Being a grownup

Recently I received an email from one of my advisees. She is graduating soon and she wanted to talk. She wanted advice about what to do with her life. She has a job lined up after graduation but she admitted she wasn't sure about her career choice and she was sure she didn't want to stay in Florida any longer. Since I just moved from Chicago she wanted to know if I could help her find work there.

I told her it is easier to find a job while you already have a job and in the current market it is better to take that first one and then figure out how to go from there. And I realized as I was talking to her a number of things, some of them unsettling. See, when I was her age I would have just gone for it. Move. It's an adventure and it is better to take the chance while you still can rather than let it get away. I lived my life that way for a long time. I moved to Philly for two years cause I had no where else to go. I worked in bars and moved to other states with little to no plan. Sure, while I did a lot of things that were foolish, and in some cases emotionally or financially damaging, it wasn't boring.

And here I am telling her to take the safe path. To do as I say, not as I did. I feel so old being responsible and giving responsible advice. And I know part of the reason I did it was because I didn't want the other members of my department hearing that I'm telling one of our best and brightest students to chuck it all for a risky adventure. And I also feel like such a hypocrite.

On the other hand, am I wanting to change my advice because I want her to see me as the cool professor (and of course spread the word that I'm cool)?

If I did the right thing, why do I want so badly to tell her to forget what I said and head for Chicago? Being in charge ages you so quickly. It might be time for a new tattoo just to calm me down.