Graduates, even though it's a long way off, you've probably heard about something called

the midlife crisis.

Men buy Italian sports cars, women go on yoga retreats to Bali.

But I'll bet you've never heard of a crisis you may be facing in a few short years.

I call it the quarter life crisis.

I know a little something about it because I went through it.

Oh boy, did I go through it.

When I was 24, a lot was going my way.

At least on the surface.

I had great friends, a great job on Capitol Hill.

I even had a great apartment.

So why didn't I feel great about my life?

I was working as a press secretary for a congressman.

I should have been happy about that.

But instead, I just felt trapped, anxious, and uncertain about my future.

Where was I going?

What was my next move?

On the personal side, things weren't much better.

I hadn't had a boyfriend in years and there were no prospects on the horizon.

Marriage seemed like an impossible dream.

I loved my friends, but I still felt lonely.

Right before my 25th birthday, I took a personal inventory.

...