theHword.com

Since the day I graduated from Hastings College people have repeatedly asked me the question, “Why are you still here?”  I hate this question for many reasons, but I have learned to answer very politely without hesitation or need for more questioning with the simple phrase: “We like it here.”

I didn’t write it, but I believe it: “Hastings is a simple melody in a noisy world.” I believe life is hard enough without having to worry about traffic. I am excited by my five-minute commute and eating lunch at home with my husband every day.  I love seeing people I know in the grocery store and feeling like what I do every day makes a difference.  I want my kids to grow up knowing what it feels like to play in the front yard, walk to school and know their neighbors.

We like it here!

Here’s a hint: If you worry about having a sustainable workforce and a decreasing population base, stop asking the twenty-something’s why they are still here. Try saying things like: “We’re glad you decided to live in Hastings.” Because, believe it or not, they probably have a list of reasons why they choose to live here—and it’s you that needs to revisit your own list.

A Little Perspective Please
One of the hardest things about being a young working professional is a very apparent lack of perspective. It’s not our fault. We don’t really know how to classify things and gauge their overall importance for a very good reason: We’ve never done this before.

In college, you are given a series of goals: Go to class. Pass the tests and finally graduate. And in between all of those goals, you are given little hints as to whether or not you are on the right track. Did you pass the homework? Did you pass the test? Did you pass the class? And the outcome of each of those things works together to give you a sense of importance and perspective.

College grads quickly find out that life is not measured in semesters. Problems do not come presented to you in a perfectly calculated order with their overall importance being measured in the syllabus by a percentage in your overall grade. In life, you get the semester test at 8:30 on a Monday morning without any sort of study guide, time for preparation or any idea of what a passing grade might look like.

We twenty-something’s are facing all of these tests in random order without very much sense of how the outcome of these single events will impact our lives or even the next day. For the most part we still don’t know what we want to do when we “grow-up”—or what projects, skills and outcomes will help us make it where we want to be.

So bear with us… we have lots of other great characteristics to bring to the table. We are energetic and ready to change the world. But you may just have to remind us what things really matter—and what things you simply try to do better the next time.

About the author: Kaleena & Matt Fong

Kaleena and Matt are twenty-somethings navigating their way through the lessons of adulthood. They are both transplants to Hastings via Hastings College and are enjoying their time as a DINK (double income no kids). Follow the Fongs as they learn the ins and outs of home ownership, a new marriage, community involvement and life in Hastings.