7. Go to a music festival. | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Life Stages

20 (Realistic) Things To Accomplish Before Your 20th Birthday

We always see those lists about making a bucket list for yourself, but they always seem to include crazy shit like "jump out of a plane" or "shave your head!!!" Here are 20 things that you can ~actually~ get done.

369
20 (Realistic) Things To Accomplish Before Your 20th Birthday

Now that I'm halfway to 21, I've realized some of the most important things that I've learned/done/seen in my two decades on this earth.

1.  Get a credit card (and learn how to budget your money).

Being a young adult is ridiculously expensive, so make sure you stay on top of your game. Also, it's literally never too early to start building good credit. Research what credit card is best for you and just use it to buy groceries once in a while or for emergencies (AND THEN PAY IT OFF RIGHT AWAY)!!!

2.  Perfect your LinkedIn.

Taylor Kellogg

You might think this is an old person thing, but I promise that it will help in your career journey... so many potential networking opportunities can come from this so make sure yours looks good.

3.  Find something you're good at.

THIS CAN LITERALLY BE ANYTHING. Playing an instrument, art, running a small business, taking photos, tutoring, going on mission trips, literally anything that you're passionate about and enjoy doing - this will make you happier and seem super impressive.

4.  Master the 'fun facts' about yourself.

You're going to have to sit through boring ice breakers in class, so you might as well stunt on your peers and have some gems ready. For example: I say that "the first thing on my bucket list is to take a DNA test on Ancestry.com to see if I'm related to the creator of Kellogg's cereal."

5.  Register to VOTE!!!!!

Be part of the change we need to see in the world, it's falling apart and we are the generation that needs to save it. Do your civic duty.

6.  Watch the sunrise.

Taylor Kellogg

Good for your mental health... and your snapchat story.

7.  Go to a music festival.

Taylor Kellogg

One of the most fun things you will do, dancing to your favorite songs with your favorite people.

8.  Make a vision board. 

Super lame and cheesy but this helps you get excited about your dreams and ideas and plans. Laying everything out in front of you and looking at it every day can actually help you achieve these dreams faster.

9.  Road trip with friends.

Taylor Kellogg

Every single person needs to do this once in their lives; you don't even have to go far (drive to the next state or go visit your grandparents... just pack up the car and drive).

10.  Learn how to change a flat tire.

Taylor Kellogg

You don't realize how useful this will be when you're in a sticky situation with your friends. Ask your dad, I'm sure he would be so excited to show you.

11.  Get a planner (and actually use it).

This will help you get your shit together... and we all know you need it.

12.  Learn a foreign language.

The world is changing, learn a language other than your own and be able to communicate with other people.

13.  Take a risk.

Go cliff jumping, ride that roller coaster you're kinda scared of, get bangs or dye your hair blue. Do something that makes your heart race a little bit and I promise you'll feel better afterward.

14.  Deep clean your closet.

Get rid of that shirt that you're holding on to "in case you go to a Hawaiian-themed party one day." You're never going to wear it and if you get rid of enough stuff, you can probably make a good bit of money (pro tip: sell your gently-used clothes at Plato's Closet!!!).

15.  Tell your friends and family how much they mean to you.

Taylor Kellogg

Make their day, they need to hear it as much as you need to say it.

16.  Figure out a plan.

Whether that be for next week, next year or the next two decades, figure out what you want to do with your time and make sure you start working to accomplish those goals.

17.  Do an activity by yourself.

Taylor Kellogg

OK, you might feel a little lame at first, but I promise that this is kind of freeing. Go see a movie, take a cooking class, go to yoga, anything really. One time, I went to a concert by myself because no one else wanted to go, and it was honestly one of the most fun nights of my life. Sometimes you have to be your own best friend and do things that make YOU happy.

18.  Find your go-to dish to cook.

You can impress people by having them over for dinner or show your parents that you're not incompetent — either works!!!

19.  Fall in love.

If it's not with a significant other, then fall in love with yourself. Now is the prime time for us to get down on ourselves — we're young and scared and unprepared. So make sure you tell yourself that you're proud of where you are and where you're going.

20.  LSU Edition: hit all the iconic spots!!!

Taylor Kellogg

Jump in Dodson fountain (or you won't graduate). Dance in the sprinklers on the parade grounds in the middle of the night. Try every ice cream flavor in the dairy store. Go see who lives in your old dorm room and make friends with them. Watch the sunset from the top of the Barnes & Noble parking garage.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

28 Daily Thoughts of College Students

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

94
group of people sitting on bench near trees duting daytime

I know every college student has daily thoughts throughout their day. Whether you're walking on campus or attending class, we always have thoughts running a mile a minute through our heads. We may be wondering why we even showed up to class because we'd rather be sleeping, or when the professor announces that we have a test and you have an immediate panic attack.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Great Christmas Movie Debate

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

1393
The Great Christmas Movie Debate
Mental Floss

One staple of the Christmas season is sitting around the television watching a Christmas movie with family and friends. But of the seemingly hundreds of movies, which one is the star on the tree? Some share stories of Santa to children ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), others want to spread the Christmas joy to adults ("It's a Wonderful Life"), and a select few are made to get laughs ("Elf"). All good movies, but merely ornaments on the Christmas tree of the best movies. What tops the tree is a movie that bridges the gap between these three movies, and makes it a great watch for anyone who chooses to watch it. Enter the timeless Christmas classic, "A Christmas Story." Created in 1983, this movie holds the tradition of capturing both young and old eyes for 24 straight hours on its Christmas Day marathon. It gets the most coverage out of all holiday movies, but the sheer amount of times it's on television does not make it the greatest. Why is it,
then? A Christmas Story does not try to tell the tale of a Christmas miracle or use Christmas magic to move the story. What it does do though is tell the real story of Christmas. It is relatable and brings out the unmatched excitement of children on Christmas in everyone who watches. Every one becomes a child again when they watch "A Christmas Story."

Keep Reading...Show less
student thinking about finals in library
StableDiffusion

As this semester wraps up, students can’t help but be stressed about finals. After all, our GPAs depends on these grades! What student isn’t worrying about their finals right now? It’s “goodbye social life, hello library” time from now until the end of finals week.

1. Finals are weeks away, I’m sure I’ll be ready for them when they come.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas tree
Librarian Lavender

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

2295
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments