It’s finally here! My quarter-life crisis…
It started at a company dinner for my mom, who was celebrating 25 years of employment. As the drinks continued to flow, her coworkers grew more wistful when discussing their college days. The majority of them wished they had gone for a fifth and sixth year, but “don’t worry, Zoe, I’m sure it’ll all work out for you!”
The plan was always to graduate in three years, but now I’m not so sure…
When I was a freshman, I was accepted into the Legal Education Accelerated Degree Program (LEAD), which is a program that helps undergraduates earn a B.A. and a J.D. in just six years. The idea is that you graduate with a B.A. in three years and immediately go to KU Law for three more. It’s a perfect opportunity if you know the law is your one true love.
I’ve wanted to go to law school since I started college, and I genuinely believe it’s something I would enjoy. But ever since that celebratory dinner, I haven’t been able to sleep with the lingering thought that I’ve made a terrible mistake. The more I thought about it, the more upset I became. It became clear that if I continued with this program, this would be my last year as a KU undergrad. That means not being a senior and not graduating with my friends.
Starting college was incredibly hard for me, as I don’t thrive when things change. It took a minute to warm up to the idea of being a Jayhawk. But, after some time, I completely found myself. I’ve met some of my favorite people here, and it’s crazy to think there was a point in my life when they weren’t there. I’ve joined amazing organizations and found a job that I love. My classes are interesting and insightful. And I have a great roommate, who I’m just not ready to leave yet. In fact, I’m not ready to leave any of it at the moment.
That’s when I started wondering if I should take a fourth year of undergrad instead of rushing through. A friend connected me with a law student who had been in LEAD, and even he admitted that if he could do it over again, he’d slow down and take the extra year. It really stuck with me.
The truth is, so many of us push ourselves to keep up with impossible schedules (16+ credit hours, jobs, leadership roles, internships) because that’s what we think success looks like. And while I admire people who can thrive under that pressure (seriously, academic weapons!), I realized I was running on empty. I didn’t want to start law school already burnt out, which can hit anyone when we’re sprinting through college without ever stopping to breathe.
So I decided that I would take my fourth year, take a smaller course load, and prepare myself better for law school. Because I’m almost done with my degree, I’m thinking about adding another minor and getting my GAP certificate. Now, I can graduate better prepared, with my friends, and finally have the college experience I’ve wanted. One where I can go out every once in a while and have fun.
Once I made that decision, though, there was one more hurdle: telling my parents. The anxiety built up for weeks because I felt like I couldn’t admit I wanted to change the plan. I’ve always carried this pressure to be perfect, and I know I’m not alone. So many of us feel like we’re supposed to have our entire lives mapped out by 18. Once I finally decided to slow down, telling my parents felt like the scariest step. But to my surprise, they met me with support instead of disappointment. They didn’t want to push me into something I wasn’t ready for.
And after many restless, anxious nights spent listening to Laufey’s essential hits, I can finally sleep, knowing that I made the right choice for me.
This quarter-life crisis, as I like to call it, changed me. I’ve learned to accept the fact that I’m just not ready yet. I’ve taught myself that it’s okay to take more time. My decision isn’t going to negatively impact my future, as law school will always be there. It’s easy to think you’ll fall behind if you take your time, but the truth is, college is the place to find yourself. It’s a tool you can use to figure out what you want out of your education.
For me, it was the pressure of law school, but for others, it might be pre-med, grad school applications, or just the pressure to land a job right after graduation. No matter the details, the feeling is the same: you don’t want to miss out on the present because you’re too focused on the future.
If you’re given the opportunity, take your time. Life is short, and this is the time to discover the ever-changing, complex you. But if you’re new to college and thinking about law school, I genuinely encourage you to check out the LEAD Program. They have a lot to offer, and it’s a great chance to figure out if the law is your passion.
The main point is to take advantage of your time in college. If there’s something you’re interested in, pursue it. You don’t have to have all the answers right now. I guarantee that if you feel as I do, many others do too.
So, slow down and breathe.
