Turning twenty may not come with the same excitement that turning sixteen, eighteen, or twenty-one may hold, but it does mark an important transition into adulthood. Turning twenty means that the years of being a teenager are finally over, for better or for worse. As I approach my 20th birthday, I've had the time to reflect on the past decade of my life and the knowledge I will take with me going forward into the intimidating world of adulthood. Here are 10 things I've learned during my years of being a teenager.
1. Nothing is a bad as it seems
Getting a bad grade on a test or having a fight with a friend may seem like the end of the world sometimes, but if there's one thing I've learned, these things don't matter in the long run.
2. Friendships should be based on quality, not quantity
In high school and even in college, many people are infatuated with the idea of being "popular." While there's nothing wrong with having a huge group of friends, it's the friends who would drop anything for you that really matter.
3. Trying something new does pay off
So many people are afraid to break out of their comfort zone and do something new, but I've noticed that every time I say "yes" to something I'm not sure about, I end up having a positive experience. Especially on a college campus where there is always something going on, actually attending different events can help you meet new people and form interests.
4. Don't hold too many grudges
It's easy to stay fixated on the past and be angry at people who have been unkind to you, but holding grudges is a waste of energy.
5. Everyone is going through some kind of struggle
This may be cliché to say, but it really is true. Everyone you meet is going through something that you may have no idea about, and it's important to treat everyone with respect and kindness.
6. Your parents sacrifice a lot for you
It's easier to see this once you are out of the house, but parents or guardians do sacrifice a lot to keep you happy and healthy. I owe everything to my parents; I wouldn't have the life I do without them.
7. Time does heal anything
Something that bothered you when you were fifteen probably won't matter at seventeen, and something that bothered you at seventeen won't matter when you're twenty.
8. Fall in love with learning
School becomes so much more bearable when you are interested in what you are studying. Education is a privilege that many people don't get to have, and lately, I've felt much more grateful for being able to attend a college that I love.
9. Fall in love with yourself
Loving yourself can be difficult, especially as a teenage girl. Beauty standards shown in the media may make you feel awful, but once you realize that they are arbitrary it will become easier to like yourself because of who you are, not what you look like.
10. You don't have to have everything figured out yet
As I prepare to leave my teenage years behind, I still don't have everything figure out. I don't know what I want to do after college or for a career, but I've realized that's okay for now. I know that I will figure my future out when I get there.
