Katharina Buczek
I did, too, which felt like a massive achievement at the time, being that I am a first-generation college student.
But after moving away from home for a brief period of time, finishing my four-year degree, and finally getting to work in my dream field, the world still feels unbearably scary. Why?
On paper, I did everything “right.” I did what I was “supposed” to do. Shouldn’t that be enough? I have thought.
Unfortunately, that is just not the case. And that reality hit me right after graduation.
The truth is that no matter what you think you should do, and no matter how much you achieve, the world will always be a bit frightening– especially in your twenties.
Look at the state of our nation right now. Every single day, gruesome crimes and horrible accidents plaster news headlines.
Even as a journalist, I despise this reality, and I understand why so many people opt not to read the news now– despite it creating an internal conflict regarding my own industry.
On top of that, the economy is turbulent, the cost of living is ridiculous, and recent graduates are questioning how they will ever be able to move out, let alone get married and start a family.
So, faced with all of this uncertainty, a different yet simultaneously similar seed of fear and doubt is placed inside every single one of us.
While you may be fearful about your job security or how you are going to afford groceries this week, others are worried about sending their kids to school or how to keep up with high health insurance costs.
The point is that we are all scared in one way or another. And when we are scared, stress can take over and turn us into downright negative people.
