20 Essential Things To Do Before You Turn 20
Start writing a post
Life Stages

20 Essential Things To Do Before You Turn 20

Don't leave your teen years wishing you had done more.

99
Girls Laughing
Alexandra Kirr

It's beginning to dawn on my friends and I that we will all be 20 by the end of next year. Some of us are already hitting that mark. As my teen years quickly slip through my fingertips and I am transcended into the boundaries of adulthood, I thought I'd share some tips on how to capture the true teen essence while simultaneously preparing for our twenties.

1. Vote.

Even if you are not a political person, your local government shapes your present and future. Whatever side you choose to stand on, leave your mark with a vote, and if you aren't registered to vote, what are you waiting for?

2. Go on a blind date.

c1.staticflickr.com

Pursuing a romantic relationship in this era seems completelty impossible and is sometimes just too complicated to deal with. But trusting your close friends to set you up with someone they think is "perfect" for you can be fun. And who knows, that blind date could either turn out to be the love of your life or a great story to laugh over for years to come.

3. Get a job.

upload.wikimedia.org

Whether you've had the same job since you were 16, you bounce from job to job every two weeks, or you've only ever worked one day in your life, that's OK!

You can learn a lot about yourself and other people from being employed. You may learn that you don't like working under someone and may want to invest in a future as an entrepreneur. Or, if you're like me, working as a server has taught me that I don't like pretending to care for people, so I should steer clear of a career that is centered around customer satisfaction. Building a work ethic now will help prepare you for your professional career.

4. Party on.

c1.staticflickr.com

Believe it or not, but the movie "Project X" is not an accurate representation of parties for teens, even though a lot of us would love to attend one just like it. Even if you seem like someone who prefers to stay in and read a book or watch Netflix on a Saturday night, I encourage everyone to attend a party. It's a great place to meet new people and create some great memories. There are different types of parties that suit your personality that doesn't have to involve the stereotypical risque behaviors. I personally only attend parties that are guaranteed to have food.

5. Volunteer in your community.

upload.wikimedia.org

Find something that you really care about and involve yourself in that. Do you love animals? Then volunteer at a pet shelter. Like kids? Try the Boys and Girls Club. A bit of a gym rat? The YMCA takes volunteers as well. Beach clean-ups can be a really cool experience, too! When I was a young bookworm, I volunteered at my local library, and now that I'm at UCF, I volunteer at one of the Planned Parenthood's located in the Orlando area.

6. Go a whole day without your phone.

We as a generation have become so addicted to smartphones that we actually miss out on the things that are happening right in front of our eyes. Take a break for 24 hours. Go to the park, take a nap, write a book, dye your hair, spend time with your family, anything! Just log off for a little bit.

7. See the sunrise with your friends.

Karl Magnuson

After an epic all-nighter with your friends, there is nothing more peaceful, beautiful, and surreal than sitting on the top floor of a parking garage huddled together still in last night's clothing awaiting daybreak.

My favorite sunrise spot is atop the Libra garage that overlooks the woods and all of the UCF campus.

8. Sneak out of the house.

True story: The first time I snuck out of the house was to return overdue library books. As boring as my experience may seem, it was still thrilling for me. Sneaking out is like a right of passage that solidifies your teen years. Do it, be safe, and don't get caught.

9. Get your driver's license.

You don't have to get your license as soon as you turn 16, but it sure is convenient. Even if you don't drive or have a car, it's still good to have one. It's less hassle and easier to walk around with than your passport or birth certificate.

10. Open a savings account.

c1.staticflickr.com

Saving money is hard when there's a lot of cool things you want to spend your money on. That's why I suggest opening a savings account. Take 10% of each paycheck and place it in that account and do not touch it. If your fingers are sticky and it's really hard for you to stay out of that account, throw out the card and forget the pin number. This way, you can only deposit money into the account and can't easily take money out.

11. Go on a road trip.

Long trips with good music, great company, and good conversations can be a lot of fun. Spontaneous road trips to the beach or on the way to a concert are great times to get closer to the people around you.

12. See your favorite artist live.

The 1975, my favorite band ever.

upload.wikimedia.org

It's a once in a lifetime experience, truly. Enough said.

13. Go to Disney World.

upload.wikimedia.org

This is where dreams come true, seriously! Bring out your inner child and relish in it before you have to dive into adulthood. There's a kid in all of us, and there is nothing as pure as seeing your favorite Disney characters face-to-face. It warms my heart every time I meet Princess Tiana and Mulan.

14. Reconnect with an old friend.

Looking back on my high school experience, there were a handful of people that I believed that we had the potential to become close friends, but the timing was never perfect, so we stayed acquaintances. Now that we are all in better places and the timing is finally right, don't be afraid to reach out to that person first, because they might be feeling the exact same way but don't know how to go about it. A quick Insta DM never hurt anybody.

