How I Graduated College and Became A Thirty Five Year Old Upper East Side Mom
I knew that I needed to stay in New York City after I graduated because as much as I missed my family and year round warm weather, the idea of moving back to Florida was slightly more terrifying than graduating. So while my empire-building goal was put on hold/perhaps stalled forever, I refocused on finding a way to graduate college without moving all my stuff back home. Luckily I found a nannying job through a good friend that allowed me to stay in the city without doing sketchy things for money and would give me time to figure out my life.
I was under the impression that I could have everything figured out by the end of the summer. Three months was all I needed to get back on track. Three months seems like such a long time! But oh my god three months is no time at all! Remember when five minutes used to feel like an eternity? What happened to that? I want that back.
During the summer, my nannying job went from 25 hours a week job to 50+ hours, 5 days a week. I love kids, I really do, but after 10-12 hours a day with a super smart six-year-old girl who never naps, I really started rethinking my desire to have kids in the future. You can only play “airport” with three American Girl dolls for so long before you begin to question every decision you’ve ever made. But being a nanny really is not the worst job in the world, it pays very well and I really do love the little girl I look after, even when she tells me that I’m only kind of funny and that my British accent “isn’t exactly the best”. Little girls can be so mean!
Plus nannying allows me to maintain the best living situation I could have ever asked for. My roommate Sam is a good friend from high school who I hadn’t really spoken to since her wedding a few years ago (yes, wedding!). She reached out to me one day towards the end of college to tell me that she was planning on moving to New York after graduation. Sam was actually the first person I sat down to tell I was dating a girl. We were sixteen and eating lunch at a Macaroni Grill in Boynton Beach, Florida, because the best conversations happen at chain restaurants. She was awesome about it and like most of my friends at the time, told me that she already knew.
One of the things that Sam asked me during that lunch that I will never forget, and that we both laugh about now was “But what other girls could you date? Because most lesbians don’t look like you. Where are you going to find pretty feminine girls to date?” We laugh about this now because she ended up majoring in Women Studies with a concentration in LGBTQ issues, left her husband, and started dating women, all while staying just as “pretty and feminine” as she was in high school. She told me all of this when she visited New York to look for apartments with me in April. Just as she hadn’t been shocked by my high school revelation, I wasn’t exactly shocked by hers. I mean she was the only one of my friends who got super into The L Word after I made them all watch an episode during a sleepover in 11th grade.
Sam and I somehow lucked into an amazing deal for an apartment in the Financial District with an elevator, doormen, and air conditioning. Like what? The only qualification I had when looking for an apartment was making sure that my bedroom had a window where I could put an air conditioner unit. That was my main concern. During the summer Sam and I, both working as full time nannies, would get into the elevator at 7:30 in the morning and be surrounded by Wall Street people wearing suits and talking about money stuff that I’m sure I could understand but that I really don’t feel like understanding. It is much more fun for me to think of Dow Jones as a 65-year-old man who looks and sounds like a cross between Morgan Freeman and the head of the Piano Department at my high school, Dr. Lawton.
Sam and I went out a lot over the summer so naturally I pretended that we were filming our own Bravo reality show. Honestly it would have been an amazing show. We live in an apartment that we could have never afforded full price, we’re both 22, under, under 5’3″ (we’re so small! We can’t reach most of our cabinets! It’s a thrilling storyline!), often aged by strangers as “way too young to be here”, not great at hitting on girls, terrible dancers, and varying shades of blonde. Oh and we went spray tanning once! And I totally did it wrong! That could have been an entire episode!
But alas as the weather turned cold and I got back together with my ex while Sam started dating her girlfriend, the thrilling drama of the Bravo series began to dwindle. Nowadays our reality show would now just be shots of us binge watching Scandal on our separate computers in our separate beds, cut with scenes of us discussing Scandal when we run into each other in the kitchen to grab our mid-Scandal snacks. I mean I would probably watch that show, and maybe some people with Kerry Washington/professional babysitter related fetishes would too, but we’d probably be the only viewers.
