Just Ask Emily: What, me worry?
As always, we begin by reminding you that you can submit your questions, comments, concerns and queries to Emily right here. And now, in this week’s installment of Just Ask Emily, a reader wants to know about Emily’s present thoughts on the future.
Dear Emily,
The description next to your face below tells me that you’re graduating. What scares you the most about the future and how do you manage it?
Sincerely,
Curious Columbian
Dear Curious Columbian,
Yours isn’t really an advice question, per se, but since I did call this column “Just Ask Emily” (touché, reader), I will do my best to answer it regardless.
I am indeed graduating in a matter of weeks. And I worry about the future all of the time. My column for Spectator literally has “future” in the title. If I’m being honest with you (and it would be sort of weird if I weren’t, right?), what worries me most about the future is the unknown-ness of it—of what will come, and where I’ll be when, and what I’ll do, and whom I’ll know.
But, as is stated in the most excellent “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen),” (you really do want to click that link), “Don’t worry about the future. Or, worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.” So I try not to worry.
“Ha! You, not worry! That’s a good one.”
Oh, sorry. Those were the peals of laughter of my friends and family.
No, not really. That was just me typing. But my point is that I’m not very good (and am, in actuality, quite bad) at not worrying. So I try to solve the aforementioned algebra equation. I spent much of the academic year, and particularly the beginning thereof, applying for a wide (so wide, reader) variety of jobs and graduate schools and fellowships. I have tried to keep an open mind about post-graduate life. And I have reminded myself that if I exert control over the limited areas over which I do have a say, if I prepare for what I can, then when the unknown comes, I will be ready—or readier, anyway—to meet it.
Emily Tamkin is a Columbia College senior and a former Spec editorial page editor. She recently found out that she shares a birthday with Machiavelli. Read into that what you will.
I wonder… Good luck in Germany for the time being!
OMG Sound of Music reference FTW
After your video I had? the thought to by a setffud animal called doodle bear in America and named it hope the cool thing about this bear that it is machine washable so u can release emotions out by drawing what ever on her and when you want to try to come back to reality all of the bad stuff washes clean you have a fresh new start
I just realized that all of your vdeois are about self injurers helping themselves. You’ve? spoken of your family as a support structure, but never about a guy who loves you. Have you ever had a boyfriend? Having a real life sweety to stick with you and build you up on a daily basis would probably work better than a doll. Not that there’s anything wrong with using the dolls, it’s a good idea. But there’s also nothing like the right guy telling you that he loves you to give your ego a boost.
I just realized that all of your vdieos are about self injurers helping themselves. You’ve? spoken of your family as a support structure, but never about a guy who loves you. Have you ever had a boyfriend? Having a real life sweety to stick with you and build you up on a daily basis would probably work better than a doll. Not that there’s anything wrong with using the dolls, it’s a good idea. But there’s also nothing like the right guy telling you that he loves you to give your ego a boost.