Almost 30

Women in their late 20s feel that the pressure from around them is increasingly becoming more palpable as they come closer to the big 3-0. Expectations of having more stability career-wise and maturity in terms of decision-making lead them to panic-mode. Not to mention the worried mothers of “still single ” women whose biological clock is slowly ticking away. Is it really society that is haranguing these 20-somethings or just their own critical self?

As I turn 29 this month, I try to look into the different aspects of a person’s life and reflect on my own. As there are several facets to consider, I have narrowed it down to the two most important which are Career and Relationships.

Society would define career as the application and execution of accumulated knowledge from years of academic learning and of course, getting paid for it. Some were lucky enough to have figured out their career path early on which enabled them to accrue valuable experience and bank savings. Unfortunately, there are still a good number of graduates every year on a limbo as they enter into the workforce. I was one of those.

I entered college thinking I would be a Newscaster but ended up gradually shifting into Dramatic Arts. As a new graduate, choices seemed boundless and time was not of the essence. I opted for project-based and freelance jobs because it allowed me to have time for artistic endeavors that did not exactly pay the bills.

It perfectly describes one of Forbes’s The 10 Most Important Lessons For 20-Something Workers. It said, “ These 20-somethings think they are keeping their options open but they are actually closing doors. Resumes start to look thin, their peers begin surpassing them and they may get stuck in underemployment .” I went through years of frustration and hibernation finding the “road to success” but eventually I learned to accept that corporate satisfaction was never meant for me but rather artistic gratification.

In my early 20s, relationships were merely accumulated acquaintances. Having a social life was extremely vital to keep you abreast with the latest happenings to give you that sense of belonging, significance and relevance. The imaginary need to keep up with it overlooked my relationship with my family and my long-time college friends. After years of affiliating myself in various social circles, I still craved for a genuine and honest bond. Though smaller in scale and proverbial in nature, my family and my college friends have become my personal treasure. And now that I’ll be giving birth to my first child, I can’t help but feel anxious of how or what kind this relationship would be like. I can only wonder for now.

As I prepare for the final stage of my 20s era, I have nothing but gratitude and humility for the amazing experiences and inspiring people I’ve met along the way. I’m absolutely certain that it’s only going to get better.

References:

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/elhg45ide/not-making-a-choice-is-a-choice-3/

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/aspects-of-life.html

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