Well, I am now over a year into re-embracing the role of college student after having been out in the working world for several years, and I thought I might reflect a little bit on what it feels like. I will say this: it is definitely a weird place to be.
On the one hand, I am not really at home in the world of college students, because I fall outside the traditional college age. On the other hand, I am not entirely at home in the world of single professional adults either, because my circumstances are so radically different from most of the people I know who fall into that category.
For example, just imagine what it would be like if I were to attempt to pursue a romantic relationship with anyone in my present circle of friends. I’m not saying that I am considering this; the demands of school and work would leave me with very little time or energy to devote to the pursuit of such a relationship. Still, college students are among the most resourceful and ingenious people on the face of the earth. If a college student wants to go to Spring Break and does not have a car, he will build one out of duct tape and dental floss.
So imagine what would happen if I were to attempt to apply that legendary resourcefulness and ingenuity for which college students the world over are known, towards the end of providing a meaningful relationship experience on a limited budget. Most of the women I know who are at my age and season of life are well established in high-powered careers and would probably not stand for that. At best, someone out there might find it cute or amusing.
And yet, because my age falls outside the traditional college age, I am not entirely at home within the world of college students either. To return to the relationship example, could you imagine me pursuing a relationship with someone who wasn’t even born yet when I had my first crush on a girl? Why that would be scandalously preposterous!!!!!
We would love to think that people move through the seasons of adult life in an orderly progression. First there is college. Then you graduate and live as a single adult for a few years, during which time you get a job, establish yourself in that job, and go shopping for a prospective spouse. Then you marry, settle down, and have kids. Then you raise them. Then your kids turn into teenagers. Then they go off to college and begin the progression through the seasons of adult life on their own.
That’s how it worked a few decades ago. And we’d love to think that it does still work that way. And it does, for a lot of people. But an ever-increasing number of people are taking all sorts of wild and crazy detours through the seasons of life. Corporate downsizing is a reality in this decade, and a lot of people choose to embark upon a new career which necessitates re-embracing the role of college student for a couple of years. The divorce rate is higher now than it was several decades ago–even among Christians. This means that an ever-increasing number of people who marry will eventually find themselves moving back into the role of single adult.
Fortunately for me, I am in a program where there is a good mix of people who are traditional college age, as well as adults of all other ages and seasons of life. So I don’t feel entirely out of place where I am. Still, I can’t help being aware that I am in a no-man’s-land, caught between the world of college students and the world of single adults, not entirely at home in either place. It is definitely a weird place to be.
