Delaying the Real World Scholarship

Delaying the Real World is a charming and thoughtful book written specifically for twenty-somethings urging them to make the most of their lives.  The world is out there, this book reminds us, and this supposed “real world” we’ve all heard about?  Not so fun. Or useful.

The book urges us to follow our dreams, whatever they are, and offers practical ideas for how to do some of that.  It’s geared as a general overview rather than a specific solution to a specific problem: it gives a little advice about a lot of topics rather than a lot of advice on one topic.  It’s full of anecdotes from people who have put off that desk job a little longer and found a way to follow their dream, whether it’s serving the people of Somalia in MSF or opening an ice cream stand on the beach in Tijuana.

Now there is a fellowship: The Delaying the Real World Fellowship. With a $5,000 award, this fellowship is no small potatoes, and its goal is extraordinary: all you have to do is say what you might like to do to “delay the real world” a little bit longer, and they will give you the money to do it (well, if you win).  Only catches: it’s only available to people in their twenties (20-29) and you have to have read the book to apply.  Other than that, write out what you’d like to do and why, and fill out their online application form.

If you’ve never thought about why you wanted to do something other than finish college and go to work, now’s your chance to articulate it.  If you thought you wouldn’t be able to do it (whatever it was) because you didn’t have the money…now you’re out of excuses.  Give it a go!