A Very Gen Z Crisis

It's graduation season again, which means Gen Z is having another existential crisis! We've all wrestled with what to do with our lives, often feeling like we're not living up to our full potential. Corinna gets vulnerable about why she's most comfortable with her student alter in this solo therapy se- I mean episode. She hopes you'll feel seen, comforted, and not too guilty for financially relying on your parents as she unpacks the importance of being flexible. Join her for a good ol' Gen Z crash out! 

Follow @corinnayeet on Instagram for more laughs! 

Transcript

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Your secret is not safe with me, myself, and I, the podcast where we uncover your alter egos. A book is Gen Zier by day and a sarcastic stand-up comic by night. I correne ye am no stranger to embodying a character if it means I can make vulnerable confessions about my life. I mean, I'd do anything for a laugh. But here, your hidden personalities take center stage as we get to know the real you's. Discover how we can stay true to ourselves with help from our different selves. Thank you so much for joining me for another episode of Me, Myselves, and I. And I do want to come clean real quick and let you know that I started this podcast because it was part of my coursework for my master's in mass communication. And the first three to four episodes were graded by my professor. But now the semester is over and I am a free agent. I can say whatever the heck I want, and these episodes can be as long as I want. So buckle up, folks. Um, but the end of the semester does mean that we are in graduation season and we are probably seeing a lot of our friends post photos of them in their academic regalia. Uh, they probably have a lot of airbrush and a wonderful, big, beautiful blowout. And we just want to say um congratulations to them. We celebrate them this graduation season and all of their hard work. And if you are Gen Z, you are probably going through another existential crisis of being like, should I be in school? Why did I go to school? And what happens after school? And that's kind of what's happening to me right now. Even though I'm not graduating until December of this year, I just finished the second to last semester of my program. It kind of went by in the blink of an eye, and all the professors were saying that that was gonna happen. So listen to your elders, folks. Um, but it is just making me grapple with the fact that I have really worn a lot of hats and and like kind of shifted between a lot of altered egos in a short amount of time. I graduated from college in 2023, and so I went from being a college student to being a full-time employee to being a student again, and then in theory, I will be unemployed unless I have another job lined up. So all of those different responsibilities and roles that I've taken on within a three-year period is kind of giving me some whiplash, not gonna lie. Um, but a lot of Gen Zers kind of go through these waves every three to four months of going through like an existential crisis, um, but just because of the way that the world is, you know? And in fact, my friend who is graduating from undergrad in a few weeks reached out to me and she was like, Did you go through an existential crisis when you graduated from college? And honestly, I don't think I did, but that's because the world was far less down the toilet than it was back when I was graduating. And it's mainly because I got extremely lucky because I had a job lined up pretty early into my spring semester. So I was just able to enjoy my spring semester, focus on writing my thesis, and in that time I was able to gain 20 pounds because I was just drinking beer and eating burgers every night for dinner. Sorry, mom and dad. Uh but I think the reason why Gen Z goes through these waves so much is because the era that we were brought up in was we were told you worked hard in high school, you did all your APs, your IBs, did all those sports and activities so that you would get into a good college, and then that good college was the key to you getting a good career that you were not only passionate about, but that was also steady and you would just climb the ranks fairly easily and you would be set up for life. The problem is that the job market does not look like uh the way it did when we were graduating, whether it's because of AI or because of all these companies trying to become part of these, you know, giant conglomerates. Um, but more and more Gen Z are unable to move, move out of their parents' house. And I am fortunate because I live all the way across the country from mine. If I miss you guys, mom and dad, don't worry. Uh but my parents are always sending me articles that say that the average Gen Zier gets $1,800 a month from their parents in financial help. So if you are one of those Gen Zers, don't feel guilty. We're all in this boat, and you probably live with your parents. So maybe turn the volume up on this so that they'll hear it and continue to financially support you. But if I could summarize what it feels like to be Gen Z, I would say it's like being on a train that is going through a very, very thick fog. And what's nice is that you are on a train, so at least you know you're on a track and you're just gonna continue moving forward as long as you stay on that track. Uh, the problem with that fog is that you can't tell what direction that train is going in and whether or not there's even more track in front of you. Like, you're like, what if we just hit a dead end, you know? And as you're going through this fog along the way, you see these very enticing stations that you want to get off at, and they kind of just appear out of nowhere because of how thick that fog is. You know, you're not really anticipating. I mean, you're like, oh my gosh, all of a sudden there's an opportunity. Like, you know, maybe I can go travel abroad and see the world or, you know, take on uh this internship or position that that's not related at all to what I thought I was gonna be