Propaganda I’m NOT Falling For
Having to choose a whole life path at 18
Your thoughts, feelings, and opinions are all going to change as you grow up. Getting stuck with debt for a degree you don’t actually enjoy is worse than waiting a year or two until you feel confident.
Education isn’t important
My mom always told me: your job as a kid is to focus on your education. Knowing and understanding both math, science, and language arts, as well as less standard skills like organization and collaboration expand your brain power and capacity which helps you in the future no matter your life path! If we don’t learn history, we are doomed to repeat it. If we don’t curate and value reading comprehension, nuance in life can go completely unnoticed. If we don’t learn how to learn, we can’t know our true potential.
Corporate life is “safer”
There is no such thing as a safe career anymore. Even corporate employers have record turnover rates and most employees are no longer able to “move up the ladder” at one company. This being said, shoot for your dreams since there is really nothing to lose.
Don’t live/work with friends
It is 100% true that living or working with a friend brings a new dynamic into the relationship, but that doesn’t have to be something to shy away from. Set some clear boundaries between your relationships so that resentment or disagreement don’t bleed into your friendship. And, honestly, not everyone who is a good friend will make a good roommate or business partner for you. Don’t be afraid to be honest with yourself about your limitations and theirs.
Family is limited to relatives
Family can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. For some, your family unit doesn’t improve your life the way it can for others. Friends who show up and get in the trenches with you when needed are just as important and worthy as any blood relative. And friends don’t even have a societal obligation to like you; they just do!
Hustle Culture
Growing up in the early 2000's felt like we all couldn’t work enough. Your only goal was to create economic value and if you didn’t, your worth dropped significantly. Thankfully, this is a mindset we are all slowly unlearning as we realize the importance of work/life balance.
Chronic Illnesses and Disabilities can’t be fluid
All of us here at Now What? are chronically ill and/or disabled. We have good days and bad, but no matter what, our illnesses still exist. We don’t have to be at our worst at all times to have a valid issue. And doctors, though they try, can’t be extremely knowledgeable on every specific issue so doing your own research can be essential to understanding your body’s strengths and limitations.
