help me what do I do with my life

sunset over University of Glasgow, Scotland, on one of my last nights there

I don't know what to do with my life, which is expected because I'm 22 years old and about to graduate college in May. I know I'm not special; most people don't know what to do at this point in their lives and that's a-okay.

But I'm me and I like having plans!

I have two options, really (I know I have unlimited options because I'm young but I'm trying to narrow them down so I can actually decide on something okay!!!). Either apply to EPIK (a teaching English program) now and go to South Korea in August 2018 or chill for a few months after graduation, go back to Europe for a bit, then come back to the US and apply for teaching abroad then. I'm leaning towards the later plan, but once I come back to the US to get my TEFL certification I'll have to be in the US for EIGHT MONTHS as I'm applying. That's such a long time! And it's not that I hate the US, I love my country so much, but there's just so much of the world to see! The thought of spending another 8 months in my hometown makes my skin crawl. I've lived in the same house as far as my memory goes back (we moved here when I was 3), and I just need to GET OUT.

So do I apply to teach in South Korea now, and miss out on my trip to Europe at the end of 2018?

And then what am I supposed to do after THAT? I have vague ideas in my head of getting a nursing degree so I can be a traveling nurse, and I'm also interested in public (mainly women's) health. Do I join the Peace Corps? Do I become a nurse and try to work with Doctors Without Borders? Do I get a masters in reproductive health and work in the ~industry~?  Do I try my luck and apply to every single fully-funded MFA for Creative Nonfiction in America? WHAT? DO? I? DO?

If you're older and wiser than me, please leave advice below or link me to older and wiser people that have all the advice. 

Consume This #6

Consume This is my monthly curated list of interesting links for you to read, watch, and listen.  If you come across something you think I’ll like, tweet at me.

R E A D I N G

why are nannies never included on social media

a mom writes about her daughter and the teen makes comments within the text

women's health care and Star Wars

to begin is to break your own heart

the best books to become a better writer

why are all rom-com protagonists journalists and why do they suck

you've probably read this already but here you go: Cat Person

related: when saying 'yes' is easier than saying 'no'

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

W A T C H I N G  &  L I S T E N I N G 

a skit on how annoying study abroad kids are

has reading become competitive? (really enjoying Ariel Bisset's conversational videos)

what I'm thankful for this year

Photo by Jeremy Gallman

Next to Easter, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Both holidays don't require gifts. Their whole purpose is to get together with your loved ones and eat A LOT of food. Of course, there's the whole thing about Jesus rising from the dead and the British and Native Americans coming together for a feast, but both of those things probably didn't happen.

But what does happen, without fail, every year is my family getting together to eat lots of food and laugh and then complain about how we over-ate.

I'm going over to my aunt's in a few hours, so, for now, I'll make a list of just a few things I'm thankful for. 

1. the Hannah Montana movie (it's on right now and I'm reminded that it's a cinematic masterpiece)
2. country music
3. my dad
4. wood burning stoves
5. books (currently reading Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver)
6. secondhand books that don't cost more than $1
7. international friends that call to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving (isn't that the most thoughtful thing you've ever heard!?)
8. the fact that I can say I have "international friends"
9. long email chains with aforementioned friends
10. 61% of Australia that voted in favor of same-sex marriage
11. Niall Horan's album
12. Mary J. Blige
13. my legs. they took me around 18 countries in 2017.
14. my chacos, who touched the ground in those 18 countries. 
15. my education
16. the privilege to travel
17. air-conditioning
18. dogs
19. science and modern medicine 
20. plans for the near-future 

No matter where you are in the world, I hope you eat good food and hug someone you love today.

Consume This #5

Photo by Ronaldo Arthur Vidal

Consume This is my monthly curated list of interesting links to things for you to read, watch, and listen.  If you come across something you think I’ll like, tweet at me.

R E A D I N G

why it's time for me to leave new york

how to travel like a travel writer

can constant podcast listening be bad for your brain?

if you can't find a partner that supports your career goals, stay single

you have to build your purpose

wearing men's button-down is another facet of the manic pixie cool girl

W A T C H I N G  &  L I S T E N I N G

demi lovato's new album

kind New Zealanders send author John Green thousands of coins

I went to a festival on my own

22 things I need to stop doing

Photo by Hans Vivek

A week ago I turned 22, but in order to solidify my new age, I must write about it. A lot of people do the "22, 25, 30, etc. things I've learned" posts to celebrate their birthdays, but honestly, I feel too young for that.  Sure, I definitely learned a lot while living 8 months abroad, but I also realize I still have a lot of learning left to do. I need to let my lessons sit and marinate for awhile before I put them in a definitive list for the entire internet to see. (Lol "entire internet", I sure do think highly of myself.)

So here are 22 things I need to STOP doing in order to become a full-fledged adult. It's a lot easier to point out my bad habits than to correct them, but this post is at least one step in the right direction.

1. Caring about what other people think.
2. Texting guys I don't actually care about just because I'm bored. 
3. Eating a whole ice cream carton in one sitting. 
4. Using "hey I walk a lot!" as an excuse not to exercise. 
5. Reading too many books at once. Either finish the dang book or decide not to finish it and give it to someone who will actually read it. 
6. Eating canned soup for dinner when I have ingredients for a quick and easy meal in the pantry. 
7. Hate-reading someone's blog.
8. Hate-scrolling through someone's Instagram. (Don't do these things! They're not good for you!)
9. Using "my hair is dirty" as an excuse to not go out. Just wash your hair! It's not that hard!
10. Letting my tank get dangerously empty before I refill it. 
11. Complaining about how bored I am while also not reaching out to anyone. 
12. Extensively plan trips that I have no hope of taking anytime soon. It's a waste of time to plan that much detail, Victoria. 
13. Talking myself out of things just because I get nervous. 
14. Worry over why someone doesn't like me. It literally does not matter. 
15. Starting a language on Duolingo and doing too much at once then burning out and quitting.
16. Getting a caramel macchiato at Dunkin Donuts when I have a PERFECTLY GOOD Keurig and percolator at home. 
17. Not journaling because I'm "too tired" or "nothing happened that today". Something happens everyday girl!!! Write about it!!!
18. Chugging Dr. Pepper like type II diabetes doesn't run in the family. 
19. Hitting snooze too many times.
20. Thinking I will one day actually eat breakfast at the appropriate breakfast time. 
21. Drinking coffee when I KNOW it'll give me the runs. 
22. Pretending I ever think about anything besides One Direction and the five boys' individual careers. 

Happy birthday to me! Cheers!