“Welcome to the Real World!”

What does that mean anyway? This is a catchphrase I’ve been hearing since I graduated college, and I’m still waiting for my initiation where we sit around a campfire and pat ourselves on the back for no longer being able to have fun as we enter into this very serious ‘real world’.

I have been reminded on a regular basis of the ‘real world’ and how you are only granted access if you’re living in Ireland with a Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 career (on a decent salary of course). Sounds easy, right? Especially with the shtate of the economy. My degree in ‘Creative Writing’ doesn’t seem like a good fit, but watch me scroll endlessly through jobs on LinkedIn panicking as I debate applying for fancy positions I’m not even sure I want just so I can be virtually congratulated for a work anniversary.

So, if you’re a part of the real world, thanks for considering me. I surely don’t want to be here, but seems like I’ve no choice at this rate. Something happens once you pass your mid-twenties. The ‘party stops’ and it’s time to ‘pull up your socks’ and enter ‘the real world’. That’s the teatime chatter I’ve been hearing. You might manage to travel or live abroad to escape it for a while. But that won’t suffice for long. Especially with mortgages and marriages around the corner.

Teaching abroad in Vietnam was the most incredible experience. Affordable living and a cheap lifestyle was a bonus to working with wonderful students in a highly established and commendable international school. But still, people in Ireland would often say:

“Wouldn’t it be great if you could come home and apply to be a real teacher.”

What was I doing there if it wasn’t really teaching?

If you feel like you are constantly measuring your self-worth by your career or this notion of ‘the real world’, please know you are not alone. If you haven’t a clue what you want to do with your life and feel like you’re being pulled in more directions than Troy Bolton, you are NOT alone. Whether you wear a suit to work or wear an apron, have an acceptable degree or none at all, you are living in the real world wherever you are or whatever you do (shocker).

Although I might not be considered a ‘real writer’ cos I’m not in the papers, I’m going to take a leap and do it anyway. I’ve listed some of my strengths and weaknesses below.

Strengths:

Good at chatting absolute nonsense

Can remeber song lyrics easily

Sometimes unintentionally funny

Saying ‘YES’

Weaknesses:

Chats absolute nonsense

Becomes a broken record player on nights out

Panics under pressure

Saying ‘NO’