I can remember walking through my high school's football field during my graduation ceremony. At that time, graduating had been the greatest accomplishment of my life. Graduating high school meant that my childhood was over and adulthood began.

I vividly remember wearing my royal blue gown and feeling such pride at the fact that I made it. Not only did I graduate, but I graduated with honors. I felt scared but invincible in a way because I was ready to conquer the world and no one was going to stop me.

In that moment, I planned out my life. I created a map for my life in my mind and arranged everything I was going to accomplish by the age of 25.

After looking back at how my life actually ended up as at 25, I laugh because nothing turned out like how I planned it. Yet, somehow I think it's better.

1. Get my B.A. degree by the age of 21.

During high school I often heard college counselors discuss the importance of taking Advanced Proficiency (AP) classes. The purpose of these classes were to help you shorten the time you would spend in college. I took as many as I could somehow hoping I would graduate before.

No one ever explained that according to recent studies the average completion time of a college degree is no longer four years but more than five.

I obviously did not graduate by 21 and instead I will be obtain my degree by 2017, ten years after graduating high school. It took me years to forgive myself for not meeting this goal. It was heartbreaking to see a few of my high school friends and people that graduated after me obtain their degree.

Now I realize it was for the best because I have a level of maturity and appreciation for learning that I didn't back then.

2. Having my career established by age 22.

Yeah, that didn't quite happen.

By the time I was 22 I was working two jobs in order to pay for my own rent and supporting myself. I worked as an administrative assistant during the day and as a sales associate at night. On my off nights I attended a night class at a community college.

I am currently still not working in the field that I aspire to be part of but hey, I'm getting closer each day.

3. Getting married by age 23 and having two kids by 25.

This is by far the last thing I came close to accomplishing. After experiencing different situations throughout my past relationships I realized that marriage is a huge commitment. Marriage is a life-changing decision and I will not make it just to meet a certain quota.

Back in high school I believed that you were supposed to get married because society said so. I now believe that getting married is an option. A choice, to be exact, which is not for everyone.

4. There is nothing else that will matter after 25.

I realized life actually does continue after 25. Things get better as you become more experienced. You learn how to appreciate life in a different way once you stop obsessing about meaningless things. I now look forward to my thirties and to all the amazing things the coming decades will bring to my life.