Best of: No Such Thing As Dream Job

Editor's Note: this segment originally aired in April 2021. 

“These are going to be the best years of your life,” is a phrase you’ve maybe heard, or said to a young person on the verge of adulthood. In our society, there’s a lot of pressure for those years in a person’s 20s or 30s to be the most important years — where we come into our identity, our life’s career path  and our most important relationships. But as the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, life’s timetable isn’t always linear, especially in a society where systemic racism and economic inequality make it so things like “dream jobs” or the dream house are out of reach. 

The 21st spoke with writer Rainesford Stafford about her book "An Ordinary Age: Finding Your Way in a World That Expects Exceptional," a collection of stories from young people who have rejected the pressure to be perfect. 

Guest:

Rainesford Stauffer, Author of An Ordinary Age: Finding Your Way in a World That Expects Exceptional