I’ve been out to my friends for years but I had fears/brainworms about presenting that way at work. As a result, I kept everyone at arms length and was generally pretty cold and closed off to everyone, which made me a shitty communist. But I finally managed to overcome that and find a new job (just some temp warehouse work) with my preferred name and presentation, which I just started today!

So I come in with a batch of new hires, ready to turn over a new leaf and start socializing, and wouldn’t you know it, there’s a guy awkwardly hovering around me! Perfect! I know awkward hovering because I’m an awkward hoverer myself, clearly, he wants to be friends but is too shy - so I introduce myself, and we get assigned to similar areas and sit together on breaks. “Making friends is so much easier as a woman!” I thought, a fool.

This guy starts simping hard. Starts asking if I have a boyfriend, takes a big interest in all my hobbies, stuff like that, but the big kicker was he’d been talking about how much he’d prefer being on a different shift so I suggested he ask someone about it but then he’s like, “But then I wouldn’t get to see you.” BRO. catgirl-disgust

Also, he’s 19, and I’m in my 30’s. Ew libertarian-alertcringe

I’m not sure if he’s aware I’m trans or not, I usually assume people can tell but idk and it’s not on some people’s radar. Not sure which is worse.

Overall, I’m still happy about being able to present the way I want at work and I’ve been unemployed for a while so I’m glad to be making money and the job’s not too hard. But as far as workplace socializing, I kinda feel like I just traded one problem for another oooaaaaaaauhhh

  • pooberbee (they/she)
    5·
    14 days ago

    My experience with undergrad was that most of my classmates were living away from their parents for the first time and their parents were paying for their school. So it’s a situation with almost total freedom and very little responsibility. Not exactly real life experience.

    Kids that I’ve known that were out on their own even at 16 have had a unique demeanor. Probably they could be perceived as very mature for their age, but I think there was some real trauma, as well, and mostly at that age were (just like their college-educated counterparts) busy getting established as adults with careers and shit, even if they were having to do it the hard way.

    All that to say yeah, a lot of college-educated folks view it through that lens, but in general the vast majority of the time a person isn’t fully cooked at 22 either way.

    • ashinadash [she/her]@hexbear.netEnglish
      4·
      14 days ago

      Kids that I’ve known that were out on their own even at 16 have had a unique demeanor. Probably they could be perceived as very mature for their age, but I think there was some real trauma, as well,

      Gang cat-vibing although I’m not in love with “very mature for their age” sort of language…

      But yes, the idea that x years of college experience makes you ‘officially an adult’ or anything of the sort seems odd. Is it the student debt that does it?