Let's Talk About Being A "Grown-Up"

When you’re younger all you can imagine is what your life will be like when you’re “all grown-up”. So let’s just fast forward…you’re in college and tired of sitting in class, listening to lectures, writing papers, studying for finals and GROUP PROJECTS. And then when you realize you are near graduation, suddenly growing up doesn’t seem so magical or glamorous.

I am proud to say that I have just completed my 8th month in the grown-up/work world. I would say there are definitely some pro’s and con’s of working verses college. Here is a small list of what I came up with (more to come later):

College V. Being a Grown Up

1. A pro: NO HOMEWORK/FINALS! Ok, so there are some times you have to give up time on the weekend or stay a little late after work to get a project done. But here’s the good news, no homework or finals. So when you and your college sibling visit home, you have time to relax and have fun. Meanwhile, your sibling is studying their brains out and stressing about the 2 papers they have to write and 3 tests to study for all before Wednesday. Suddenly staying an hour after work doesn’t seem so bad…

2. A con: The college food from the dining hall suddenly seems as luxurious as a steak dinner at a fine restaurant. Not only is it hard cooking for just one, just imagine cooking every single day. Oh, and packing your lunch for work. Food taste 1948292074 times better when it’s already prepared for you…and there aren’t any dishes for you to wash.

3. A pro: Although you’re not rich, you’re not dead broke. You get your paycheck and it may be the most you have ever seen on one check in a while. You can manage your expenses better. Oh, and your refrigerator can have more than a bottle of water, lunchable, expired yogurt and some ketchup. Plus everything seems way more rewarding when you’re buying it with your money you’ve worked hard for. But let me throw out a disclaimer- your student loans WILL kick in soon and then you’ll return to that “broke college student” status. But just think, the sooner you pay it off the more money you’ll have later!

4. A con: Going out on a Thursday night is an impossible task. You miss catching up with friends and throwing a few back. But needless to say, you’re normally in bed by 10:30 pm on a typical week night. And not only are you EXHAUSTED when you go out, you are suddenly surrounded by those “annoying college kids who think they are so awesome, overdress for the smokey hole-in-the-wall bar you’re at, and THEY DON’T SHUT UP” (even though when you think about it, that was you not too long ago). And one more thing, you’re alarm goes off at 6:30 the next morning and you realize you have a full 8 hour work day ahead of you.

More to come later! Stay tuned.
Peace out.