In the process of creating The Ultimate Guide for Young Women (Workman, new edition 2015), I consulted numerous women to uncover the insights they wished they had before graduating from college. Their reflections might have lessened their struggles and made their twenties and thirties far more manageable. Here’s one illuminating perspective.
Name: Clara Thompson
Age: 32
Location: Brooklyn
Profession: I’m the features editor at Eater.com, overseeing the launch of a new narrative and long-form journalism initiative. Additionally, I contribute as an editor for the food and travel magazine Saveur, where I previously served as executive digital editor. I co-authored Saveur’s cookbook, The New Classics, and write on various topics for platforms such as Medium, Refinery29, and The Hairpin.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known earlier?
I wish I had realized how freeing endings can be. As I graduated college, I had never faced a breakup or resigned from a job. However, within ten months of entering the real world, I experienced both within a mere fortnight. At just 22, I believed I was destined to marry my boyfriend and thought my job was my forever position. Losing both in quick succession left me feeling like I was doomed to die alone and unemployed, as if my life was over.
However, I discovered that endings can also serve as a form of liberation. Through enforced self-reflection and some invaluable therapy, I learned more about myself during those tumultuous months than I ever anticipated. A decade later, those insights continue to guide me. I have navigated more breakups and job changes, feeling heartbreak each time but with a much clearer understanding that life does go on. It’s still daunting, still painful, and still brings tears, but I wish I had known that you can endure and emerge stronger. You retain your identity and perspective, and often become a better version of yourself.
This is part of a series exploring women’s advice for navigating their twenties.
For more insights, check out another blog post on our site about couples’ fertility journeys using an artificial insemination kit, which can be a helpful resource as well. If you’re considering fertility treatments, the March of Dimes offers excellent information to get started. You can also learn about the journey of rainbow babies, which is a poignant topic worth exploring.
Summary:
In reflecting on life’s transitions, Clara Thompson emphasizes the liberating power of endings—both in relationships and careers. Through personal experiences of heartbreak and job loss shortly after college, she learned that such endings can lead to profound self-discovery and growth. Despite the fear and pain they bring, she encourages others to recognize that life continues, and they can emerge from challenges stronger than before.