The permanence of university stress
By Emily Bain
Issue date: 11/1/06 Section: Opinions
After graduation, the pressures young people must face increase dramatically: at this time, many rent apartments and those of us who have taken out government loans must start repaying them. These new financial burdens couple with the pressure to obtain a job that will ensure good social standing, and result in people feeling as if they have no choice but to stow away more unconventional plans. Those who would like to do extensive traveling often put it off or travel less for fear of being seen as a 'drifter.' Those who can't imagine that they would be happy working in an office often ignore this inclination because this seems easier than worrying about being judged for not having a job with enough prestige.
The greatest disadvantage to living a life that has been mapped out for us by expectation is that we lose the freedom to live our own lives as we see fit. To live happily, it is important to pursue the lifestyle that best fits us. After all, there is great honour and prestige in being a doctor, but there is great frustration and emptiness when the honour and prestige are the only considerations in becoming a doctor. Put simply, it is hard to live authentically when we feel as if we are following a checklist of what is considered acceptable.
It is incredibly easy for young people to lose sight of how to truly live in a way that is in tune with their personalities and desires. If offered a lucrative job, for example, it's tempting to accept, even if we are reasonably certain that doing so means that we end up rich but exhausted and miserable. No one wants to be the cocktail party guest who feels as if they should pad the truth about their careers in order to seem more successful. Once in a while though, there comes an inspirational and brutal reminder that modern values can be horribly skewed.
The late Christopher Reeve, paralyzed in a tragic accident, urged us to remember what is truly important in life: "By the time I was twenty-four, I was making millions. I was pretty pleased with myself…I was selfish and neglected my family. Since my accident I've realized…that success means something quite different. I see people who achieve these conventional goals. None of it matters."
The greatest disadvantage to living a life that has been mapped out for us by expectation is that we lose the freedom to live our own lives as we see fit. To live happily, it is important to pursue the lifestyle that best fits us. After all, there is great honour and prestige in being a doctor, but there is great frustration and emptiness when the honour and prestige are the only considerations in becoming a doctor. Put simply, it is hard to live authentically when we feel as if we are following a checklist of what is considered acceptable.
It is incredibly easy for young people to lose sight of how to truly live in a way that is in tune with their personalities and desires. If offered a lucrative job, for example, it's tempting to accept, even if we are reasonably certain that doing so means that we end up rich but exhausted and miserable. No one wants to be the cocktail party guest who feels as if they should pad the truth about their careers in order to seem more successful. Once in a while though, there comes an inspirational and brutal reminder that modern values can be horribly skewed.
The late Christopher Reeve, paralyzed in a tragic accident, urged us to remember what is truly important in life: "By the time I was twenty-four, I was making millions. I was pretty pleased with myself…I was selfish and neglected my family. Since my accident I've realized…that success means something quite different. I see people who achieve these conventional goals. None of it matters."
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