Chronicled: Quarter Life Crisis

I’m due for a quarter-life crisis but haven’t quite figured out what I want to do yet. Maybe we can brainstorm together. 

I’m not in enough crisis to get bangs yet. I’m no longer dying my hair fun streaks of purple, blue, and red. The maintenance of that was a bit too much, and I’ve embraced my natural roots, figuratively and literally. I’ve learned to love who I am inside and out.

I love advertising too much for a career shift. I entered college with many interests and no true direction. I found and fell in love with advertising in college. It is so tightly intertwined with culture. I’m able to have amazing, deep conversations about life and the world… for work.

I got 2 tattoos last year making another feel underwhelming for such a momentous moment. (You’re welcome, Mom.) I total my count to 3 pieces of art that remind me of where I came from and where I’m going. They remind me to embrace myself. 

I can’t buy a new car or boat. I don’t need either in the city. I’m in the city middle school Marissa drooled about and college Marissa feared. Naïve in middle school, my dream school in middle school was NYU. My eyes were opened in high school when I learned of the price tag of university in NYC. I also craved security in college when there was already so much change. I’m so grateful for my excellent education at Temple. I’m also so grateful I made a leap of faith to move here a year and a half ago. I’m living in the city people dream about with countless opportunities. 

I could take up skateboarding. I never learned as a kid…and I’m fortunate to have great health insurance. But, I literally tripped yesterday running on a flat road busting both my knees, and I’m supposed to do the NYRR Manhattan United half-marathon soon. So, it might not be the best idea. This will be my 2nd half marathon, a feat for someone who only ran when chased. I don’t consider myself a natural athlete. I’ve surprised myself by pushing what I thought were my physical limits. I also have learned to be kind to myself. Just because I had a bad run, doesn’t mean the next one will be similar. I try to take this into every part of my life. 

Going off the grid for a tour around the world feels dramatic. I’ll save that for my mid-life crisis. Don’t want to whet the appetite too much and not be able to follow up with something as spectacular for when I’m 50. The future has so many possibilities. I sure don’t know what it’ll hold. But, I’m excited to learn, grow, and experience everything it has in store for me. All this to say, I’m still not sure exactly what I’ll do for my quarter-life crisis. I’m sure I’ll figure it out in time – hopefully before 50.