June 9, 2004
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Topic: Giving our problems a name
This entry if most dedicated to my good friend Dara, who has been experiencing all the ups and downs of being in her first year out of college. I just happened to pick up a book today titled, “Quarterlife Crisis,” by Alexandra Robbins and Abby Wilner. Abby, as it turns out, graduated from the same school as me, 6 years earlier (another network i need to look into). Anyways…i urge people to have a look at their webiste: http://www.quarterlifecrisis.com
Please let me know your thoughts on how you feel education, (highlighting college for those who have gone through it, but all education will do) is tied to the quarterlife crisis, after viewing the site.
Oh…and although this didn’t work out for me, here’s a friendly response from the President of Harvard University regarding writing a forward for my book. Just shows, you don’t know unless your try.
Dear Mr. Lilienthal:
Thank you very much for your email regarding your book on higher
education. I appreciate your taking the time to write.
Unfortunately, given my current position and busy schedule, I am unable
to
contribute to your book at this time.
I do hope you understand, and I wish you the best of luck in publishing
your book.
Sincerely,
Larry Summers
Comments (3)
That is great that you asked for the introduction! And that you at least got a reply… I’d love to hear more about your book. There is so much to think about on your site and I appreciate your project – I will definitely take a look at the quarterlife site, although I delayed that particular crisis by going to graduate school.. delaying, but hardly resolving any of those particular issues! So, anyway, I’ve been floundering post-PhD, now at age 36, and with two kids in tow… in response to your questions on my blog, I have a PhD in History – I teach U.S. and Women’s History at university and at community college and believe me, it is a messed up system from the other side of the desk as well! And I homeschool my 6yo son, just finishing 1st grade and moving into 2nd… I’m planning to write some specific reflections on that in the next couple of days, so stay tuned…
dan – can we step back for two seconds. Larry Summers responded to you. do you realise how impressive that is? seriously dan – keep taking those risks, one day you’ll hit on something!
actually - in ref to your previous post - i don’t think someone else can tell another person what is the best way to approach life. the best part of going through a supposed crisis is finding your own path through it. one of the main problems with our society is that we are always looking for an easy out. not everything can have an easy out. sometimes it’s the hard paths that make you stronger, that make you grow more. the easy outs are the ones filled with regret and longing. i don’t want to read or talk to anyone who is going to dispense to me their advice on getting a job or finding a roommate or what to do when with whom. to me, finding that shit is half the fun. maybe i’m a masochist. but i’m one of those crack-heads who would rather suffer for a year in a rat-infested hell hole in order to grow and appreciate a move to a proper, clean, apartment in chelsea. that’s easier said than done, however. i hate rats, for one. but you get my point.
i’d also rather suffer in a job i love that i suck at, then do something i hate just because i’m good at it. i never once took an aptitude test and i don’t understand that. i don’t think they tell you anything.
i think the fun is in finding what you love. being brave enough to see the changes and the constancies – to weather the storm of life. it’s hard. right now i’m in really hard part. life ain’t easy for me right now, internally. but i’ll get through.
sometimes it’s hard to figure things out dan. i think you know that better than anyone. but we all get through eventually. i think that’s the best part of life. the figuring out. that’s the process i want to make okay for my kids and my friends. i know too many people who are afraid of that. and i think it takes a truly strong individual to attack it head on. or to let it happen even. instead of just trying to find a way out.
does that make sense? i’m having some trouble expressing myself as of late.