The age differential
The MFE spans students of age 19 (the youngest) to age 35+. I was speaking to a good friend about how “I wish I was younger,” as there are many students in the 21-23 year old range.
It is a common feeling to “wish” you were younger, especially for a QLC’er. Why? Simply because we feel like we have not accomplished enough to justify being the age we are. We feel that people at our same “level” but younger have an advantage in that they are “ahead of the game.”
However, my friend had a simple response — “You are closer to retirement. You’re better off.”
Retirement sure sounds good.
on April 10th, 2008 at 5:38 am
And if you look and feel the same age as them, what other disadvantages are there?
on April 10th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I think its that type of rationale that leads us to have the quarter life crisis. Who are we comparing ourselves with anyways?
on April 12th, 2008 at 1:10 am
we’re comparing ourselves to the idealized version of ourselves which always leads to a feeling of epic failure.
on April 14th, 2008 at 4:36 am
Heres a bit more perspective on this issue of living up to your idealized self.
Cultivate a positive meaning/definition of success. Too many 20-year-olds have a too materialistic definition of success. Does wealth and materialistic positions mean you’re successful?
You need to stop judging yourself by other people’s standards — and develop your own. How do you define success? What gives you the most satisfaction and happiness? What gives your life meaning?
As you go about defining what success means to you, remember that many of the so-called trappings of success — money, material possessions, etc. — are the results of success, not the definition of it.
An interesting article to contemplate is What Will 21st Century Career Success Look Like? http://www.quintcareers.com/career_success.html
on April 14th, 2008 at 8:48 am
The people who wrote that article lack vision and creativity. My version of my idealized self has already conquered the world and enslaved mankind with an iron fist. People should define success as nothing short of becoming a GOD. Fo Realz.
on April 15th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
no point comparing yourself to the younger crowd cuz everyone has different life expectancy.