For a recent college graduate entering the working world, life may appear a bit hectic. Bills. Phone calls. Paperwork. Entering the job market for the first time often means an unexpected and chaotic onslaught of responsibility, regardless of whether you’re working for a grassroots NGO or a high-profile, financial powerhouse. Between filling out a life insurance policy and deciding whether or not to enroll in a flexible spending account, it’s surprising how many young, full-time graduates are verbalizing their nostalgia for the college days, turning to their younger peers and repeating the mantra that my elders have told me from day one: College are the best years of your life.
Eh, I respectfully disagree.
My wildly entertaining antics that I have enjoyed so much over the last few years cannot possibly exist outside the sheltered confines of undergraduate academia. I’m fine with that. Just as I matured from selling lemonade on Carnavon Parkway for a quick summer buck at age 10, I’m moving on from the college life at age 22 – and I couldn’t be more excited. For me, college was not only about the parties, the late nights; it was also about taking chances, venturing outside my comfort zone, discovering my passions and goals, my strengths and weaknesses. Now that I’m in the real world, I can apply the lessons of the last four years into a fruitful, productive lifestyle.
Welcome to alan-perlman, a personal quest to live a purposeful and adventurous life. This blog is a virtual scrapbook of self-discovery, one that I hope will open discussions and trigger ideas, piquing not only the reader’s interest but also the author’s.
Are you ready?