I’m 25; a millennial. But I don’t feel like one….and I can’t decide if that’s because I have some skewed media perspective on what I “should be doing” or if I’m actually not leading the life of a millennial?
Monday through Friday I’m working, watching tv after work…possibly doing some chores. I still live with my parents in a town of 700 people hours from anything mildly interesting including the majority of my friends.
So what’s “normal”? Is the normal life of millennial living in some dumpy little apartment that’s fantastic in it’s flaws, surrounded by friends with something exciting and memorable happening on not only the weekends but the weeknights too?
I think there are probably a lot of people my age doing a lot more with their lives right now than I am. But I’m stuck. I have no idea what makes me happy anymore. I can’t decide if I should apply for a masters program, move somewhere exciting and just make “it” happen, or stay where I am, doing what I’m doing and hope it becomes the happy that I didn’t expect.
I just don’t know an I’m not sure how to figure it out.
Published by jamielynnneal
Born in Denver Colorado January of 1988 I was instantly a daddy’s girl; I grew up handing him tools while he worked on vehicles, built porches, barns, shelves, or even our entire house. As I got older I went from handing him tools to using the tools. Not to brag but I am pretty strong, and I definitely know my way around a workshop.
Elementary and middle school my mother strongly suggested we play every sport for at least one year. Each sport was a miserable failure. I’m not athletically talented at all, but I swam, splayed softball, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, and powder-puff football. I’m very competitive so keeping the bench warm wasn’t fun for me. At all.
4-H is where I ultimately found success. During my 10 years active in the organization, along with my younger sister, I showed turkeys (that was not pretty), hogs (totally rocked in showmanship), pigmy goats (the secret love of my life), and countless book projects including decorating, scrapbooking, and what led to a forever love of mine photography. I was named Tuscarawas County Jr. Fair Queen in 2006 and then placed 22nd in the Ohio State Fair Queen contest, not too shabby I don’t think. Not impressive; but also not dead last.
4th grade when we moved to Ohio I made a handful of girlfriends whom, to this day are wonderful cherished friends. Together we tanked at sports and excelled elsewhere. I am now Auntie Jamie to some of those friends beautiful children.
High school I stayed close to my well behaved friends, we immersed ourselves in clubs and ultimately preparing for college.
College. Ah college. I consider Ashland University my second home. I have never learned, grown, enjoyed so much as I did in the four years I spend at AU. I was the student senate historian, homecoming committee president, on hall counsel, and the most cherished extraordinary organization I was a part of, and still am and will forever be, is Phi Mu. I have never made a more life changing decision. I could go on for a year describing the things I learned and experience I gained; including making life long sisters, national involvement and impact, and just plain old good clean fun.
I graduated from Ashland May of 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism with minors in history, applied writing, and digital media technology.
Today I am the research and development coordinator in the livestock and arborist divisions at Weaver Leather LLC. It’s a great stepping stone job.
Enough about me? Awesome, thanks!
View all posts by jamielynnneal
A Single Girls Journey to a Life of NO regrets 
I think you are doing more than you realize let me make a list for you then see if you feel differently;
1. Paying off student loans w/o incuring more debt
2. Healthy savings account
3. Helping with finishing new addition to home
4. Travel whenever you want to see long distance “true and valuable” friends
5. Learning valuable life lessons while always looking ahead
6. Not settling on 1st guy you meet and giving up pieces of your self respect
So proud of you, in awe of you and love you very much, hang in there wonderful things and that special person will find you!
I think they are way, way more of us in your boat than you know! We are all to just trying to figure it out too! I’m figuring out I finally need to actively go out and figure it out. Look forward to hearing more how you go about it! 🙂