Luckily this “boring” post graduate limbo that I’m living has turned out to be exactly where I want to be. It is an extreme privilege, if nothing else. And just like the movies, the girl I ran away from came back into my life and I couldn’t feel any luckier. So lucky that the only words I can think of writing are way too cliché to write. We even got to do Halloween again! This time going as “celebrity trying to be anonymous while grocery shopping” and a 1970s zombie.
It is still quite strange to not be in school anymore and I do have to keep reminding myself that it is OK to take some time off. That I do not have to start my “career” right this second. That as long as I am lucky enough to provide food, water, and shelter for myself, I will be ok. I spent the last 17 years of my life in school and took at least 12 of those years extremely seriously. I’m burnt out! I’m sure I will start building my empire soon but for now it is nice to let each day happen without a heavy bubble of expectations hanging over my head.
It is crazy for me to think that it has been over four years since I wrote my first lesbianage post. At the time, I had no idea that I would enjoy college as much as I did and that I would miss it as much as I often do. I have Autostraddle to thank for that.
During my freshman orientation week, Riese and Alex saved me from my dorm after I had convinced myself that I was the only person at Barnard who was having a terrible time. They took me to Subway (the food place, not the train), then to Riese’s apartment, and then told me to write down my feelings. I am pretty sure I also did some coloring in one of Riese’s coloring books. I could write a million long and most likely clichéd love letters to Autostraddle, and I’m sure that one day I will compile such letters into a self-published book that I will send to everyone involved in this website, but for now I will spare you from my sappy feelings.
Just know that if you are just starting college and feel as if you are the only person having a less than amazing time (or if you feel this way in general, no matter what your age), you can always go to Subway, write down your feelings, do some coloring in a cat-coloring book, and of course, read Autostraddle.
Seriously, it works.
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I’m going to read this a minute but I just have to say….LILY’S BACK?!
Lily is back!!! I’ve been waiting for the follow up. I’m quite happy. And I hope this article is a positive one because posting before reading has the potential to make me look like an ass.
“I do have to keep reminding myself that it is OK to take some time off. That I do not have to start my “career” right this second. That as long as I am lucky enough to provide food, water, and shelter for myself, I will be ok.”
My whole life is a lie
jk but I’m a graduating senior in five months and ready to graduate but convinced I won’t get a Real Job heyooo
Lily, this is fantastic. It’s cool reading your words again! But it’s scary how much i identify with this. I mean scary in a comforting way. I was/am so very much in the same boat. The scared shitless boat. The needing more time boat. The convincing myself summer would be enough time and then freaking out when the leaves started changing boat. Why did we think this summer would be enough time?! Why did I drive around campus on my last night blasting Closer by Tegan and Sara and crying when everyone else was so excited to leave?
And then feeling weird when people would try to talk to me about why I hadn’t yet found employment by having the “oh it’s hard out there for you folks who are about to graduate, isn’t it? poor millennials, tough market,” because the truth was that I was guilty of not even applying for things. I was too busy lying on the couch thinking about applying for things. or grad school. or if i would have to choose between queer work or film/tv work. or could i do both. or let’s watch some Archer and not think about it for a bit. or OH GOD NO MONEY, TIME TO THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE BUT REALLY DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
Yeah, so I’m just super glad to have read this right now.
We totally still have time for empires. good to remember.
Totally down for fantasy ice skating league. Totally down.
