9. Friends build you up, not tear you down | The Odyssey Online
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Student Life

20 Things I Learned By The Time I Turned 20

"Mom is always right."

Emily Dwyer
Dec 20, 2018
West Chester University
181
20 Things I Learned By The Time I Turned 20
Colby Fair

In This Article:

Turning 20... beating teenage pregnancy... ending your teenage years forever... but you aren't actually 21 yet, what a bizarre age. Kind of feel like an adult, but also still kinda feel like a 12-year-old. Two decades in, and here are twenty lessons I have learned.

1. Teenage years will in fact end, don't wish them away so much

2 You deserve to remove toxic people from your life, and do not apologize for it

3. You can end a friendship without burning a bridge

4. Mom really is always right

5. Nothing happens when you mix colors when doing laundry, people are just dramatic

6. You are not meant for everyone, so stop trying to please everyone

7. Just be the nice one, always. Much better to be remembered for all of the good energy, even if it isn't the popular opinion in the moment

8. DNA is methylated, I kind of learn stuff in college

9. Friends build you up, not tear you down

10. Quality over quantity, this goes for friends, coffee, and clothes

11. Coffee first, always

12. There is always a way out, you will never be stuck in the same place forever.. And you might even miss that place you hated so much one day

13. Always pack the duct tape, literally always

14. Change can be good and lead to new experiences and friendships you never saw coming

15. It is way okay to chose to hangout with your guy friends rather than cliquey girls

16. Never turn down an opportunity to travel, whether it’s to Africa or Wawa down the street, travel always.

17. Stop taking things so seriously, life isn’t perfect and neither are you, so stop holding yourself to that standard. And more importantly, don’t let others hold you to it.

18. Remind your loved ones that you love them, you never know how much this will be needed, and there is never a bad time for this

19. Puppy cuddles and a good attitude really can fix anything

20. Live in the present, be positive, and spread joy... you won't regret it

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

6 Unrealistic Expectations Society Has For Young Adults

Don't let the thesaurus-inspired vocabularies in our résumés fool you. We're actually just big kids.

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Well over four feet tall and 100 pounds in weight, many of us "young adults" of the world still consider ourselves children. Big, working, college-attending, beer-drinking children. We may live on our own, know how to cook noodles, and occasionally use a planner, but don't be fooled; the youthful tendencies that reside within us still make their way into our daily lives. From choosing to stay up until 3:00 a.m. playing video games on a school night to going out in 30 degree weather without a coat, we still make decisions that our parents and grandparents would shake their heads at in disappointment. So why are we expected to know exactly how to be a wise, professional, sensible adult? It's not that we're irresponsible (for the most part, anyway). It's that we are young, inexperienced, and still have the sought-after, enthusiastic mentality that we can do and be whatever we want, which has not yet been tarnished by the reality of the world. These are just a few of the unrealistic expectations that society has for young adults.

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Dedicated to February 14

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1. You don't have to feel guilty about flirting with customers for tips (or just for shits and giggles).

2. You can be obnoxiously flirtatious with anyone you want. You are free to be that girl that flirts with everybody and makes 'em all smile (it's especially fun when the guy is as cute as Collin Jost). No shame.

3. Making random men nervous with your superior beauty and intense eye contact just for the hell of it is really amusing and empowering.

4. No one gives two poops if ya legs are hairy (your man shouldn't either but *Kermit the Frog meme* That's none of my business)

5. The toilet seat will remain down.

6. There's more money to spend on yourself.

7. There's always this secret butterfly in your tummy that marvels at the possibility that when you go out this weekend you're gonna meet someone super handsome/wonderful/prince-like and have this moment of dazzling dalliance.

8. Nothing is that serious...you can take it all with a grain of salt...you don't owe anybody anything.

9. You can dance with anyone and everyone...or no one (Hello frat boi w/ glasses, I see you).

10. You don't have to fluff anyone's ego but your own.

11. Free drinks and dinners from single guys (It's not taking advantage if they're offering; a girl's gotta eat).

12. You have more time to learn how to love and improve yourself rather than constantly pouring your energy into another person.

13. You don't have to sacrifice your cheesy Jen Aniston rom-coms and Gilmore Girls for his Fast and Furious/other dumb action movie featuring blonde that is only in the movie to supply a relationship to the male lead and to make him look more masculine/empowered in juxtaposition (In other words, you don't have to deal with a guy being a crabby Patty while you watch your cute movies).

14. You can daydream about what your future husband may be doing right now (and not get stressed/guilty out because you're not picturing your current boyfriend that's crazy about you as your future husband).

15. There is more time to be spent with your girlfriends.

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Each sign is determined by the relative positions of celestial bodies to ourselves at our moment of birth, which is said to influence our personalities. Find your zodiac GIF below, based on the traits and characteristics provided by each sign.

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