10 Things I Wish I Knew In My Early 20’s

Not everyone benefits from college.

College can be a smart and helpful step for many people, but not everyone benefits from it. If you are going into a career where you will not be required to have a college degree, you may not need to go into debt for a degree. Many people who do go to college end up in different career fields and even more say that what they learned at school doesn’t apply to their actual job. I’m not saying college is a bad option; for many people it is a path that leads to success. Just be sure you are going to college because you want to and not because society is telling you that you should.

 

Time passes quickly.

The older you get, the more time flies. I am not telling you this to scare you, I am telling you this so that you will embrace the here and now! There is no time like the present to do all the things you want to do.

 

Being kind and positive won’t make everyone like you.

I used to try so hard to be nice to everyone, even if that person wasn’t nice in return. In my early 20’s, I had a really hard time with the idea that someone may not like me. If you are a kind, positive, happy person, don’t let anyone steal that joy from you. At the same time, remember that not everyone will want to share in your happiness, and that’s okay. There are plenty of positive people in this world. Spend more time around them and less time around people who don’t like you.

 

It’s easier to overcome anything with supportive people in your corner.

When my grandmother died when I was 21, I tried to go through that completely alone. I didn’t make the same mistake when my grandfather died when I was 27. Now I know how important it is to let my friends and family completely in when I need them. It’s okay to be vulnerable and it’s brave to ask for help. No one can do everything in life completely by themselves. Even Oprah has Gale.

 

Your friend group will change.

I still care deeply for all the people who were in my friendship circle in my early 20s. Many of those people are still in my group of close friends today. However, I have drifted apart from some of those friends as well. As you get older, people have children, careers change, moves happen, marriages happen, and even divorces happen. All these things will change your circle of friends over time.

 

Be open to new friendships.

Even though some of your friendships will change or come to an end. You should stay open to new friendships. You don’t meet all of your friends during your high school and college years. In fact, you will meet many new friends throughout your life and some of them you will instantly click with and wonder how you haven’t known them your whole life.

 

You will make mistakes.

You are not perfect. No one is perfect and no one expects you to be. Give yourself a break and love yourself the way you are. Make mistakes and learn from them. Don’t be afraid of not doing everything a certain way. Pave your own way.

 

Life is not fair. 

Sometimes, bad things happen to good people and there is nothing that we can do to change that. What we can do is focus on how to make the situation better. Things will happen to you or others throughout life that you do not think are fair. Learn to do what you can and move on.

 

Don’t let stress run your life.

From work to relationships to school and life goals, there are so many things in life to stress about. If you let it, stress will take over your life quickly. Find a way to relieve stress, whether it is meditation, working out, or some other healthy outlet. It’s completely understandable to be bothered by some things in life but you have to learn how to handle the stress that follows. Also, try not to sweat the small stuff. Most of what you are stressing out about now will not matter by this time next year.

 

Do what you want to do. Live your life for you.

You only get one life here on earth so don’t live it for anyone else. Your life is your own and you deserve to live a life that makes you happy. People who live their lives according to what their parents, friends, and society want instead of following their own path, normally end up regretting it. Anyone who wants you to be happy will support you following your dreams and aspirations in life.