As a growing focus on post−grad life and the transition into adulthood sweeps across the nation (see the Daily's own Sept. 13 article "Twenty−somethings show increasing uncertainty about post−college life"), I am bewildered that one main issue is implied in every article or argument but never addressed head−on. Perhaps it is due to the highly motivated, success−oriented environment that defines the upper echelon academic institutions, but here everyone is asking, "What should I do after Tufts?" No one, it seems, is asking the question, "Why do I need to do something?"
This question will doubtless be received with a level of slacker scorn by a large number of readers, but I firmly believe in addressing the question and contemplating the serious value that lies at the root of it. Do we, either as fortunate, intelligent members of society, or even just as living people in general, have an inherited duty to do something that will affect the greater world? Do we have to actively pursue a future? We've been told for the greater bulk of our lives that to be successful is to excel in a world that we must dedicate ourselves to.
The generations before us strove to "get ahead" in the business, academic, political, etc. worlds. Now, contemplative journalists ask questions along the lines of "Why are twenty−somethings taking longer to grow up?" My thought is that they are asking the wrong questions. Instead, we should be asking ourselves, "What does it mean to grow up?" and "Why do we feel the need to grow up?"
I do understand that we have to admit that a level of financial responsibility lies behind the idea of growing up. It is indeed irresponsible to spend our years as dependents, leaching off the fortunes of others. We do need, at a certain point, to achieve financial independence. This is perhaps the simplest and shallowest definition of being an adult, but I wonder why we need to press for more.
The process of providing for oneself frees one from the bonds of obligation that stem from financial dependency. Aside from achieving financial solvency, do we have a duty to go beyond? Does a Tufts grad waiting tables after senior year instead of following a career path mapped out by their major fulfill our idea of successful adulthood? I think many would say "no." Many would consider this a waste of a Tufts education.
I personally disagree with this belief. We do not have an obligation to follow any certain path, and we surely do not have to buy into our parents' and parents' parents' understanding of success. If nothing more, I believe that the college education's goal should be to develop within students a "self−investigating identity." It's an identity that is not tethered to the career paths, ideological beliefs and worldview that we inherited through family and social environment.
The goal of education is to help us develop into people who are able to explore the world with new eyes. And, if this is the case, then we are surely making a mistake by simply accepting the growth patterns of those before us. If you really, honestly believe that the career−oriented grind is what you want to do, then that is perfectly alright. But we should not blindly submit to occupations and obligations because we aren't thinking for ourselves. We, as self−investigating individuals, need to analyze the world with our own lenses.
The questions "Why are we taking so long to grow up?" and "What should I do now?" empower a belief system that may very well be antiquated. It weakens our collective identity by blocking the self−discovery of a new generation. And so I again propose my question: Do we really have to do something?
Think about it.
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