The other night my boyfriend and I were playing a “get-to-know-you” game from a book of questions. One of those questions asked us to think back to when we were 21 and discuss what our biggest misconception about life was.
Our answers were the same. Funny but also disheartening. Our biggest misconception: college.
I think my generation is on the tail end of the belief that having a degree means your set for life. We both thought “hey, as long as I can hang in there for four years, I’ll be set.”
Here we are: two intelligent, motivated and talented college graduates living off of his unemployment. He graduated in June 2006 and found work within 6 months. I graduated in December 2008 and have yet to find work. He was laid off last year.
For some, I’m sure that’s still true but it’s no longer a sure thing. Now we wonder where to go from here. When will we find the next “sure thing?” How long will that last?
If we’ve learned anything from the last few years, it’s this: even if there is a guarantee, it won’t last forever.
What was your biggest misconception at 21?
My misconception was thinking I would be married forever. I guess I was to young to think any different. Looking back on that time and other moments in life I truely believe only one thing last forever except the want and need for love itself. To this day and then all I really wanted was to love and be loved, forever. Thankfully I will always have my daughters for that no matter what else happens in life. Weather it’s college, marriage or a career this I know to be true; neither of them will bring you happines, that, you will find only within yourself.