Teenage and early 20 years are easily some of the most challenging, yet some of the best years of your life. There are so many vast differences between a 28-year-old and an 18-year-old, but there are also many differences between turning 16 and being 21. Here are some life lessons I've learned before turning 22.

1. You don't have everything figured out.

Honestly, there are very few people who have everything figured out. You can know exactly what you want to pursue and study, but still not have everything figured out. There is so much pressure placed upon young adults to have everything figured out. We can be so hard on ourselves when we don't believe we are living the life we are expected to live. Give yourself a break.

2. You don't have as many friends as before.

As you progress through high school and entering college, you simply won't have as many friends. Interests change, people change, and life will still go on. I'd rather have a few close friends than a crowd of fake ones any day. The people you walk down the halls with freshman year, won't be the people you walk across the stage with at graduation. The people you walk across the stage with at graduation, won't be the same people you enter college with. I'm lucky that I've maintained a friendship with one of my closest friends since junior high, but honestly, she's the only person I really speak to from high school and that's okay!

3. Life doesn't get easier.

While it's exciting and new to venture out on your own, it doesn't come without challenges. The truth is, most of life is a grind, but you figure out ways to get through it.

4. Saving money is hard.

There are these shoes, and that shirt, and these jeans, and that dress, but I kind of need to eat something other than ramen noodles and grilled cheese for lunch and dinner...

Enough said.

5. Loving yourself is hard.

It's difficult to remember to love yourself when you're trying to figure out who you are. Even if others don't, remember to love yourself first. My biggest issue was and is that I was always so hard on myself academically, that I forgot to love myself and all of my imperfections.

6. The real world sucks.

Okay, this one has only slightly been learned on my end. While I am going to school, I'm only two hours away from home and still rely on my parents more than most 21-year-olds do. I'm beyond blessed to have their amazing support. But you learn a lot of harsh truths when you leave home. Often, we are naive to the struggles our parents went through when we were younger. The real world isn't fun.

7. You'll continue to compare yourself to others.

You compare yourself to your peers without even realizing it most days, especially when it comes to academics. Sometimes you think they have it all figure out, and you're envious and look down upon yourself. Honestly, everyone is probably just as scared and lost as you are.

8. Peer pressure doesn't go away.

While it isn't as simple as truth or dare, you still feel the pressure to do big things with your life or to go out and party on Friday nights. These pressures often don't align with who we are, so we become angry with ourselves. Accept yourself, your morals and values, and be who you want to be.

9. It's okay to try new things.

It has taken me so long to get out of my comfort zone in terms of opportunities. I'm actually going to the Dominican Republic this summer on a medical mission trip and I couldn't be more excited. It's my very first time out of the country and without my parents at that. Get out of your comfort zone and try new things. Your 20s are the best time to do so.

10. There is no magic key to success.

I used to think that everything would be exactly as I expected it to be. I thought I'd have every single aspect of my life figured out. While I like to think I have most of it figured out, there's a lot that must be left for a later time. There is no one "right" path to success. We each take unique paths to get there.

Life is full of confusion and frustration, but it can also be filled with fun. There's a lot that can be accomplished in those short years from 16 to 22. We all struggle with similar things, but this is tiny in the grand scheme of life. Remember to accept yourself for who you are and you will succeed in your own way.