15. Start a hobby that is unique to you.

Having a healthy and creative hobby that is unique to you is very important when starting an adult life. Because I am constantly on the go with work, school, and friends, I sometimes spend a night crocheting. My best friend even picked up knitting.

16. Start a travel piggybank.

c1.staticflickr.com

The saving account that you opened is to invest in your future. Your travel piggybank is or the fun adventures you want to experience around the world. I suggest buying a large world map to open up across your bedroom wall, and whenever you have a few loose dollar bills, pin it to the various places on the map that you would like to visit in the future. It is important to be consistent in saving and try your hardest to not touch the money.

17. Learn to cook.

You don't have to have a culinary degree or be a top chef, but living on your own is a little harder if you can't properly feed yourself. Don't fall for the ramen noodle stereotype and learn a few simple meals. My favorite easy go-to meal is pasta and ground turkey.

18. Donate to charity.

Give back to local non-profit charities. Whether you donate $1 or $100, you are making an impact.

19. Revamp your wardrobe.

c1.staticflickr.com

Still holding on to your clothes from 8th grade? Throw them away! Your style is sometimes the world's first impression of you, and you don't need a heavy wallet to create your dream looks. One of my favorite things to do is go around malls and online sites and take pictures of the outfits that I like that best represent me. Then I visit cheaper clothing stores like TJ Maxx, Plato's Closet, Fashion Nova, Forever 21, and local thrift shops to recreate those looks. It works every time! It's a great way to get my dream outfits on a really low budget.

20. Learn to love yourself.

There is nothing more important than loving yourself. And it's not going to happen instantly. So, learning about yourself early and learning to love yourself early is important in shaping the adult you. It's going to be a long journey to love, but start now. As RuPaul always says, "If you don't love yourself, how in the hell can you love anybody else?"

Everyone's teen experience is unique to them, but it's important to live it up, because as the years add on, the last thing you want to say to yourself is, "I could've done more."

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

6 Things Owning A Cat Has Taught Me

This one's for you, Spock.

4377
6 Things Owning A Cat Has Taught Me
Liz Abere

Owning a pet can get difficult and expensive. Sometimes, their vet bills cost hundreds of dollars just for one visit. On top of that, pets also need food, a wee wee pad for a dog, a litter box with litter for a cat, toys, and treats. Besides having to spend hundreds of dollars on them, they provide a great companion and are almost always there when you need to talk to someone. For the past six years, I have been the proud owner of my purebred Bengal cat named Spock. Although he's only seven years and four months old, he's taught me so much. Here's a few of the things that he has taught me.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Kinder Self - Eyes

You're Your Own Best Friend

6105
Kinder Self - Eyes
Pexels

It's fun to see all of the selfies on social media, they are everywhere. I see pictures with pouty lips, duck lips and pucker lips. I see smokey eyes, huge fake lashes and nicely done nose jobs, boob jobs and butt lifts. Women working out in spandex, tiny tops and flip flops. I see tight abs and firm butts, manicured nails and toes, up dos and flowing hair. "Wow", I think to myself," I could apply tons of make-up, spend an hour on my hair, pose all day and not look like that. Maybe I need a longer stick!"

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Rap Songs With A Deeper Meaning

Rap is more than the F-bomb and a beat. Read what artists like Fetty, Schoolboy Q, Drake, and 2Pac can teach you.

24753
Rap artist delivers performance on stage
Photo by Chase Fade on Unsplash

On the surface, rap songs may carry a surface perception of negativity. However, exploring their lyrics reveals profound hidden depth.Despite occasional profanity, it's crucial to look beyond it. Rap transcends mere wordplay; these 25 song lyrics impart valuable life lessons, offering insights that extend beyond the conventional perception of rap music.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

21 Drinks For Your 21st Birthday

Maybe don't try them all in one day...

4228
21 Drinks For Your 21st Birthday

My 21st birthday is finally almost here. In honor of finally turning 21, I thought I'd share 21 fun drinks since it's finally legal for me to drink them.

Some of these drinks are basic, but some of them are a little more interesting. I thought they all looked pretty good and worth trying, so choose your favorites to enjoy at your big birthday bash!

Keep Reading...Show less
Politics

Ancient Roman Kings: 7 Leaders of Early Rome

The names and dates of the reigns of the first four kings, as well as the alternation of Sabin and Latin names, are more legendary than historical. The last three kings, of Etruscan origin, have an existence which seems less uncertain.

6081
inside ancient roman building
Photo by Chad Greiter on Unsplash

It is evident that all this is only a legend although archeology shows us little by little that these kings if they did not exist as the ancient history, describes them, have at least in the very Outlines were real as chief of a shepherd’s tribe. The period when kings ruled Rome could estimate at 245 years.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments