Does anyone else feel like they're going through a quarter life crisis?

[fortyninethousand322]

Yup. I can definitely relate. I spent 3 years of college knowing what I wanted to study but no idea exactly what I wanted to do with it. Now, my problem is deciding whether I want to test the job market or return for grad school (Masters, and maybe a Ph.D.).

 

I took Arabic, Hebrew and French during high school and then college with the majority focus on Arabic, but I realized now that learning Arabic is hard. Like really hard unless you travel to an Arabic speaking country and get immersed in the language, and although it would be fun, I have no money to do that. And my degree which was supposed to be in Middle East Studies, is now officially going to be in "Religious Studies" since the creation of the ME studies program will be delayed due to budget cuts. So in addition to not being fluent in Arabic I look like I took 4 years of Bible school (in reality I never took a single class related to Christianity). Try telling a job recruiter that your degree is in Religion, they'll tell you to go be a minister. I'd go get a Masters degree, but I have to take a break from school first, these last two semesters have taken all the wind out of my sails.

 

I'm stuck working a lousy retail job at a card store, the most boring job in the world that I hate with a passion. I've been looking for jobs in the intelligence/analyst field (and most recently the State Department) but so far the few entry level jobs that I have found I've been rejected. I live at home where I share a tiny 9x10 ft room with my brother, I've never kissed a girl, I've got a lousy job, and a hard time looking for a better one. So yeah I understand the whole feeling "stuck" and frustrated with things.

[eerie_reverie]

I can relate to being in a rut as well, though I think I went through a more major crisis in my last year of college - when I was suicidally depressed over the loss of whom I still consider the love of my life.

 

Now I am 25, living in a city I like, with a great job. My rut is as a result of having no personal life, no close friends nearby, and my family far far away. I can't decide if I want to stay in this city or move to be closer to family. I enjoy the workweek but my depression is evident on the weekends, which I spend sleeping in. I feel like I'm wasting my twenties - I should be out making friends and meeting guys, but all I do is work out, study, and work.

[dollface07]

Yup. I can definitely relate. I spent 3 years of college knowing what I wanted to study but no idea exactly what I wanted to do with it. Now, my problem is deciding whether I want to test the job market or return for grad school (Masters, and maybe a Ph.D.).

 

I took Arabic, Hebrew and French during high school and then college with the majority focus on Arabic, but I realized now that learning Arabic is hard. Like really hard unless you travel to an Arabic speaking country and get immersed in the language, and although it would be fun, I have no money to do that. And my degree which was supposed to be in Middle East Studies, is now officially going to be in "Religious Studies" since the creation of the ME studies program will be delayed due to budget cuts. So in addition to not being fluent in Arabic I look like I took 4 years of Bible school (in reality I never took a single class related to Christianity). Try telling a job recruiter that your degree is in Religion, they'll tell you to go be a minister. I'd go get a Masters degree, but I have to take a break from school first, these last two semesters have taken all the wind out of my sails.

 

I'm stuck working a lousy retail job at a card store, the most boring job in the world that I hate with a passion. I've been looking for jobs in the intelligence/analyst field (and most recently the State Department) but so far the few entry level jobs that I have found I've been rejected. I live at home where I share a tiny 9x10 ft room with my brother, I've never kissed a girl, I've got a lousy job, and a hard time looking for a better one. So yeah I understand the whole feeling "stuck" and frustrated with things.

 

look into going abroad with with amideast or find a scholarship to fund your arabic study abroad:

 

Robert B. Bailey Scholarship

The Robert B. Bailey Scholarship is intended to promote the

participation in CIEEs International Study Programs of individuals or members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in study abroad, especially ethnic minority students. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, and self-identified as belonging to an underrepresented group.

 

Boren Scholarships

Boren Scholarships provide funding to U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad. Boren Scholarships are funded by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), which focuses on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security.

 

Boren Fellowships

Boren Fellowships provide funding to U.S. graduate students to specialize in area study, the study of less commonly taught languages, or increased language proficiency. Boren Fellowships are funded by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), which focuses on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. interest and national security.

 

The Language Flagship Fellowships

The Language Flagship offers a limited number of fellowships to qualified American students interested in receiving full financial support to participate in one of the Flagship Programs, one of which is in the Arabic language.