Sometimes (okay, all the time) I wish I had taken some time off from being so career focused after college instead of going straight to grad school (and by straight to grad school I mean I took exactly three weeks off. It was so not enough time)…
Its so nice to read your writing again, I missed it. I’m just starting college and this made me feel better, cause everyone else seems to have it together but I don’t really know what I’m doing. I don’t really need to yet, but sometimes I feel like I should.
oh lily, i’m crying. i’ve never met you in person but i feel like we have some similar storylines going on in our lives. i actually just left new york and a “secure job” and all that stuff after going to school in the city and then staying for two years. now i am finally taking the time off that i wanted and i’m going to…go do something. i don’t know. an adventure. i miss new york a lot but it was time for me to try new things. that’s the point, right? just try new things while we can, and while we are able to afford it (and i mean that in a lot of ways). this was such a great read because it sort of gave me a peek into what my life could have looked like if i stayed (i thought about quitting my job but staying in new york and becoming a nanny, something i have a lot of experience with from my college part-time nannying days!) and the cool thing is, i think i would have been okay if i’d done that, too. we’re all okay. i spent a lot of time being scared about making mistakes post-grad and choosing the wrong choices but three years later the good news is i don’t think there are many “wrong choices” that aren’t fixable.
oh, and i fucking loved this paragraph:
“I was under the impression that I could have everything figured out by the end of the summer. Three months was all I needed to get back on track. Three months seems like such a long time! But oh my god three months is no time at all! Remember when five minutes used to feel like an eternity? What happened to that? I want that back.”
YES EXACTLY.
anyway i loved this whole thing and am so glad you are thriving. say hi to nyc for me. <3
Ah I’m lost and I haven’t even gotten out of college yet. It’s so nice to know other people are in the same boat and going through the same stuff and feeling the same, or pretty close, feelings. This is why Autostraddle is pretty awesome.
So relevant…I’m graduating this May and this was a great reminder that I don’t have to have the perfect answer to “What are you doing after graduation?”.
My irrational optimism is keeping me excited for graduation instead of scared- I’m somehow convinced that I will get a job in a city I like and find a place to live and everything will be great…we’ll see 6 months from now how true that is.
This was a super-cute post and “celebrity trying to be anonymous while grocery shopping” is an AMAZING Halloween costume. Well done!
Maximum Lily empathy…
“Just know that if you are just starting college…”
…far worse, I’m finishing university. Help.
Great post! I can definitely relate to the post-university “WHAT AM I GOING TO DO AFTER I GRADUATE?!” feelings.
Man oh man this was nice to read as my second last semester of my first degree is wrapping up. After doing 4 out of 6-7ish years(soo…close..) I really want to take a break but also want to keep going and it’s just nice to know that other people want to stop and think about stuff too :)
I’m graduating from grad school in the summer and feel the same way as Lily! In fact was thinking of going overseas to try something new. Thanks for writing this :)
so great to see another episode of “lily’s college lesbianage”.
you write the story of the quarter life crisis so well. glad you’re back:)
I’ll probably revisit this 20 times between now and graduating
I MISSED LILY’S COLLEGE LESBIANAGE SO MUCH
This post made me smile, thank you. I think many of us are in similar spots after graduating, even after a few years, but not everyone is going to be so lucky to work for Colbert(seriously that is amazing).
Thank you, Lily, this is just what I needed to hear. I’m graduating in a few months and I have no idea where to go from here. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one.
“so much free toilet paper that I needed to steal before moving onto a life where I would have to go to the store to buy toilet paper.” Tell me about it.
Oh, Lily, this felt so good to read. Especially the part about your desire to be empress of everything being the motivating factor in your life and now that that is on hold possibly forever not knowing what to do. It is so nice to know I’m not alone with that feeling.
I graduated grad school in May and have been feeling worthless and taking myself much too seriously ever since. It is so, so refreshing to read your words about where you are at right now being ok, being where you need to be. I’m going to try to channel you next time I start feeling sad and lost.
Thanks for posting this!!
Great to see your face again Lily! Loved this!
Another Lily trying to figure her freaking life out! I did the college thing for a while and switched to cosmetology school. Now I’ve graduated that and applied for my license, but I don’t want to keep living where I live! I want to move across the country. Catch: I have to work here to save up enough to move there. And I’ve been anxious about the concept of looking for a job here, because I don’t want to put down roots and get stuck! Mid 20s is the time of unbridled anxiety and supreme uncertainty. I might try some coloring.
