I read Andrew’s post (“On Turning 20-something”) and can relate with many things he said. But let me offer a different view of life after 21.

First, Andrew says that “there are so many unknowns in the coming months it’s hard to balance an excitement for wide horizons with a concern for smothered dreams.”


I am someone who hates uncertainty, so this statement could not be more true for me. With so many things up in the air, still left to be worked out — from where I’ll work to where and with whom I’ll live — it can be scary. A fear of the unknown can hinder the ability to enjoy the final months at BU.

Despite this, I’m not worried. Bad economy and all, I’m ecstatic to move on the to next stage of life. Every day is a balancing act between enjoying the current moment and preparing for a vastly different life in three months.

Since the end of my junior year, when life beyond BU first appeared on the horizon, I’ve noticed that a lot of people I know who are out of school are miserable. They hate their jobs; no longer do they have dreams of accomplishing much. It’s the same crap, different day.

Does this happen for everybody? I’ve always been an optimistic person, and I can’t envision myself holding such a negative view of life. Maybe it goes back to what Andrew wrote, being stuck in your 20s and nobody being impressed. Maybe you reach a point when you no longer have a huge community of peers. Maybe you do the same boring stuff at work, you live by yourself or with a roommate you don’t like, and you barely have enough money leftover after paying bills to do anything fun with your life.

I, however, refuse to believe that things are all downhill after college. Sure, I’ll have tens of thousands of dollars in loans to pay back. Working every day will be an adjustment. My social life will be different.

But for once in my life, I won’t have homework. Instead of paying to do work, I’ll be receiving the check for my efforts. After a promotion or two, I’ll be able to afford classy dinners at places like Capital Grille and Davio’s. I’ll meet lots of new people through friends I make at work, on the baseball team I’ll play for, and by exploring all the new “adult” social places called bars.

And just because you leave college doesn’t mean you lose all your friends. Your friendships will grow, and one of the upsides of being in your 20s is the number of weddings you’ll attend. This will probably mean traveling to places in the country where you’ve never been, hopefully warmer climates during the winter months.

The opportunities are endless after college. You can live wherever you want. You can change careers like you changed majors. You can live with whomever you like (cue T.I. and Lil’ Wayne). It’s not all doom and gloom as many people might suggest.

P.S.: By coincidence, “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley came on Pandora while I finishing this post. The lyrics “Everything’s gonna be all right!” could not be more appropriate here.