A few weeks late but I just read this. I thought I’d heard about this show from you (I live under a bit of a pop culture rock) and have been binging it the past two days on a trip to the UK. Three eps on the flight and two last night. I’ll certainly finish it this week. I just adore it—the nuance in the characters and the way the show handles sensitive topics is incredible. And all the Gen X references! So I came to first say thank you for getting this on my radar.
And then reading your essay here… so much resonated with me. I wasn’t a journaler but when I reflect on my college years it was with a similar recollection of being so focused on guys. For me it had everything to do with horrible self-esteem and looking for acceptance and to be seen, which turned into some behavior that could have gone very badly. It got worse in my twenties, culminating in my marriage to my first husband aka my starter marriage. We divorced, and then I found my current husband. We’ve been married 18 years and our relationship is full and complete and based on both of us being truly seen.
Funny coincidence: I do have a few travel journals from my college years, including from a trip to Ireland where I enjoyed an evening with a guy named Cairán in Galway. 😊
Well played! Love how we had such similar takes, and the clarity of your observations. And that last line was truly flawless 💀🤣🖤 Thanks for sharing it with me :) xx
I love the way you broke this down. I agree completely. Love these days is defined by the content we consume online and also the ridiculously high standards and checklists we run every person of interest through before deciding on a second date!
What stood out to me is the realization that the hardest part was never finding love. It was allowing yourself to be fully seen. So many of us spend years protecting ourselves from vulnerability while longing for connection at the same time.
There is something powerful about looking back at our younger selves with compassion instead of judgment. Every awkward choice, every detour, and every heartbreak helped shape the person we eventually became.
A touching reminder that the right relationship often begins when we stop running from ourselves. ✨
Alright, fine, it’s going on my watch list! Lol. Oh god, does your writing ever bring up squirmy feelings for me! That feeling of so desperately wanting to be seen and chosen….gaaaah! So, so true! (Also, Michael Hutchance 🔥)
thanks for the article. I enjoyed reminiscing vicariously having gone back through some old journal entries myself. it can all seem funny at a distance now, but for how existential it felt at the time!
do you have any other stuff like this? the lives on late gen x and early gen y, pre social media internet, is fascinating especially about relationships etc. it's all changed so much.. also trying to find other related substacks, there's not much out there. on this matter I'm coming from a male angle though of course.
How have I not heard of Off Campus yet? Starting now!
A few weeks late but I just read this. I thought I’d heard about this show from you (I live under a bit of a pop culture rock) and have been binging it the past two days on a trip to the UK. Three eps on the flight and two last night. I’ll certainly finish it this week. I just adore it—the nuance in the characters and the way the show handles sensitive topics is incredible. And all the Gen X references! So I came to first say thank you for getting this on my radar.
And then reading your essay here… so much resonated with me. I wasn’t a journaler but when I reflect on my college years it was with a similar recollection of being so focused on guys. For me it had everything to do with horrible self-esteem and looking for acceptance and to be seen, which turned into some behavior that could have gone very badly. It got worse in my twenties, culminating in my marriage to my first husband aka my starter marriage. We divorced, and then I found my current husband. We’ve been married 18 years and our relationship is full and complete and based on both of us being truly seen.
Funny coincidence: I do have a few travel journals from my college years, including from a trip to Ireland where I enjoyed an evening with a guy named Cairán in Galway. 😊
Enjoyed this and made me laugh as we just joined Substack this week and the first essay was also a midlife view on Off Campus! Would love your take x. https://substack.com/@themidlifeclub/note/p-202551853?r=7u0jz7&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Well played! Love how we had such similar takes, and the clarity of your observations. And that last line was truly flawless 💀🤣🖤 Thanks for sharing it with me :) xx
Thank you so much 🩷
This was fantastic and I giggled my way through the whole thing. I need to watch this show!
You DEFINITELY need to watch the show!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Whitney. So glad you enjoyed it. And yes, you definitely need to watch the show — and/or read the book(s)!
I love the way you broke this down. I agree completely. Love these days is defined by the content we consume online and also the ridiculously high standards and checklists we run every person of interest through before deciding on a second date!
💙 This is such a beautifully honest reflection.
What stood out to me is the realization that the hardest part was never finding love. It was allowing yourself to be fully seen. So many of us spend years protecting ourselves from vulnerability while longing for connection at the same time.
There is something powerful about looking back at our younger selves with compassion instead of judgment. Every awkward choice, every detour, and every heartbreak helped shape the person we eventually became.
A touching reminder that the right relationship often begins when we stop running from ourselves. ✨
Spoken like a true LLM! 🤘💋
Alright, fine, it’s going on my watch list! Lol. Oh god, does your writing ever bring up squirmy feelings for me! That feeling of so desperately wanting to be seen and chosen….gaaaah! So, so true! (Also, Michael Hutchance 🔥)
I need to get around to watching this soon!
Yes you do!!!
Yes, yes you do! 😃
thanks for the article. I enjoyed reminiscing vicariously having gone back through some old journal entries myself. it can all seem funny at a distance now, but for how existential it felt at the time!
So. Much. Angst! Glad you enjoyed the read 🙂
do you have any other stuff like this? the lives on late gen x and early gen y, pre social media internet, is fascinating especially about relationships etc. it's all changed so much.. also trying to find other related substacks, there's not much out there. on this matter I'm coming from a male angle though of course.
There are so many! Do a search for Gen-X. Yes, a lot are from a female POV … but check out https://substack.com/@jonsmalltalk