Asian Outlook | Art and Literary Magazine

My peers call me “unc.” No warning, no ceremony, just woke up one day and suddenly my contact name is Unc in someone’s phone. Unc. Like my birth year starts with “19.” Like I start most of my sentences with, “Back in my day …” Also no, I did not have to deal with the fallout of the 2008 global financial crisis as I was doing times tables in the third grade. 

I recently just turned 24 years old. I’m in my junior year of university. It’s funny though. Because I don’t feel old. But apparently, perception works faster than reality and I guess that also earns me the moniker of being the campus “big.” 

Let’s Address the Driving Lessons

Yes. I give driving lessons. I’ve been asked to explain how a transmission works. Yes. I’ve heard: “bro you’re our mentor.” MENTOR??? I barely know how insurance works. I still Google a decent amount of my adult responsibilities. But because I know how to parallel park and 3-point-turn, I am suddenly the village elder? Make it make sense.

The Timeline Is COOKED

Society’s Imaginary Schedule™

18 → Graduate High School

22 → Graduate College

23 → Have a job

24 → Have it figured out

25 → Be stable

That timeline is pure NPC activity. It’s like when true Uncs used to say they “finished Netflix.” Nobody finished Netflix. Nobody has it “figured out” at 24. Life is nonlinear. It zigzags, reroutes, gets you kicked out of community college, glows you up.

And you know what? Every detour gave me perspective. I’ve worked jobs. I’ve seen people rush degrees they hated. I’ve watched friends burn out by 22. So if being 24 means I move with intention instead of panic? Call me unc.

The “On Time” Illusion

There’s this obsession with speed. Graduate Early. Get a bag by 22. Blow up on socials overnight. Land the dream job before you even know what you dream about. But real growth? That takes actual time, years even. You don’t rush a brand. You don’t rush character. You don’t rush self-awareness. If my path took a bit longer because I pivoted, transferred, took a gap year (or two), had a full identity crisis, and came back sharper?

Good. That means I chose.

Final Thought:

If you fill the campus elder role like me. If you transferred. If you took a gap year. If you restarted. If you’re “behind” by someone else’s imaginary schedule —

YOU’RE NOT LATE. YOU’RE BUILDING.

— this is for you. Walk across that stage when you’re ready. They can call you unc or whatever devious nickname, but remember this:

“Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.” 

-Tyrion Lannister

Brady-Charles Overtoom

Media Producer

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