quarter life crisis??

so maybe i have too much free time on my hands or i'm just freaking out. lately though i have been thinking deep and hard about my life and what sort of direction i want it to take. i'm 21, starting my fourth year in college getting a degree in business. im' pretty sure i'm on the 5 year plan, maybe 6. the fact is though, i'm totally scared about what the next 3 or so years hold in store for me. most of my really close friends will graduate this year and i'm scared that i'll lose touch with them and never see them. i think part of this stems from my father's relationships with his friends. some of his friends live maybe 10 blocks from us and he has known them since 2nd grade.

secondly, i've been lucky enough to hold the same job since my sophmore year in high school. i work at a utility company doing GIS work. every morning i wake up and watch CNN or some type of news. lately i've been a little worried about the job market and economy and how i'll provide for a family once i start one. this gets me thinking about jobs and how i've seiously thought about becoming a police officer. then i look at what degree i'm getting in college and am totally unsure how that will help me out in the real world.

i'm not quite sure if this is my "mid-life crisis" but i'm pretty sure i'm a little too young to be having one right now. Anyone have any suggestions, stories, insight?

yeah theres plenty to worry about in today's world, but nothin to have a crisis about, a mid life crisis is like when ur in your 30-50's and you know your getting old but you dont want it to happen, so you'll start doin things like you did when u were, young, usually involves getting a sports car lol 2 door roadster, but for your friends, talk with them, get their number, and all that stuff and tell them u wanna keep in touch, but for the degree, any degree is better than none, so buisness will help you out alot in some type of career

in that light i may be havin a crisis then. i've turned into a video game freak and everything to do with little toys and stuff like that. i just bought a trampoline probably a month ago or so. i've never had one in my life. maybe i'm just loco en la cabeza (crazy in the head). who knows.

you lose friends but you make new ones, nothing to worry about there... plus you've probably earned many great memories that mean much more. I'm 21 as well, and i only have one childhood friend left.. my brother is 25 and has always had the same friends. Whatever suits you.

don't worry about the future either... stop watching CNN. If you want to get into business then do so, if you want to be a policeman then do that. But in the mean time throw your TV out the window, just makes u unsure of yourself.

i don't know if it makes me unsure of myself, i would say it makes me more worried. i figure if i can try and prepare myself for what is out there rather than walkin around blind and bein totally surprised when i get there.

Walking into life blind is one of the fun parts about it! Dont worry, I had a quarter life crisis not to long ago, just go have some fun it will take your mind off of it and will help you realize you still have a lot of youth left in you. Now go hit the beer bong and hook up with some random chick, youll feel much better!

i'm not saying walkin around blind isn't fun, i guess i'm more worried about my life as i get older. one of my aunts is homeless and i have seen what kind of mistakes she's making and how it has ruined her life. i don't want that to happen to me.

i guess i just have to relax for a little bit. good thing i'm takin vacation to Cali in a few weeks, can't wait to see some beach bunnies

Walking into life blind is one of the fun parts about it! Dont worry, I had a quarter life crisis not to long ago, just go have some fun it will take your mind off of it and will help you realize you still have a lot of youth left in you. Now go hit the beer bong and hook up with some random chick, youll feel much better!

Yea I got to agree here. I hit that mark as well I was scared when I graduated I was on the 5 1/2 year plan when all my other friends had moved on. U'll find your nitch and things will fall into place. Just take one thing at a time. Worry about urself it wil work out =)

Stop freaking out. You will be fine.

Like all the above^^^^^^^^^^. Allow this wizened old buck in the woods to condense things.

1] You will drift apart from your friends, at least in a daily contact-mode. That does NOT mean they are no longer your pals, but that you and they are now on separate paths.

2] Sit down with someone important at your current job, see what opportunities might exist there once you get the sheepskin.

3] NOW, NOW, NOW, begin to send out your resumes, start networking with ANYone who may be in the field you wish to become part of. Buy them a beer or dinner, schmooze them, there is a wealth of inside info. awaiting to be gathered.

4] Expect NEVER to land your "dream" spot at the start. Never lose sight of it, but the world tends to expect you pay your dues first in a corporate hierarchy.

With best wishes to you, and I may sound cynical, but it reality as I have found. Stay the course, get the degree, go from there. It tends to work itself out as OZ states.

And, not to be even more cynical or wierd, but a degree can get you Officer training in the military, a career, a solid paycheck, security.

For what all the above may be worth.

Good luck,

the calm Attack Pig

thats strange im on the 5 year plan and i have no worries at all about where im going and what ill be doing. but i have friends that are on the 4 year plan and freak out weekly about what they are gong to do after college. hmm who knows. life will take its course as long as you try your best you will suceed. there are always options remember that

Dude, your 21. If that's all you got to worry about that's not bad. I've got a buddy who just turned 21 half way through his second combat tour. It could be alot worse.

WOW, wilwith really put into perspective. I think part of it also has to do with the war and everything. One of my BEST friends, known him since we were 2 just enlisted with the marines. i'm reading a book right now called Gift of Valor (i think) all the soldiers in that book are 20 - 22. it's ridiculous to think i could be there right now rather than worrying about my life here on the web.

I think part of it is that some of the relationships i have made over the past 3 years in college are so tight that i'm scared of losing them, no matter what i do to try and keep them.

highteknology - if they are enduring friendships, they will endure. If not, something else will happen. You will meet a whole lot of new people throughout your life. Life isn't over, it's just beginning. Either learn to roll with the punches or get into the spectator section.

K.