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2008-12-02 issue:

Who's having a quarterlife crisis?

Editorial

by Anna Groff

Print Article

Participants at the Young Adult Fellowship retreat last month named the "quarterlife crisis" one of their top concerns as Mennonite young adults.

According the book Quarterlife Crisis (Penguin Putnam, 2001), this crisis "covers the interval that encompasses the transition from the academic world to the 'real' world—an age group that can range from late adolescence to the mid-thirties but is usually most intense in twenty-somethings."

The authors, Abby Wilner and Alexandra Robbins, contrast it to the midlife crisis: "The quarterlife crisis occurs precisely because there is none of that predictable stability that drives middle-aged people to do unpredictable things."

At the retreat, artists, teachers, chemical engineers, church workers and others attended a discussion session focusing on this issue. I learned that no career path completely avoids fear of failure, boredom and dissatisfaction, and these feelings may cause anxiety and depression, according to the book.

However, young adults find hope from various sources. One example from the book: Religion and faith are places of refuge for some twenty-somethings during this time of transition and uncertainty. One’s faith can also serve as an identity piece when making life, career and relationship decisions.

In church settings, older adults can step in and support younger adults. Older adults might have a difficult time remembering what their quarterlife crisis—if any—was like. But here are the facts: the average American changes jobs eight times before the age of 32, the average college graduate has $20,000 in loan debt, and 27 is the average age to get married.

These dynamics contribute to current crises for young adults. Attitudes toward the institutional church, relationships with friends and family, and personal faith are also factors.

One young adult—an Oberlin (Ohio) College graduate—interviewed in the book says, "Notions of 'self' were thrown around all of the time during my time at college. Going to a liberal arts school, we all practically majored in being incredibly self-aware."

Mennonites often use "call" language rather than "self" language. Some Mennonite young adults at the retreat applauded their Mennonite colleges for encouraging them to find and follow their call—whether it be working in the church or in secular jobs.

But at times we face more difficulties and loneliness entering the workforce than expected, especially if one's "call" does not provide adequate compensation. Some said they felt encouraged as college students to “go and do good things” with a sense of humility. But when it was time to “go and do” those things, these young Mennonites lacked the support they needed.

While cultivating this "culture of call," we should take into account the realities young adults face in their 20s, especially while job hunting. The current economy and job market exacerbate this crisis. But there are ways to provide some support:

1. Congregations can form small groups or Sunday school classes to address the quarterlife crisis.

2. Intergenerational groups or classes can be a place for various ages to share experiences and offer advice.

3. Churches can support young people in their job hunting, offer advice for career and graduate school decisions and help find places to live.

I hear older adults joke about the transient, indecisive nature of young adults—and I’m sure  it’s frustrating for older adults to see these young people come and go from their congregations seemingly without a care. But it’s in the best interest of Mennonite Church USA to understand the "quarterlife crisis" and consider whether young adults attending (or not attending) their congregations are experiencing it.

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