I recently turned 24-years-old, had a pre-mid life crisis (that means seriously premature) and quit my job in advertising to become a flight attendant. There. It’s out there. Now you know where this is going (well, kind of). The minute I got off the my first flight, I already had a TON of juicy stories and couldn’t wait to start writing. In fact, I whipped out my neglected iPhone and started typing all of the things I had already nonchalantly discovered about myself.

My first flight jet set me and a few of my new flight attendant friends right into Vegas. Everyone who pranced on the plane wanted a Jack and Coke and a bag of Gardettos to absorb the alcohol. I was on my Nine West toes, and I plastered a rosy smile on my face to cover the nerves.

Thoughts bubbled through my head like champagne, “Am I doing the right thing with my life? Is becoming a flight attendant really where I want to attribute all of my college loans, education and generally flawless intelligence (hehe) to?” Despite these thoughts, I did love the spontaneous adventure of it all, so I pushed doubt aside with gusto.

I sat down on the jump seat next to a pleasant older lady named Sandy. She seemed kind-hearted and calm and handed me a leftover brownie from first class to share with the light turbulence. She looked at me with admiration, and I immediately had an insecurity rush through my mind. I have a problem with older ladies. In a sense, I immediately think they are judging my decisions. Unfairly, I coined Sandy to be the sweet older and wiser woman questioning what on earth I was doing in the air, when my education could keep me financially safe on the ground.

“Now Brittany, tell me how you’re liking everything so far?” I noticed a few careful wrinkles winging the outside of her eyes, indicating that she enjoyed smiling often.

“Oh, everything has been really great.”

“Oh yes, it’s a fabulous job. Now, you have a degree don’t you? You went to college?” My brownie tasted sour when she asked me this, and I prepared myself for judgment.

“Well, yes.” I stuck out my chin and said, “I graduated with a double major in Communications and Advertising.” I stressed the word ‘double.’ Pompous as it was, I couldn’t stand feeling shrunken.

She asked if it was tough finding a job in advertising. I explained to her that I had a job in advertising for about 8 months, discovered I didn’t enjoy it and took this job instead of busting tables.

“What was it you didn’t enjoy?” Her cute smile wrinkles deepened.

“You know, I didn’t enjoy the lifestyle. I didn’t like sitting at the desk all day, and it was extremely stressful.” I needed a better argument. “In the end, it wasn’t fulfilling for me.”

Sandy nodded, “And there wasn’t a different agency or place in the agency you could try out?”

At this point, I felt completely diminished. I hated this. All of my doubts about becoming a flight attendant instead of continuing to dig into a field I could have liked if I tried were making me feel like I had given up. All of the arguments I’d come up with for becoming a flight attendant (travel, people, opportunity, stories) had flown out of the emergency exit window. Confidence exits eagerly in your 20s.

I didn’t really have an argument for her. I left because I didn’t like it. I told her I had to move on and stop wasting time. Sandy was nodding. Assessing. I noticed a few more wrinkles. I kept talking.

“But I write. I love to write. In fact, I write for an online magazine, and I really love doing that. I’m going to write a book someday Sandy, I’m sure of it.” Talking about writing always made me feel better.

Sandy lit up like she had been trying to squeeze a dry orange and finally found a pocket of tangy juice. “You do!? That’s wonderful! Honey, you keep doing that. You’re a beautiful, fresh young lady–and if you can keep your wits with writing often, that’s fabulous.”

I smiled at her. I could taste the sweet orange juice on my tongue and suddenly, being with Sandy was refreshing.

“What did you want to be when you first started out?”

“I wanted to be a flight attendant.”

After we chatted candidly about being a go-go boot wearing flight attendant in the 1960s, I gave Sandy a mini-hug and went to my seat. We were about to land in Vegas, and coincidentally, I had something to think about. I was a little uneasy about our conversation still. I get that way when someone questions my actions. But now I knew Sandy was only looking for that outlet of passion and making sure I was still exercising it. As long as I was doing that, she assumed clear skies ahead.

