Did Rory Disappoint All of Us?
Many students believe that going to the best schools, and making the best grades means that upon graduation you will have that job you dreamed of, the spouse you wanted, and the life you sought after. When we left Rory in 2007, she was top of her class at Yale (even after taking a year off) and helping on former President Obama’s campaign trail. Rory was top of her class at Chilton Academy, and even had the extracurricular activities to back up her already stellar resume.
This is where the shock begins, when we meet Rory in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life she is 32 and going from house to house (and even country to country). To say she doesn’t have a stable job would be putting it lightly. We are taught to believe that good grades and extracurricular activities will guarantee us a job. If Rory Gilmore can’t do it, and she is on the cusp of being a millennial and she did everything right… what does this mean for the rest of us? Can you FEEL the panic attack kicking in?
The writers leave us hanging on edge at the end… will her book be a success or is she a struggling writer AND a single mother? Yes, you read that right… THE Rory Gilmore, who had 3 amazing world wind romances is still single and pregnant. Well single is slightly an understatement considering she was dating Logan, the engaged millionaire.
Am I Rory? Are you Rory?
This 4-part series really made me think. As a Master’s Graduate, it makes me wonder what does it REALLY take to be successful post-graduation? Is it the grades? Is it the extra-curriculars? It it who you know? Rory Gilmore had all 3 of the above. Where can you slack? Where do you need to put in more time?
As my classmates walk across the stage a few years ago from undergraduate, a friend of mine looked at me and said “Everybody’s journey has been so different since 2011… but you know we made it here right? Isn’t that all that matters.”
Rory Gilmore is what we all WANTED to be. We just knew having the grades, the perfect guy, the perfect mom and the perfect friends would mean that our careers and futures would be set in stone. Nothing would have us deviate from the plans we mentally set in place. When A Year in The Life aired and Millennials geared up to watch with our smart phones and smart TVs and got a real world slap to the face…. how did they expect us to take it?! Fetal position and a bottle of moscoto?
Rory’s best friend made a statement to Rory that I think many millennials can benefit from “This adult stuff is hard you know?”
Do Things YOUR Way.
There’s no right or wrong way to do it. Everybody’s journey is going to be different, and we shouldn’t let unrealistic expectations be set. I’m not disappointed in some of the way that Rory’s life turned out because it shows that things don’t always turn out the way you expect once you graduate. Sometimes you won’t get the job, you won’t get the guy or girl, you will have to move back home, and you JUST might have everything fall apart before you can pick yourself up again.
Was post-graduate life what you expected it to be?
Post grad life is exactly as I expected it to be. There were some rough patches but for the most part — I’m extremely pleased with it.
I’m not familiar with the Gilmore Girls at all but this analogy seems spot on!
I agree everyone’s journey will be different. Great article!
Thanks so much!
I have just finished my Bachelors degree, and to be honest I’m a little terrified, although I’m starting to recieve interviews for positions related to my field it’s still a lot to process. I think of things such as am I fully prepared to enter this career field. I guess we’ll see what those years of studying has equipped me with.
Terrified is normal and it’s okay! You are more prepared than you think. Reach out to me and I will give you some free interview prep!
Post graduate life taught me a lot. In my field once you graduate you still have to do two years post graduate under a qualified supervisor and meet so many hours and take a state exam to be eligible to become a licensed mental health counselor. But I would not trade that journey for anything. I worked under some awesome supervisors who taught me far more than my clinical skills.
Everybody’s journey is so different, but the end goal is often always worth it.