Being in graduate school is a crossroads of life: you’re not a goofy, moronic undergraduate anymore [War Eagle] yet you have not been initiated into the world of the working professional. You’re like an overgrown kid who can’t quite fit into his daddy’s shoes, and so walks around the house tripping over himself anyway.
This manifests itself in a wide variety of ways. First, take the example of employment. I’ve got a college degree in Human Development, yet I earn the exact same wages as the high school students whom I work alongside at the YMCA. It kind of makes the four years of university studies seem worthwhile, doesn’t it? Perhaps God does so to keep me humble. Secondly, examine my wardrobe. When I first got to seminary, I went through a phase where I wanted to leave the world of youth culture and dress like an “adult.” A few months later, I went back to my former garb, not feeling completely comfortable dressing like Mr. Rogers just yet. However, I don’t take myself seriously as an academic when I walk into a graduate-level class wearing my scruffy jeans and a Delta Sigma Phi t-shirt, either. I just have a hunch that my professor isn’t too impressed when I’ve got a t-shirt that says “Miss Fall Rush 2003″ on the front pocket. What is a young guy to do?
I’m tempted to simply cast away all of my societal concerns and dress the part of who I believe I truly am: a 50-year old man in a 24-year old’s chubby body. I admit it, I’m not ashamed. I appreciate leather briefcases and three-piece suits. Bowties and fountain pens. Fine writing paper and classical music. This makes me an outcast, but yet I don’t care. I’m simply just too poor/cowardly to actualize my inner retiree. Go figure.
My question is simple: Am I alone here? Most of you who are reading this blog are in this same life stage. Lauren, I know that you have been in the “real world” for a couple of years now, but my seminary buddies and Shiver are all living in the undefined intermediacy of now. I’d love to hear some anecdotes if you’ve got any. Cheers! (In my mind, I’m apparently a 50-year old British man.)
Drew,
You know me well. I am not the snappiest dresser on planet earth. However, I say to you, “Do what feels right?” (I sound like a moral relativist, don’t I?) Just be who you are. Be that 50 year-old British man. Throw off the constrains of society. Let the old man in you run wild (but just don’t let him slip and break a hip). Me, I’ll stick to my jeans and t-shirts. Sure, occasionally I’ll gussy myself up. But you know me. I can’t stand to be in dress shoes for too long.
I personally loved Mr. Rogers and I still take Flintstones vitamins. This evening I traded my heels and pearls for blue jeans and a pony tail. You’ve gotta be from somewhere to go anywhere. Shikaka!
After college I wore the same 5 outfits for 5 months strait in Europe…not at all fashionable. Then I tried so hard to love fashionable clothes, per Stacy & Clinton of TLC’s What Not To Wear, but those jerks must not put a 5′10″ frame&meat on stilletto’s. I often found myself in pajamas on casual Friday…once insighting a reprimand and company-wide memo at my office. I say wear what you want, but keep it clean, and don’t grow a beard. Oh, and the glasses make you look older…I noticed that at my wedding…older in a distinguished way…so it’s good…but just keep that in mind as you may need to switch to contacts if the wrinkles become too intense. Of course, my mom always points out to me that fat keeps your face-skin tight, so keep enjoying those whoppers