I pressed my nose against the cool window screen. The mountains were looming ahead and a golden sunset was seeping through them. Sheets of rain fell from deep, grey clouds above the mountains, creating an amazing scene. I gazed at it with awe as the plane’s soft hum numbed my senses, and I could almost feel cool droplets dampen my skin and the soft glow of the sun warm my insides. The wheels of the airplane grasped onto the runway, and we landed with one smooth motion. A loud whoosh sounded as steel and luggage plummeted to a halt.

The plane turned towards the gate and against the sunny rain filled mountains was the Vegas strip. Mandalay Bay reflected against the sunset and created a triumphant golden color–sheer and brilliant. My heart raced and my eyes glittered. For some reason…then I knew. For now, I was doing the right thing. I was right where I needed to be.

Recently, graduating from college, it seems, has sprouted a ripe mid-life crisis for the college student.  It may not result in buying a convertible and a condo in southern Florida, but it does send soon-to-be college grads in a downward spiral as they freak out about their futures, their jobs and, well, surviving real life.

Graduating is almost like watching Paranormal Activity; it’s just plain terrifying.

Because of the current economy (read: in the toilet) many of us are making some pretty rash decisions when it comes to choosing majors and getting the ball rolling on our futures. Students are trying to do whatever they can to get ahead of their peers, often choosing majors early in order to get a head start on internships, jobs and other experiences valuable to an attractive resume. Some schools are even getting rid of their “useless” majors – like Philosophy – in favor of majors that will actually get students some jobs – like Business.

But is being so totally focused and career minded in college really the right way to go?
Some people don’t think so.

Besides specializing in “Ramen Cuisine,” college is an essential time to focus on your career. I mean, that’s why we’re here, right? It often feels that you haven’t even unpacked your bags into your tiny dorm room before your academic advisor is pressuring you to declare your major, and fast. And it makes sense; money is tight and it’s important to get moving on a path that will secure a successful job in the future.  Unless you want to live in your parents’ basement with the family pet, college is the key to jump-starting your life.  Declaring your major early gives you more experience in the field and the opportunity to rope in an internship right away. All things that will eventually make you more appealing to that HR guy in the suit.

At the same time, though, maybe this isn’t the only aspect of college we should be focusing on.

Is getting a job the only reason people get a college education? And is a business student who only knows statistics, finance and how the banking industry works really the most appealing job candidate? What happened to being well-rounded? To being multi-dimensional? That was really important during the college application process, so why not now? Even more, how are you supposed to know what you want to do if you’ve never given anything else a chance? College is a time to explore. To learn. To try new things and find your path. Not to choose the major that makes the most money and hope you can survive it.

College, if you take advantage of all the opportunities it has to offer, opens more doors than Inconsiderate Ian did for you on your last blind date.  It also happens to be the last time you’re really given the freedom to explore such a wide variety of options. I get that we’re all desperate to nab those highly coveted jobs post graduation, but that doesn’t mean we have to lock ourselves into a box just yet. Nor that doing so is the key to success.

So, what do you think? Are we wasting our time on those art and religion classes? Should we be more focused on our trade?

Secret santas and fruit cake — two simple holidays staples I consider pretty innocent and wholesome. But in last night’s episode of Nip/Tuck, they were anything but. Santa’s secrecy reached a new level and that cake had some serious scandal baked inside.

Let’s begin with the love triangle.

Julia, Christian and Sean were seemingly adorable with their litte secret santa tradition. But beyond who’s buying what for who (like it’s hard to figure out with 3 people), Julia and Christian were secretly falling in love, leaving poor, mid-life crisis Sean out in the cold.

I couldn’t believe it took him so long to figure things out. But I guess it was quite appropriate for him to realize the truth once they revealed their gifts to each other. Merry Christmas Sean. Although it seemed like he was willing to accept the circumstances, I doubt Sean will give Christian his blessing.

Side note: Was this episode all about Julia or what? Not only were two guys practically fighting over her, but Eden was out to get her with her homemade fruit cake.

Honestly, what in God’s name was this about? Read More »