 

Foreign Languages and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)

The Summer FLAS Fellowship is an annual competition designed to finance intensive foreign language study for graduate students in languages deemed critical to U.S. national security, including Arabic.

 

you can make this happen if you want to take prepare to take this exam:

 

http://www.state.gov/p/io/rls/142837.htm

 

you also studied Hebrew that's great are you part Jewish if so you can take the birthright trip

 

http://www.birthrightisrael.com/site/PageServer

 

Good luck!

[Star Gazer]

While I miss my liver's tolerance and that the skin around my eyes had not one line even in the biggest smile, you couldn't pay be to return to my 20's. Man, they were tough!!

[jerbear]

I wouldn't say 25 but I would like to be late 20's or early 30's. I had a great GF, got an MS degree, figured out what I wanted in life, etc... Now I'm just bored.

[allina]

I felt like that so much when I turned 25, even now at 28 I feel it sometimes. I'm actually extremely happy but I have never known what I wanted to do with my life education and career wise. I have a BA but I had every opportunity to do something further which I never felt like doing. I have a job that I pretty much fell in to, it's nothing I'm passionate about. The money is decent and the work environment nice, so I'll probably never leave. I work with some of my best friends, no one tells me what to do but it's not an impressive career. Sometimes I stress about about it getting too late for grad school, not that I know what I'd go for.

 

I think that maybe you can't have it all. I have the best husband in the world, an amazing marriage and great friends and family. We are doing well financially and own a home, I suppose that if I had some super amazing career on top of all that it just wouldn't be fair.

[nyc_guy2003]

I feel the need to comment on a technicality here. If the average life expectancy is around 80 years old, should've "quarter-life" imply 20 years old? I see a lot of posters here in the 24-27 range claiming quater-life crises. Guess there are a lot of people here planning to live to 100+ .

[dollface07]

I feel the need to comment on a technicality here. If the average life expectancy is around 80 years old, should've "quarter-life" imply 20 years old? I see a lot of posters here in the 24-27 range claiming quater-life crises. Guess there are a lot of people here planning to live to 100+ .

 

lol mr. smartypants

[allina]

I feel the need to comment on a technicality here. If the average life expectancy is around 80 years old, should've "quarter-life" imply 20 years old? I see a lot of posters here in the 24-27 range claiming quater-life crises. Guess there are a lot of people here planning to live to 100+ .

 

True Also, I do intend to live to 100 *knocks on wood*

 

Though there is something about turning 25 that scares people. I've seen it in friends and myself. At 25 you're out of college and either starting some sort of career or pursuing higher education. Either way, you're not really established, and no longer a kid. It can be pretty scary, especially when you're not sure where you want life to take you.

[fortyninethousand322]

look into going abroad with with amideast or find a scholarship to fund your arabic study abroad:

 

you can make this happen if you want to take prepare to take this exam:

 

http://www.state.gov/p/io/rls/142837.htm

 

you also studied Hebrew that's great are you part Jewish if so you can take the birthright trip

 

http://www.birthrightisrael.com/site/PageServer

 

Good luck!

 

Yeah I've looked at those scholarships, but I have to be a current student (I'm graduating in two weeks so I won't be a current student anymore). I'm going to apply for those when I go to grad school, which is at least a year away.

 

And as for the Hebrew: I was late signing up for classes my freshman year and there were no spots left in Arabic so the acting undergrad adviser suggested I take an intro to Hebrew course. In retrospect it was the best thing that could have happened. Since the languages are very similar taking Hebrew really helped when I eventually did take Arabic. There were only three students in the class so I got lots of one-on-one teaching. And it was taught by the best/coolest professor: an elderly Scottish guy who learned random languages for fun (like Phoenician and Cuneiform). Taking Hebrew was just completely random, I'm not Jewish at all, so no birthright trip for me unfortunately.

[Teknoe]

I can kind of relate. I'm turning 28 this year, but am not where I hoped to be in life.

 

Most of my friends are married, getting married, having kids, had kids, etc.

 

I'm still stuck in that weird "post-grad I wanna stay 21" phase of my life right now. There's actually a term for it. Google Guyland. That's where I am at right now. Maybe it's bad that last year I was really desiring a girlfriend, but now this year I don't care much anymore. Glad to be single doing my own thing... but not very healthy life style. I need to move on up...