Then and Now meme

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This one is from a while ago, so I can't remember who I got it from. While I was going through the kajillion posts on my flist after vacation, I copied and pasted the questions to do later. And now it's later.

1. How old were you?

Then: 14
Now: 24

2. What was your online presence?

Then: We'd just gotten AOL so I had email and IM. I was super jealous of my friends in middle school who had AOL, so when I started high school, my parents bought a new computer so I could get it, too.
Now: Email, IM, blog. In fandom, LJ and various fanfic archives.

3. Where did you work?

Then: I didn't, really, although I babysat for the neighbors' kids occasionally.
Now: Government

4. Where did you live?

Then: NJ
Now: PA

5. Who did you live with?

Then: My parents
Now: My kitty

6. How was your health?

Then: Fine. I was actually a really healthy kid. A little overweight, but I rarely got sick.
Now: Still okay, I guess. I went through a period in college where the doctors kept finding all kinds of weird things wrong with me (and I got misdiagnosed a lot, which was fun), but I've stopped going to the doctor, and miraculously, I'm fine.

7. What pets did you have?

Then: We probably had parakeets then, but I'll be honest, I can't remember which ones.
Now: My kitty, Chelsea.

8. Who was your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner/spouse/S.O.?

Then: Didn't have one. I didn't have my first serious boyfriend until I was 15.
Now: Still don't have one.

9. Any kids? Any plans for kids?

Then: None. Didn't even think about it for the future.
Now: Still don't have any, and no plans to. I just had dinner with a med school friend of mine who just finished up her OB rotation. Holy crap, am I never having children.

10. What was your worst struggle?

Then: Trying not to be a loser freshman. (I'm pretty sure I failed.)
Now: Being lonely, and being depressed because of it.

11. What was your biggest joy?

Then: Fitting in. I was so worried when I went to high school that I wouldn't make friends and everyone would hate me. I ended up drifting away from the friends I'd had in middle school, even though we all went to the same high school, but I made much better friends in the clubs I joined.
Now: My kitty! She makes me so happy, I don't know how I went so long without getting one. When you live alone, it's amazing the difference it makes to have a pet to come home to and cuddle with. Plus, she's a total nutcase, so she's great entertainment.

12. What did you consider your greatest accomplishment?

Then: My musical talent. I'd been playing the piano for about 8 years by then, so I was pretty good. Also, that summer, I'd picked up the flute so that I could join marching band.
Now: Getting to where I am, career-wise. I don't think my parents expected me to do this well, and although I had high aspirations, I really didn't know what I was getting into.

13. What advice would you give your younger self?

Have more self-respect. Don't go out with Ed. And sometimes it's okay to come in second - don't let it ruin your friendships.

14. What would your younger self say to you?

OMG, you're still single? I should just kill myself now.

15. Looking back, is your life what you thought it would be in 2008?

Not at all. I hadn't yet settled on what I wanted to be when I grew up, but a career in politics wasn't even one of the options. I might have been thinking I wanted to be a lawyer back then. I also thought I'd be married by now, or at least much closer to it than I am (like, actually dating someone). I think I expected to be a lot happier than I've been, and I expected life to be a lot easier.

 

Comments

[lusciousxander.livejournal.com]

You're 24?!! We're the same age *girns*

This is a very cool meme... :)

[next_to_normal]

Glad you liked it. I do have fun doing memes. :) (Also, with no new fic on the horizon, it may be ALL I post.)