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Jinn · 06-14-2005, 06:54 AM

There's an interesting flipside to that coin. Also being 19, I know exactly what you mean about not being taken seriously and being stereotyped. However, I'm lucky enough to have attended a University where over 70% of the students are commuters, and often older. Additionally, I work at a job where I am valued for my ability with computers rather than my speed at feeding the hungry masses at the drivethru. When I worked fast food, or even as a cashier, I felt a great deal of disrespect for my age. However, working where I do now with salaried 35 year olds testing computer software, I'm suddenly "old." I am held accountable for my actions and respected for my work ethic. And I've got to tell you something.. its really not that great.

Freshman year of college, I was the epitomy of that stereotype: drinking Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and taking a break for Sunday to catch up on homework. I said some pretty asinine things and made an absolute fool out of myself. I enjoyed every minute of it, but I felt like I was destroying my life by being irresponsible.

Sophmore year, I toned back my drinking, got the job I have now AND got a great girlfriend. All of a sudden, I felt responsible. Wait a second, wasn't this what I was waiting for? Its a lot less satisfying then you'd think, often merely because of our age. I almost resent the fact that I can't be spontaneous and do the crazy things teenagers do -- like go shopping at Safeway at 2 am because you're bored. I HAD to work every day and go to school every day. Its nice, but at the same time I miss the "freewheeling spirit." So, in a long story short.. live it while you've got it -- and don't let the idiotic fools above and below you tell you who you are or how you should live.

06-14-2005, 06:54 AM	#10 (permalink)
Jinn Lover - Protector - Teacher Location: Seattle, WA	There's an interesting flipside to that coin. Also being 19, I know exactly what you mean about not being taken seriously and being stereotyped. However, I'm lucky enough to have attended a University where over 70% of the students are commuters, and often older. Additionally, I work at a job where I am valued for my ability with computers rather than my speed at feeding the hungry masses at the drivethru. When I worked fast food, or even as a cashier, I felt a great deal of disrespect for my age. However, working where I do now with salaried 35 year olds testing computer software, I'm suddenly "old." I am held accountable for my actions and respected for my work ethic. And I've got to tell you something.. its really not that great. Freshman year of college, I was the epitomy of that stereotype: drinking Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and taking a break for Sunday to catch up on homework. I said some pretty asinine things and made an absolute fool out of myself. I enjoyed every minute of it, but I felt like I was destroying my life by being irresponsible. Sophmore year, I toned back my drinking, got the job I have now AND got a great girlfriend. All of a sudden, I felt responsible. Wait a second, wasn't this what I was waiting for? Its a lot less satisfying then you'd think, often merely because of our age. I almost resent the fact that I can't be spontaneous and do the crazy things teenagers do -- like go shopping at Safeway at 2 am because you're bored. I HAD to work every day and go to school every day. Its nice, but at the same time I miss the "freewheeling spirit." So, in a long story short.. live it while you've got it -- and don't let the idiotic fools above and below you tell you who you are or how you should live. __________________ "I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel Last edited by Jinn; 06-14-2005 at 06:55 AM.. Reason: softmore? bahaha nice typo ;)