doing. And some of us have the courage and that sense of adventure to get off at those enticing stations and do something for ourselves and say, you know what, you know, take that leap and be like, you know what, that fog is uh uncertain anyways. I might as well go and just like check out the station. And then when I'm done with that station, you know, you can always just hop back on that train on those tracks. Uh but then if you're like me, you have this internal struggle of saying, no, I need to stay on those tracks. Like I don't want to veer from that. I put so much, you know, time and money into training for what I want to do. I'm not gonna, you know, uh do a side quest. I'm not gonna go do something else. And if you recall the episode with my father, uh he talks about how he's someone who's very sedentary and he doesn't like change. Um, but he told me that I was very adaptable. And I thought that was really nice because I think I agree with him that I am very adaptable, but I'm realizing that I am very much like him too. Like I don't like change. I just want to be told to do something, and I will do that until someone tells me not to do that. Like I have, I think I have the ability, if life throws me a curveball, obviously, just to kind of roll with the punches, but I would prefer to just stay on these tracks. And then there's nothing wrong with the people who do choose to stay on those tracks because at the end of the day, obviously nothing is guaranteed. So it is still an adventure that you are on, but it's just a very different kind of adventure than the people who choose to roll the dice and get off the tracks. But in the words of a very formative figure for the Gen Z generation, Justin Bieber, uh, he once said, never say never. And he's also become more religious in his adult life. And so he has also said another set of wise words. Um, if not, he said some variation of this, but like keep the faith. I guess like Miley Cyrus also said that in the climb. So, you know, whether you're like a believer or, you know, a Hannah Montana OG stan, um, yeah, keep the faith, I guess. Uh, because when I started college, I remember being like, I'm never going to grad school, I'm set up for life. Uh, and then I got bored, I think a year and a half into my remote job. And when you are the daughter of two professors and you're bored, you go to school. So already I was like, okay, I'm going to grad school. And so I was uh doing my remote job during the day, and then I would go to grad school as a part-time student in the evenings. But then I I think like a semester into me starting school, um, I got laid off. And I was like, okay, I guess I'm going back to being a full-time student again. And I remember being like, oh, I'm not gonna be like my parents. I'm never gonna work on a college campus. Like, I'm just going to school. And now I work at my university student union. So never say never and never just bind yourself to one idea of how you're gonna live your life because you never know what's gonna happen. And then I think just like trusting that things really do work out in the end uh is what keeps you sane. And I do believe that they worked out because after I got laid off, um, I was already in grad school. So I kind of knew that I had that security of just being a student again. Like my life definitely would have looked very different. Um, let's say if I wasn't in grad school and I had gotten laid off, and then I'm like, oh shoot, what do I do now? So I'm glad I had this to fall back on. I'm glad I had school to fall back on. It gave me, you know, it took the pressure away of having to find a job immediately or having to find a school immediately. Also, had I not gotten laid off, I would have still been a part-time student and I wouldn't have had the time to take this podcasting course. And so, thanks to this podcasting course, not only does this podcast exist, but now I don't need to pay for therapy and go to therapy. That's a joke, guys. Go to therapy. But if you are my mom and dad and you're listening to this, I don't need therapy. Okay, you guys did a great job. Okay. Uh, you didn't mess me up. And then obviously, one of the perks of grad school is that you get to meet friends. And I remember when I first started, I was like kind of resistant to the idea of meeting people. And I was like, I'm just gonna keep my head low and just get my work done and get this degree and get out. But obviously, that's no fun and never say never. And I was able to make some really good connections and have a friend that I could talk to and not only freak out with, um, but also just be able to bounce ideas off of each other. That's been like a huge enrichment in my life, and I think that is what life is about. And my girlfriends are probably laughing right now because we went on a trip to Vermont recently and I started sobbing because there was a sign in the Airbnb that said, Life is about good friends and good adventures. So yeah, I was just like, oh my god, it's so true. But like I'm on this adventure of grad school right now, um, with people who I respect and learn from all the time. And I'm like, what greater blessing is that? You know, not to mention, you know, what one of my friends pointed out recently, one of the best things about being in grad school is that you get that indescribable feeling of when class gets canceled. Uh that feeling, okay, that feeling is incomparable to anything else, and you only get to experience it for a fraction of your life. So if you are thinking about going to grad school, just go back to school just so that you can get that sense of euphoria when class gets canceled and you don't have to go to school. But what's funny is that one of the reasons why I've been spiraling a lot is because I'm reminded that I have played the role of student for the majority of my life. And when my friends and I first entered the workforce, I don't know if we had necessarily a longing for the student life, but we just knew that what was scary about the work life was that we kind of just had