In my quest to empower women navigating the wild ride of their twenties and thirties, I reached out to countless ladies to share the wisdom they wish they’d had upon graduating college. Here’s a gem from one of them.
Meet: Sarah Turner
Age: 31
Location: Brooklyn
Profession: Features editor at Feast.com, where I’m rolling out a fresh narrative and longform journalism initiative. I also contribute to the lifestyle magazine Savory, where I previously held the title of executive digital editor. I co-authored Savory’s cookbook, The New Classics, and occasionally pen articles about non-food topics for platforms like Medium, Refinery29, and the Hairpin.
What I’ve Learned:
If only I had known how freeing endings can be! Before graduating, I had never experienced a breakup, nor had I left a job. But within my first ten months in the “real world,” I faced both within two weeks. At the ripe age of 22, I was convinced I was destined to marry this guy and stay in this job for life. After losing both so suddenly, I thought I was doomed to live alone and jobless forever.
But here’s the kicker: endings are often new beginnings! Thanks to some unexpected self-reflection and a sprinkle of therapy magic, I discovered more about myself in those months than I ever thought possible. What truly brings me joy, what I genuinely want from life—all of it started to unfold.
Fast forward a decade, and I’m still fueled by those lessons. I’ve navigated more breakups and left jobs since then. Heartache remains, of course, but the overwhelming feeling of despair has faded. Sure, it’s still nerve-wracking, still gut-wrenching, and yes, there are still plenty of tears. But I wish I had realized that you come out on the other side. You don’t lose who you are or how you perceive the world; you often emerge even stronger and wiser.
This is part of a series where brilliant women share their insights into life’s ups and downs. You can catch more of their wisdom for surviving your twenties here.
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In summary, endings are not the end; they are often the keys to your next chapter. Embrace the changes, learn from them, and remember that you’ll always find your way back to yourself—sometimes even better than before.