The Jacks and Jens of All Trades
Time has a way of kicking you in the face. Not in a bad way…which I guess would make my way of phrasing how time takes you by surprise a bit defunct, but I’ll stick with it. Rounding on nearly a year since I graduated college and literally a year since I received my nomination to Peace Corps, I’ve been looking at where we are now and it’s been such a change from our rampant college days. Whether they’re rocking things down in Miami Beach with their own salon, attending one of the top 20 international law programs, in the Peace Corps, working in NYC at marketing firms and finance groups, running their own private businesses, arts, film, fashion, teaching in various countries, professional athletes, studying abroad, etc.. it’s amazing to see where my friends and I have come since last year.For a job market said to be un-scalable, we seem to be climbing that market with ease. Whether it’s helping ourselves, helping others, or a little bit of both, I’m really proud of where everyone’s headed.
There was an article back a few months ago (read it here @ What Is It About 20-Somethings) regarding how our failure to launch, our ‘needs to take more risks, less safe-bets and longer periods before settling down’ defines a new sub-sector of cognitive development. I remember initially getting somewhat angered at the over-generalization of the article’s nature, until I realized I was reading it while on a two-year contract with the Peace Corps (as they mentioned specifically 20-somethings joining Peace Corps), whoops.
Yeah, we take risks. Yeah, we take longer to settle down and we sure as hell move from one project to the next, freaking out our older counterparts. But, living in the digital age, where we have status updates every two minutes, tweets and fifty other social engines working to propel us into some new direction, our minds are geared a bit differently than in the days of the typewriter. If anything, it can create a new class of jacks (and jens) of all trades, which I embrace. This does have its downfalls, but for those that know how to ride the wave of change, the jumping from one area to the next, this can be a large stepping stone.
The reason I bring this up in relation to my earlier pride in my circle is that while we may not be where we are this time next year, in each phase we seem to grow stronger as individuals and continually improve upon what we have learned. While it may not be the same monotony as was previously decided to be the ‘norm,’ our array of interests, job experience and beliefs which seem to evolve daily has really provided us with opportunities previously unavailable. If this is a new era of cognitive development, at least in terms of scientific recognition, I say bring it on and embrace it. For those that choose to take this time to experience the world in an effort to find that which truly makes you happy or for those working in various areas still unsure of where that direction lies, or even for those that are just simply finding themselves through their day-to-days, I think the amount of balls it takes to do what we do (not to mention a healthy dose of naiveté) is something to be admired rather than admonished.
Someone once told me that life is the culmination of your experiences and what you choose to do with those experiences. I personally want my life to be full of experiences and informed opinions. Granted, ignorance is much like death in that we try to defy its existence and in some ways defeat it, all the while knowing we never truly will. It may be a losing fight, but at least it’s something to fight for nonetheless.
People told me slow my road I’m screaming out fuck that
Imma do just what I want lookin? ahead no turnin? back
if I fall if I die know I lived it to the fullest
if I fall if I die know I lived and missed some bullets
I’m on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shine ain’t always gonna be gold
I’ll be fine once I get it, I’ll be good.
-
hellogreenapple liked this
-
redefinedweekendwarrior posted this