the rest of our lives to figure it out and we had a lot of options. And like whatever happened to us, it was because of the decisions that we made, you know, in theory. I was telling them, like, yeah, that is a scary thing because we've gone through our whole lives where okay, you do this assignment and then you finish, you know, fifth grade, and then you defend your thesis, you're done with college, and then you do your dissertation and you have a PhD. Like, if you're in school, it is very clear of what is required of you in order to get to the next step. Like those train tracks are very visible. Uh but then for the first time in your life at like 22, 23 years old, when your brain isn't even fully developed, you have choices now and you're like, whoa, this is weird. And I'm also kind of thinking a lot about the role that I've played as a student, is obviously the one that I have the most experience with. And if you know, one of the common things in the job market and why it's so hard to get at a job is because you don't have the experience. So it's like, I don't have the actual job experience. I only have experience being a student. And I got quite good at being a student. Like I am good at school, but obviously, like you can't be in school for your entire life. And so it's me coming to terms with the fact that I'm, you know, growing up, obviously, and I just I'm gonna have to chop those training wheels off eventually and just figure it out for myself and explore the sides of me that I am also good at. And that takes that takes time and patience. And being a student is not and will not be my entire identity forever. Um, but I would be lying if I said that going back into the school environment wasn't comforting for me because working in my day job, I was still pursuing comedy and I still am pursuing comedy. But one of the reasons why at that time I was freaking out a lot was because when you're in show business, there is no linear path, and everyone's path to success is so different from the other person's. And so that is also what scared me because I'm a very impatient person and I'm very action-oriented and very results-oriented. And so it was weird for me, again, like not to not have those clear, you know, prerequisites or assignment where it's like, okay, I do this and I then I get to this comedy level, or I'm able to perform at this club. Like the way that you climb the ladder in comedy, like there is no ladder. It's just it's shoots and ladders, what it's like. You know, you climb up a little bit and then all of a sudden you go down the slide, and you know, you tell this joke and you get into this comedy festival, but then you have no bookings for three weeks. And then the environment that I'm most familiar with is being a student and being in an academic setting. Uh, when I was only doing comedy, that felt weird because in comedy, you don't need an education or a formal education. And in comedy, it's really about like, you know, experience and stage time. And even if you do have the experience, like success comes in waves, and then you all of a sudden you have radio silence. And so that uncertainty was also very jarring for me. And so when I had no choice but to be back in school full time, obviously I still pursue comedy in the evenings and when I'm not in class, but at least I know that I have some sort of regimen or routine or some sort of like laid-out plan for me that I just need to follow with grad school and just feel anchored. And uh the more that I talk, the more I'm realizing, okay, maybe the whiny Gen Z is not a baseless stereotype because I remember back when I had a job, uh, back when I was a full-time student, or even when summer was out and I could relax for a couple months, I feel like I had this attitude of the grass is always greener and I will always find something to complain about. And I think like when I was working, it did feel weird to be having that sort of antsiness, you know, that desire to do more with my life, because it felt, I think at times like I was being ungrateful for my financial stability and for my employment. And then, you know, God granted me my wish and he laid me off from my job. I think there's nothing wrong with necessarily always, you know, striving for more. I think my friends and I um we were just used to a challenge and we like a challenge. And so I think what's important is finding that balance of wanting to challenge ourselves, but also knowing our limitations and the limitations of the world that we're in. And I want to say again, I think everything works out in the end. I truly do. I apologize if this sent you into a spiral and you were not looking to spiral today. Um, if it gets too much, just take a CBD gummy and you know, think about later. Or I don't know. I kinda I kind of use them like trank guns. I'm just like, all right, go to sleep. Um, that's a joke. Uh so what are the main takeaways from this episode? Uh first, I think I need to get a grip. Uh no, seriously, I think it's it's normal for Gen Z to crash out. And even though it can feel almost embarrassing at times, I think it's okay to have a healthy amount of restlessness and a desire to be ambitious and do more. Uh, but more importantly, be patient with yourself and trust everything will work out in the end. I think internalizing that mantra is the only way that I can stay sane. And also, lastly, just remember to be kind to yourself and take breaks. You know, go out, touch some grass. That was a callback to the CBD joke. Um, and yeah, sorry this read like a Substack article, but you know, it's it's a very real thing that a lot of young people are experiencing. And um, you shouldn't feel alone and you shouldn't beat yourself up in moments when you do have this existential crisis. Hey, thanks for joining me, myself, and I for a terrific episode. I hope you had as much fun as I did and even made a friend or two. If you want to stay up to date on future episodes and laugh even more, follow me on Instagram at C-O-R-I-N-N-A-Y-E-E-T. Talk to you and your other selves soon.