I remember laying in my bed on the morning of my university's first day of classes, wondering where the time went. It felt like yesterday that I was entering high school. My first day of senior year of college was also the first day of my brother starting high school. I'm sure he was nervous, and excited to begin this new chapter of his life. I laid there wondering how tons of people would give to be where I am now. A senior in college, getting ready to polish my resume, and apply to graduate schools. The world is truly at my fingertips. All of the opportunities of being a young adult stood in front of me, and having to make decisions about who I wanted to be. I also thought about how all of the years seemed to go by in a matter of seconds. Watching my brother go into high school seemed unreal. It's kind of funny that you can spend your whole life wanting to grow up, and you don't even realize how quickly it all goes by.
Going away to college was one of the best decisions I have made for myself. I wasn't sure if it was for me. I didn't know how I would react to being away from home, and adjusting to semi adult life. It was the first time I could make decisions for myself, and have to really live with my consequences. I may have learned a few lessons the hard way. Additionally, I have learned to be kind, to work tirelessly, and to laugh at myself sometimes. If you know me, you may say that I have a bold and sarcastic personality, but I really have a deep genuine care for others.
I've learned a thing or two in my young adulthood, and I look forward to learning more. Not all of the lessons have been academic. Actually the majority of them have been through personal growth.
So, this article is for the ones who are having a rough time adjusting to their 20s, because sometimes it feels like we don't have it together at all. We compare ourselves to our friends who may be starting their lives, or what our parents accomplished by our age. We know where we are going, but we are simply not there yet. Sometimes it feels like we put in a lot of work, and effort, with nothing to show for it. Being a young adult is hard. Even if these are the best years of your life, you may still experience stress, and growing pains.
While you may have some distance to go, take a step back. Try to just appreciate how far you have actually come, and the rest will fall into place when it's meant to. I used to look at failure or time as an impossible obstacle, and the challenge to overcome would be far too great. Then, looking back on the last few years, (of both high school and college), I didn't learn the most from the classes I received an A in. Most of the time, I learned the most in the classes I worked my tail off in for a B. There is a lot to be learned and appreciated at this time of your life. The beginning of this year I thought I wanted to trade places with the underclassmen, who seem to have nothing but time on their hands, but as we move into classes I think that I would not trade where I am for anything.
So, for those of you who are moving toward your final years of college, or recently graduated, you’ll be moving onto bigger and better things. It just takes time. And for people like my younger brother, who are just entering young adulthood, take it all in and experience any chance for personal growth. The good thing about life is, nothing lasts forever. The bad thing about life is, nothing lasts forever.
