2008 Woodie Awards
Quarter-life Crisis: How to Deal
Amy Baldwin
Issue date: 4/6/05 Section: News
ALEXANDRA ROBBINS (author of "Conquering Your Quarterlife Crisis"): "She should ask herself the lotto question, which is: 'What if I won the lottery and never had to work for a salary again?' How would you spend your time?'" (But can you really find a job shopping or working out?)
Sure, you could be a personal shopper or trainer, Robbins said. "There is this box of five acceptable careers that people hear about and know about and don't realize there are thousands of other possibilities," she said.
TAMMIE LESESNE, licensed professional counselor in Charlotte: Go to UNCC's career center and talk to a counselor about dealing with others' expectations. "Is that a life pattern for her- that she will put other people's expectations over her own?" Lesesne said.
Andrew Kehoe, 25
OCCUPATION: Corporate development associate for WFAE-FM 90.7 FM, which means he secures programming sponsors
"CRISIS": Looking for his passion. "I have done what everyone is expected to do- going to college to get an education and get a job. I haven't done anything in life for myself," said Kehoe, of Charlotte. "I want to do something different but I don't know what or how."
ROBBINS: Dig up artwork you made and essays you wrote as a child. "It is possible that he can find clues to his identity that got muffled over the years."
LESESNE: "He might want to read a book called 'Callings' by Gregg Levoy. It is a great book for people who are really soul searching."
Marianne Velonis, 25
OCCUPATION: Temping in marketing at a Chicago hotel while looking for a job. The Charlotte native moved to the Windy City in September. Previously worked at Chapel Hill ad agency.
"CRISIS": Worried about having regrets later. "I am too young to settle for something I won't be happy in," Velonis said. "Right now, I am letting myself figure out what I really want out of my career and out of life itself."
ROBBINS: "I totally agree with her. The 20s should be a trial and error time. A lot of 20-somethings feel they have to settle everything in their life by age 30. But if you are going to live your entire life in 10 years, what are you going to do for the next 50?"
Sure, you could be a personal shopper or trainer, Robbins said. "There is this box of five acceptable careers that people hear about and know about and don't realize there are thousands of other possibilities," she said.
TAMMIE LESESNE, licensed professional counselor in Charlotte: Go to UNCC's career center and talk to a counselor about dealing with others' expectations. "Is that a life pattern for her- that she will put other people's expectations over her own?" Lesesne said.
Andrew Kehoe, 25
OCCUPATION: Corporate development associate for WFAE-FM 90.7 FM, which means he secures programming sponsors
"CRISIS": Looking for his passion. "I have done what everyone is expected to do- going to college to get an education and get a job. I haven't done anything in life for myself," said Kehoe, of Charlotte. "I want to do something different but I don't know what or how."
ROBBINS: Dig up artwork you made and essays you wrote as a child. "It is possible that he can find clues to his identity that got muffled over the years."
LESESNE: "He might want to read a book called 'Callings' by Gregg Levoy. It is a great book for people who are really soul searching."
Marianne Velonis, 25
OCCUPATION: Temping in marketing at a Chicago hotel while looking for a job. The Charlotte native moved to the Windy City in September. Previously worked at Chapel Hill ad agency.
"CRISIS": Worried about having regrets later. "I am too young to settle for something I won't be happy in," Velonis said. "Right now, I am letting myself figure out what I really want out of my career and out of life itself."
ROBBINS: "I totally agree with her. The 20s should be a trial and error time. A lot of 20-somethings feel they have to settle everything in their life by age 30. But if you are going to live your entire life in 10 years, what are you going to do for the next 50?"