u/FutureWar7308 — reddlx

Hey gang. 20F, bored and plagued with lifelong insomnia. I’ve been haunting this sub for a bit and I feel like getting on my soap box at 5:38am.

This sub is such an interesting place, and so is Reddit, by extension. I see lots of heavy posts about economic/employment struggles, dating struggles, and overall braving the ABSOLUTE SHITSTORM we have been handed by our predecessors. I’d say I’m about average in terms of luck—my childhood pain can be mostly fixed with some therapy and love from people I surround myself with, my student loan is manageable, and I have had the luxury of time in college to try to sort out myself. I’m so lucky in many ways, and quite unlucky in some others. Anyway, I don’t know that I’m at all qualified or reputable enough to be giving advice to people. But I have some thoughts for our generation, and god damn it, I’m going to share. (LOL, cause i’m bored.)

First off, many if not all of us know this of course, but our devices are ruining us. SO MUCH TIME AND MONEY have gone into (and continue to go into) keeping us fixated, distracted, and lazy. I won’t say chuck out your devices (even though I’m tempted to do so myself), but everyone should learn how to be intentional about using screens. There’s so much great stuff on the internet, of course. But if numbing your mind by scrolling or watching stuff becomes the default, 9 times out of 10, you’re unhappy, and unfulfilled. Learning how to be in control of your time and how you use your devices is a journey worth taking. That way they’re a tool and not your whole life. (I won’t go so far as to say delete all social media and only go on occasionally, but no regrets here having done it.) And once you get that freedom over the compulsion to scroll again, there are so many benefits. It’s still a work in progress for me personally, but I do think it’s the key. It allows you to have a slower, more intentional life.

At least in the US, I think we can all agree that things are just so fucking hard for us right now. Don’t let any idiot adult that lucked out by being born earlier tell you they’re not. We have to deal with a TERRIBLE economy, a political divide engineered to turn us against each other, a bad job market, a bad housing market, and all the social problems that have come about from social media. And so much more. Genuinely, some days Im just like, should I just roll over??? Does the universe hate me specifically bro???? Are we joking or is it somehow still getting worse??? But spiraling doesn’t do much for me in the end. Maybe WW3 is on our doorstep (catch me forcing my bf to draft dodge), maybe they’ll cure cancer soon. Who really knows? I think it’s so easy to forget (especially if you spend so much time online) that there is still so much good around us. It’s just not newsworthy. Not only that, but how much misinformation is circulated to get views/engagement and ends up giving us a world picture that’s more dire than it really is? Again, when everything is motivated by profit, who really knows?

Regardless, I am of the firm opinion that many of the issues our generation faces were created on purpose. Maybe as part of a large grand conspiracy, or maybe just as a result of many factors and bad people who only care about wealth and power. Either way, I know there was at least some intention behind it all, and it makes my BLOOD BOIL. We all deserve a chance at a happy life. I really do believe the best rebellion against this bullshit is to not let it keep you down. One day after having a magnificent crashout over it all, I just thought, well… guess I have no choice but to keep going. Yes, maybe a bit simplistic, but it was helpful for me to say to myself. Like this is such an absurd reality, I just have to do my best. So even in the face of all this, figure out what you care about, go after it, and be a good person despite it all. If you feel like the world has set you up to fail, well, I think that’s how you fight back.

My heart goes out to people in my age range. I see so many posts about being unable to get out of bed and doomscrolling and having no prospects, etc etc etc. I’ve been there, kinda still am sometimes. I fucking feel you. But don’t give up. And if you read that last sentence thinking, “shut up, you have no idea what i’m going through”…2 responses: True, I will shut up soon. And secondly, I stand by it, our lives our in nobody‘s hands but our own. It’s all up to you.

I‘m not trying to be a preacher, or boil our solution down to “just choose joy ✨✨✨❤️❤️😘”. And if none of this applies to you and you’re chilling like a villain, swag. I’m pretty delirious and prob have a fever. I might wake up (she says going to bed at 7am) and cringe at this. But I kinda don’t give a shit. For so many rightful reasons, this sub and the internet on the whole is filled with people lamenting. But damn guys. It sucks we have to deal with so much, but that doesn’t change the fact that we are responsible for our own happines.

Okay I’m done now…i am ready to be tarred and feathered, Reddit.

I know this is everyone's issue right now, but looking for advice.

I'm gonna be a senior in college (English major) next year. I can't think of a better job for me than being a librarian, and I really want to pursue it. My plan is to do everything in my power to make myself a good candidate and just be proactive since I know that's all I can do.

But I'm seriously worried about finding a job when I finish my masters. I see a lot of discourse on here (yes I know this is just one corner of the internet) about how hard it is to find full-time jobs as a public librarian, even if you have work experience, other positive resume info, and are willing to relocate. (I'm in NJ if it helps.)

I have a lot of thinking to do, but I wanted to flat-out ask: do you think it's better to go in another direction entirely? If the field is really so saturated, I don't know how smart it is to go into it.