I recently celebrated by twenty-second birthday. My day was filled with quality time spent with my siblings and some of my best friends. But I think I have come to a place in my life where birthdays are not as special or exciting as they used to be. Of course, I love celebrating and spending time with dear friends and family; however, the sheer anticipation of being a year older is not the same as when I was a kid.

Instead, I see each year I grow older as an opportunity to reflect on how I have changed and what I have learned since the year before. That being said, here are twenty-two reflections on turning twenty-two:

1. Try foods you think you hate. You might even find that you actually LIKE sweet potatoes or brussel sprouts.
2. Failure is not an end—it is a beginning. It is important to know that you can make mistakes and move forward from those mistakes.
3. Consistency is key. The strongest relationships are those in which both parties are committed to being consistent.
4. You don’t need to find the perfect job as soon as you graduate. I have been fooled time and time again into thinking I need to find my dream job post-graduation. The truth is NO. I’ve learned from those older than me that most people start at three or more jobs before finding their ideal job.
5. Ask professors and faculty to have lunch or go out to coffee with you. They are actually really cool and have much wisdom and many stories to share.
6. Do new things as often as you can like learn to play poker, teach yourself how to play guitar or go beer tasting with your friends.
7. Always be ready to share the gospel. As a Christian, sharing your faith is your calling and should be your greatest delight.
8. Singleness does not define you. Over the past few years, I have been so ashamed by my singleness. Though I am not at a place where I am completely content, this year has brought a new appreciation for singleness and the opportunities it brings.
9. Connections are huge. I was given an internship opportunity by talking about my passions with someone I knew. So talk to people. Get your name out. You never know what opportunities might come your way.
10. You can lead and plan a retreat for high school girls—even though you didn’t think you could do it. I’ve learned that I am capable to do the things that I convinced myself I could not do.
11. Spend more time with kids. I have learned so much from little kids. They are carefree, joyful and speak their mind.
12. The most meaningful gifts are those given with everything one has. These can be things like thoughtful notes or a popsicle purchased with the last few coins in one’s pocket.
13. It’s okay to ask for help. No REALLY. It’s OKAY to ask for help. I have never been one to enjoy asking for help. But at the end of the day, we are all in this crazy life together. So why not lean on each other a bit?
14. Be courageous. Courages moments are meant to be had. Take a train into New York City. Preach a sermon. Share what’s on your heart to a stranger.
15. Let go of what you cannot control. There are so many situations in our lives we cannot control. Rather than trying to hold the reins on every little part of life, let go. In letting go, you have more space to be free.
16. There’s nothing like having a little kid fall asleep on your shoulder. It really shows you what trust looks like.
17. Don’t freak out if you can’t remember everyone’s name.
18. Mentor and be mentored. Mentorship relationships are beautiful and very important. I think you should be in relationships where you mentor someone and relationships where you are mentored by someone.
19. The most special memorable moments are those which are unplanned and uninhibited. My favorite memories have come from moments where I simply lounge around talk with my friends.
20. Don’t wish away your quiet time.
21. Internships/jobs/classes/ etc. aren’t perfect. In the end, the experience and how you handled it is what matters most.
22. In most cases, the most personal growth comes from the culmination of many small ordinary experiences rather than one big open-the-heavens moment.