A renowned clinical psychologist and expert on “twentysomethings” spoke to students in Baker Theater about what she describes as the most underappreciated and “defining” decade of life — the 20s — and how to get the most out of both high school and college.

Meg Jay, Ph.D., a bestselling author and associate professor of human development at the University of Virginia, told students that authenticity — specifically what she calls “identity capital”—is among the most valuable assets a person can develop.

She urged students to use both high school and college to “invest in themselves” and explore their interests, noting that many young people do not know how to take advantage of the opportunities these institutions present. Many of those opportunities, she added, are not tied to degree requirements.

“It’s a travesty how many don’t know how to go to college,” she said. “Your 20s are where all the action is. Your learning curve then predicts your earning curve later on. Here’s a tip: your job is to put yourself on the steepest learning curve you can.

“Go ahead and start right now, actually,” she added.

Jay also discussed the importance of what she calls “weak ties” — remote social connections akin to “crowdsourcing” — that drive opportunities in every arena, including employment, housing, and relationships.

She was introduced by Justo Iraola ’27, who told his classmates that Jay’s visit would “help us understand that college is not the end game — it’s just the beginning — and that developing certain skills now can lead to success and happiness in college and beyond.”

Jay is the author of The Defining Decade: Why Your 20s Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now and The TwentySomething Treatment: A Revolutionary Treatment for an Uncertain Age. Iraola noted in his introduction that her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and on TikTok and Instagram.

Jay also spoke separately to parents and faculty. Her visit served as the first installment of the 2025–26 ’WICK Center Speaker Series, now in its fourth year.