates might find themselves slipping into this experience.

Hey twentysomethings! What do you think? Do you feel like you're experiencing a quarterlife crisis?

Wordless Wednesday

It is Friday not Wednesday, but one can't describe these pictures using words. They are simply beautiful.

This guy continues to amaze me with his talent and creativity. Sidewalk 3D chalk drawings on a flat surface...

Enjoy!

Motivation and Inspiration

Because sometimes we all need a little...


Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Harold R. McAlindon

The history of the world is but the
biography of great men.
Thomas Carlyle

What chance gathers she easily scatters. A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Rely on your own strength of body and soul. Take for your star self-reliance, faith, honesty and industry. Don't take too much advice — keep at the helm and steer your own ship, and remember that the great art of commanding is to take a fair share of the work. Fire above the mark you intend to hit. Energy, invincible determination with the right motive, are the levers that move the world.
Noah Porter

The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.
Horace Bushnell




The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, "Always do what you are afraid to do."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.
George S. Patton

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore,
is not an act but a habit.
Aristotle

Fortune favors the brave.
Publius Terence

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.
Theodore Roosevelt

Kanye West and the VMA's

As I'm sure you have head, Kanye West caused quite the stir last night at the 2009 MTV VMA awards in New York City. A crazy Kanye grabbed the mic from mid-acceptance speech Taylor Swift protesting the award and claiming that Beyonce "had one of the best videos of all time." (Cringing as I remember Kanye's saying it!)

I must say I do like his music but that is pretty much it. As the VMA's continued, Twitter was heating up over the outburst. It wasn't long before #Kanye became a trending topic soon followed by #TeamTaylor. Taylor eventually thanked her fans on Twitter after Beyonce called her up to finish her speech.



Needless to say, this whole drama made me think about two things:

1. Twitter. Twitter is so cool! It was really great to see the audience engaging with the show and I loved Taylor's shoutout to her fans on Twitter that supported #TeamTaylor. Once again, behold the power of Twitter.

2. The saying "Any publicity is good publicity." Does this ring true for Kanye West? Yes, he is the talk of Twitterville and has caused quite the commotion but not for anything good. This will obviously add to his already bad image but does it matter?

What do you think about all of this?

Of Course I had to quote Mad Men- What I've Learned Along the Way

I was recently asked to be a guest blogger for my PRSSA chapter's (James F. Fox, the University of Iowa) blog. As the past President, I was honored and excited to post my thoughts and provide chapter members with lessons I have learned thus far.

Here is my post:

What I’ve Learned Along the Way: Do’s and Dont’s

The road to success in any career is always difficult and filled with twists and turns. Here is what I’ve learned along the way.

1. Do love PRSSA
PRSSA is the window to the public relations world. Especially at Iowa where a public relations degree isn’t possible, PRSSA can help you learn more about the field and achieve the skills necessary to succeed. Run for exec, attend the National and Regional conference, participate in the various committees and attend the socials. Embrace PRSSA, the University of Iowa chapter is full of amazing leadership and I could not be where I am today without the lesson learned at meetings in AJB!

2. Do be ready to bring it
It is going to be hard so be ready to work hard. The public relations industry is competitive and times are tough. If you want to succeed you have to be willing to work for it. You will probably find yourself doing something outside of your comfort zone. It may be networking at the National Conference or speaking in front of a class. Mine was moving to New York City to intern at a public relations agency. It was scary at first but I took the leap and forced myself out of my comfort zone. I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Don’t be afraid to try something new, strike up a conversation with a stranger and put yourself out of your comfort zone. These small tests will help you learn more about yourself and foster a spirit of success.

3. Don’t limit your reading to Perezhilton.com
Stay up to date on news and happenings. As a public relations professional, it is important to know what is going on around the country and the world. Invest in knowledge. Read.

4. Do dive headfirst and immerse yourself in social media
Twitter is a great tool for young professionals. Embrace tweeting! Conversations and connections made on Twitter are worthwhile. I have learned so much about the field through interacting on Twitter. Create an online portfolio and start your own blog. Weebly is a great service for hosting web sites. Networking is key. Make yourself stand out in the social media world. It is worth it.

5. Do learn everything you can about the field.
Subscribe to the following: Bulldog Reporter, PR Week, ADAge, and SmartBrief. A forever changing industry, you can never know too much.

6. Don’t limit your internships to summertime
Internships are not reserved for summer anymore. Look for opportunities during the school year to enhance you skill set and your resume. Head to the Pomerantz Career Center and search Jobnet for opportunities on campus. You will need more than one internship so plan ahead and strive to hold multiple internships over the course of your college career.

7. Do start early and set goals.
When I was a junior, I asked the past PRSSA president, Jen Ferm, when I should start applying for jobs. Her advice stuck with me. Start early and give yourself time to pull your portfolio together. Seniors, Thanksgiving break is your cue. Get your resume looking beautiful and start applying for jobs during December. Plan to head to the Pomerantz Career Center by Thanksgiving break and have your resume reviewed. Meet with a Career Advisor. The Pomerantz Career Center is full of wonderful people who want to help you succeed. Call in and make an appointment, they can’t place you in a job but they can help you along the way. Set goals for yourself and don’t shy away from them. If you want to send out five resumes by December do it. If your goal is to run for PRSSA exec board, do it.

8. Do find a mentor
Everyone needs someone to look up to. Find that person who is willing to take you under his or her wing. I have had many throughout my time at Iowa and the relationships I have developed with my mentors have made a lasting impression on my growth and attitude as a young professional. My mentors have included past bosses, older PRSSA members and professionals I have met along the way.

9. Do enjoy college while it lasts
Trust me, you will miss Hawkeye game days. Cherish your time a the University of Iowa. It is truly an amazing place to learn and live.

10. Don’t give up
It is a tough time and the public relations field is extremely competitive. I’ve had my share of setbacks but it is important to keep your goals in mind. Hard work always pay off in the end. If you find yourself feeling down, get inspired by this quote from the wonderful Don Draper (Mad Men) “I have a life. And it only goes in one direction. Forward.” Ask yourself what you can do to keep your career moving forward. Don’t let setbacks get you down and leave you at a standstill.

What would you add?