Quarter Life Crisis

 I am a Millennial.  Try to tell me otherwise, and I’ll show you that I make the cut: August 1996.  Anybody born in 1997 is part of Gen Z.  Pew Research Center established anyone born between 1981 and 1996 is a Millennial (Dimock 2019).  I am also 25 years-old.  In a society where the life expectancy is 100 years-old, I am one-quarter of the way through my life…assuming I, too, live to 100 years-old.  That’s a long time… and a matter to explore at another time.

What separates a Millennial from a Gen Z?  That is, besides birth year.  Michael Dimok, President of Pew Research Center, identifies unique trends in politics and technology.  Millennials witnessed the rise of the War of Terrorism with the bombing of USS COLE (DDG 67) in October 2000, 9/11, and the death of Osama bin Laden in May 2011.  Gen Z, in contrast, has no memory of 9/11 and grew up knowing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the field of technology, Millennials witnessed the internet boom and the rapid evolution of mobile devices that followed.  Gen Z only knows a world with information readily available at their fingertips (Dimock 2019).  Consequently, Gen Z is becoming more involved in politics.  Pew Research Center found 32% of Gen Zers became involved in voting 69% actively seek action in addressing climate change.  This increased from 28% of Millennials becoming involved in voting at 59% addressing climate change (Tyson, Kennedy and Funk 2021).  The Millennials paved the path, but Gen Z is accelerating the pace.

Degree of accomplishment is best seen by seeing how each accomplishment is relative to the next.  At 25, I have a steady job with no student loans.  I am also single with no kids.  Other classmates my age are engaged, married, or even expecting their first child!  Am I behind them?  Yes, in the context of developing my personal life.  Yet, also no, in personal life.  I would describe my state as average.  In this world, it’s okay to be average.  I spend plenty of time with friends and sitting in front of a computer screen.

There are still times I feel old.  While active on college campus, I hardly know any students anymore.  My high school celebrated five years of graduation.  Children I babysat are preparing to graduate from college!  I saw the death of the VHS and box TV’s.  Once, a floppy disk was even on my elementary school supply list!  Computers still had external hardware and a place to use a floppy disc.

There are also times I feel young.  Strangers will ask if I am still in college.  My teenage acne and scars never have remained since college (it really wasn’t this bad in high school).  I have a full life ahead of me.

Is there really a quarter life crisis?  Maybe.  A lot can change in 10 years, even one year.  Taking a step back, I am exactly where I am meant to be.  That in itself is a gift.