No 20 year old is expected to have everything figured out. In fact, most of us will be "figuring it out" for a very long time. However, there are a few things that everyone should know how to do by the time they turn 20.
By 20, you should be able to...
1. Tip Properly
This one is so easy and yet so many people do it incorrectly. Move the decimal one place to the left and then double that number, if it isn't even, round up.
2. Speak In Front Of A Group
Unless you're in a very specific job type, you're always going to need to know how to speak in front of people. Whether it's your coworkers, your church congregation or the guests of your best friend's wedding sooner or later you'll be put in a situation where you have to speak comfortably in front of a crowd.
3. Write A Professional Letter Or Email
Whether it's to your future boss or your current professor, knowing how to format a letter or email can change how they see you, for better or for worse.
4. Craft The Perfect Cover Letter And Resume For A Position You're After
Soon, you'll be applying for internships, co-ops and eventually jobs. Having the perfect cover letter and beautiful resume to whip out to future employers is essential.
5. Dialogue With Someone Who Has A Different Opinion Than You
You're never going to see completely eye-to-eye with anyone so you might as well learn how to articulate your opinion and defend it without being disrespectful and in turn, you should also learn how to receive someone else's opinions without scoffing or gagging (contrary to popular belief scoffing when someone tells you what religion or political party they are can be seen as offensive).
6. Respond To Criticism
Criticism, though sometimes hurtful, is important for our development and growth in both our personal and professional lives. We can never expect to move up in life if we can't take criticism and learn from it.
7. Be alone
For a lot of people the thought of being alone is really scary. Traveling, going out to eat, going to the movies, going shopping, etc are all activities that are perfectly acceptable to do by yourselves. Of course they're fun with friends but no one should be afraid to go try something new just because no one is going with them.
8. Prioritize
Figure out where your priorities are at. Is it God, work, school, family, friends, something else? And then set yourself up from there in figuring out what's most important to you.
9. Ask Questions
It's been said "The only stupid questions are the ones you didn't ask". That's a cliche because it's really true. It's a lot more stupid to sit around not knowing something than to ask something that may be a simple concept and have it explained to you. It can be scary to put yourself out there and admit that you don't understand something but it's very beneficial in the long run.
10. Time Manage
This one is huge. Unfortunately we can't all have Herminone's magic time-turner so we can't be everywhere at once. Knowing how to balance all of your activities can save you a lot of headache.
11. Call Your Parents/Grandparents/Friends From Home
It's hard in college to feel like you're living two lives in two different places. You have your home job, your school job, your home friend group, your school friend group, your home hang out places and your school hang out places. So often are college students caught with one foot still in their childhood and one foot in their adult life. It's fine to be ready to grow up but you don't have to completely abandon the place you came from. Give your dad or your grandmother or your best friend from high school a call, I'm sure they would love to hear from you.
12. Cook Something For Yourself
Kraft Mac 'n' Cheese counts.
13. Actually Do Your Laundry
I mean actually do it. Like white, colors, delicates, ironing, line-drying. The whole thing.
14. Make Coffee
Coffee, not water, is the essence of life. Therefore, know how you take it (black and extra strong for me), and know how to make it yourself. Saving $5 at Starbucks everyday really adds up
15. Study
This is one that I'm still figuring out, but find something that works for you and stick to it. Your GPA will thank you later.
16. Read For Fun
You aren't 14. Gone are the days of being able to say "I don't really read" in response to "What book are you reading right now?" Instead you should be able to (honestly) answer with "Oh! I'm reading 'The Shack,' it's fantastic. I'll loan it to you when I'm done." You can learn a lot about yourself and the world from a book and being able to have mature conversations over beautiful pieces of literature is one of the greatest pleasures in life.
17. Be Honest With Yourself
This one can mean different things for different people but being able to admit to yourself that something in your life needs to change and then taking the steps to change it is part of being a grown up.
18. Change A Tire
Or...how to call AAA? No, but really, some day you will get a flat tire and it's easier to just know how to change it yourself.
19. Fiscal Responsibility
OK, maybe not all of the ins and outs of it but at least how to set up a budget for yourself, how to start building up credit, how to file your own taxes. Small things that can make a big difference.
20. Live In The Moment
We have plenty of time ahead of us to worry about our marriage, our children, our career. We're only 20-something for a little while so we may as well live it up.
