#twenty-something problems

It’s been two years today since I graduated college. It took me a little over a year to find my first job and begin my life as a real person, but I couldn’t be happier. To sum up my thoughts about my two-year anniversary of being a college graduate, I thought I’d channel the Five Stages of Grief (thanks, PSYCH 100):

Stage 1: Denial

I can’t believe it’s been two years. It was just yesterday that I accepted my diploma and became an alum. Where did the time go?

Stage 2: Anger

Two years already? I spent my first year out of college at home and looking for a job, why did it take so long for me to get here? And I can’t go out and rage on weeknights and sleep in until noon because I have to get up early for my job. And everything is starting to get soooo expensive. #realworldproblems

Stage 3: Bargaining

I’m not too old to go back for Welcome Week, right? I use my college ID to get discounts at Topshop and J.Crew. I moved my younger brother into his apartment at the beginning of the school year, and went out with his friends and raged at a house party—I blended right in. But then I realized I had to leave the next day and go back to work…

Stage 4: Depression

“When I was a student…” Okay, now I feel OLD (even though, as mentioned above, I don’t look it). I see my sorority growing, but I don’t know any of the younger girls. The girls who were freshman and sophomores when I was a senior are now upperclassmen. I know my mind and body can’t handle drinking on the regular, and that’s really depressing.

Stage 5: Acceptance