Just want to say how much I appreciate this post — as a senior about to graduate, it’s so good to know that taking time off is okay, and that things can wait.
I feel this. I’ve graduated recently and it’s so hard working out what you want to actually do and then doing it. I also really like your vision of fantasy football, it’s definitely just like that!
I just turned 21 this August and I’m already having my quarter life crisis. I’m so afraid that I’m going to be a big failure and I’ll be homeless forever and never find a wife and that I’ll be unhappy forever. No one tells you about this part of growing up
Oh man this is so relate-able I graduated this year and then I moved back home because i was so scared of fending for myself and now and even more scared that i might end up living the rest of my life in this horrific town in a dead end job and life is fucking scary man. I was defiantly not ready to leave college like on bit.
Oh my goodness thank you so much for writing this! It is so nice to know I’m not the only one feeling unprepared for life after graduation, and that it’ll be ok!
I’m graduating in May and freaking the fuck out about it, this was really nice to read. Every once in a while I need a reminder that if things aren’t picture perfect the second I walk away from my campus with a diploma in hand that doesn’t necessarily mean I’m doomed to a miserable life of failure.
Lily I forgot how fucking hilarious your posts are! Also your Halloween costume was genius. And as always, you’re exactly where you should be in life. <3
Oh wow I missed this series! I’m only on my second year at community college, but it’s nice to know that I don’t have to figure EVERYTHING out right now. maybe just go to class and do my finals and have fun for a while.
I really like your writing! I wish I could have read a post like this right after I graduated!
Lily! I totally understand you being terrified during your last semester of college. I was terrified and emotional, because I didn’t know what to do after college and I knew I’d miss the support system and the comfort and openmindedness of my university. My last day of college, I started crying after my last class with my favorite professor, who I was really close to, and we hugged and my classmates looked at me like I was crazy and said that I should be happy to graduate. But graduating is scary when you have no plans lined up for after!
I ultimately decided to teach English in Spain for 2 years and NOW that I’m back, I miss the comfort of academia and I’m applying to grad school.
Stupid iPhone, i wasn’t finished with my comment. I wanted to say that everything is going to be fine, I promise. I’ve gone through this too. Just keep yourself busy with your interests and it’ll all fall into place, your future will write itself with the choices you make in the present. :)
Wow, so timely for me (and apparently all the commenters above!). I graduated in the spring, thought I’d have moved to California by September and finished my grad school apps (for next fall) by say, October… I am still living in my parents house, working the customer service job I worked during college, just finished my apps in a rush last week, and have only vague ideas of my new plans to look for a full-time job.
And it’s taken me a long time to become at peace with that… but I am feeling pretty great right now. I can relax, enjoy the holidays, be glad that I’m able to live at home so easily, that I even have any job, that I have such an awesome girlfriend, that I have great health and years and years of life I can spend doing lots of different jobs and careers. That’s wonderful.
I love this!
I am right there with you. School is coming to a close for me and I have no idea what I’m going to do… yikes!
wow, i mean i remember reading the first college lesbianage from lily and it doesn’t feel like four years?? and now /i’m/ a freshman in college and it just feels crazy, but oddly reassuring that it seems like the future exists. also that whole bit about writing your feelings down and subway and feeling like the only person feeling less than great, idk it is just majorly comforting to relate to something like that.
I can’t express how desperately I need to read this today. Thanks for writing. I’m going to go try to get the chained dragon that lives in my chest to keep it the shit down about how many people in elementary school told her she was special, because some of us have Netflix to watch and a service job that starts at 6am.
Ugh, these post grad limbo feels, I know them well. When I graduated a year and a half ago I was in the same terrified, anchorless space. I took the summer off and then got what was supposed to be a short term service job. A year later and I’m still a badass barista and so good with that. It’s so comforting to see others who didn’t decided to immediately start their Career who are happy with that decision.
I needed this right now.