With my 22nd birthday right around the corner (2/23!), I've been thinking about everything that I have learned about life up to this point. Some things are quite obvious, like the fact that family should always be one of my top priorities, and others not so much. Being 22 is a whole new experience. We are past the young landmark birthdays such as 16, 18, and 21, and we wake up one day and realize that we are actually young adults now. When and how did this happen?
Here are 22 things that you should know before turning 22:
1. You should know that you mom was (and is) right about a lot more than we have ever given her credit for.
Go ahead and face it -- she was right, wasn't she? About your ex, your former friends, how you should have focused more in school, how your favorite outfit wasn't really flattering, and much more. Doesn't it suck?
2. You should know the significance of quality over quantity.
Friends come and go, whether we want to admit it or not. By the time you turn 22, you realize that it's actually OK that you can only count your friends on one hand. If people want to go, let them go. No matter how much effort you may put into relationships, you can't force people to stick around. Be thankful for those you've never had to second-guess would be there for you through everything. They're the true MVPs.
3. You should know that if somebody acts like they don't care about you, you should probably believe them.
It may take a few heartbreaks, but you'll learn after a while that people's actions really do reflect how they feel 99.99% of the time. Stop giving people the benefit of the doubt. Stop thinking that they're just being spacey most of the time because of some phase they must be going through. And stop thinking that whatever the problem is with them must be attributed to something that you've done.
4. You should know that As and Bs aim to please, but Cs and Ds get degrees.
You'll learn really fast that grades aren't everything. In fact, by the time you're 22, if you're still in school, you're probably doing the minimum to get by in school. As long as you pass, right?
5. You should know not to stress too much about the plans that you think you have for yourself. More than likely, they're going to change.
Plans are meant to change. Let me repeat that: plans are meant to change. Just because your life isn't matching up with what you once expected doesn't mean that you're a failure in any way. The best things in life are usually the ones that push our comfort zones and surprise us.
6. You should know that experience matters just as much as an education does.
Oh, so you're a straight-A student? What else do you do? Grades do not parallel with intellection. Employers are looking for candidates that have experience, whether it be from community service, school leadership, internships and/or other jobs. If you're an average student and you're involved with a few other important things, then you're golden.
7. You should know that food is the key to everything.
Do you want people to show up for a meeting? Have food. Do you want to impress your boyfriend's family at Easter? Have food. Do you want to become the next president of the United States? Have food. But, really -- food makes the world go round, especially free food.
8. You should know that gaining weight is a lot easier than losing it.
Speaking of food, you probably know by now that your "Freshmen 15" doesn't only apply to your first year of college. It's so much easier to gain the weight compared to losing it. Make smart decisions now.
9. You should know that if somebody tells you that they love you, you shouldn't always believe them.
People suck. What can I say? While I'm not saying that you should guard your heart every minute of every day, you should probably know to be realistic with what people bring to the table. Don't settle for anything less than you deserve.
10. You should know that experiences always triumph material things.
Material things come and go, but experiences (or, well, memories from those experiences) will last with you for a lifetime. So if you're debating on going on a fun Spring Break trip with your friends or buying that new phone or camera that you've always wanted, you should probably go with your friends. You'll never be at this place with these people at this point in your life ever again.
11. You should know that you're allowed to say "no."
It's natural to want to please people. In doing so, though, you'll probably add more onto your plate than you can manage. By the time you're 22, you'll probably already have come to the epiphany that you can actually say "no." Sometimes you have to do what is best for you. If you haven't reached this point in your life yet, don't worry -- it'll come soon enough.
12. You should know that it's okay to be single and actually focus on just yourself for a change.
There is nothing wrong with being single. In fact, it's incredibly healthy and fulfilling to be single at this age. You're able to figure out who you are with no influences (good or bad!). While there's nothing wrong with having a significant other, it's also important to remember that it's perfectly OK to prefer to be on your own for the time being. You may get lonely and envious sometimes, but you'll know that this point in your life, and where you're heading, is better off without having strings attached to somebody.
13. You should know that sometimes you're going to have to be your own biggest fan.
People aren't always going to agree or understand some of the things that you do and some of the beliefs that you have. It's important to be confident in who you are, though, because you're the one that you should strive to make happy at the end of the day.
14. You should know that there's a reason that your first love didn't, couldn't, and wouldn't last.
Sometimes it's hard to remember a past relationship and miss it, but it's important to remember that it didn't last for a reason. No matter how hard you may have tried or how hard your significant other may have tried, it couldn't work. Who knows? Maybe you'll meet somebody else who awakens a part of your soul that you've never even knew existed. Or maybe this is the time to grow individually. Accept that this relationship is in the past, though, and that it needs to stay there. That chapter of your life is over.
15. You should know the importance of staying on good terms with everybody that you meet.
No matter who it is -- ex-boyfriends, former professors, work colleagues, roommates -- always try to stay on the best of terms with everybody that you meet. You never know if you'll need them for anything at some point later on in life. Don't hold resentment or grudges for those who have wronged you, but it's OK to cut ties as long as you're still on decent terms.
16. You should know to keep your living space decently clean at all times.
Sometimes people show up unannounced. It just happens. And sometimes that person is your mother. Always keep the general living space clean. You do what you need to do with your closets, but make sure your mother doesn't accidentaly sit on your jacket that so happens to be covering a pizza box. Imagine the nagging.
17. You should know the value of not using social media as your main news source.
What's the nice way of saying that some of your social media friends may not be the sharpest crayons in the box? Or that they would believe that dinosaurs are still roaming Central Park? Or that their bandwagonning skills deserve an Olympic medal? Do your own research. Form your own opinions. Enough said.
18. You should know that sometimes crap just happens.
Sometimes things just happen in life that can't be explained. You can either let these things keep you down and distract you from your goals or you can let it mold you into a better person in the long-run. The choice is always yours.
19. You should know how special it is just to appreciate the simple, small things in life.
Especially when life gets tough, you'll need to take a step back from it and look at your life from all angles. Appreciate the small things that make you happy -- like the sunset on the way home from work, the girl that always smiles to you in the hallway, or the random card that your grandparents sent you. You do have a good life, you know.
20. You should know that if you're not happy with your life, only you have the power to change things.
Mind over matter! If you change your thoughts, you can change your life. Only you have the power to live the life you want.
21. You should know that we live in a messed up world.
The world isn't perfect. It has its flaws. I mean, come on -- our country is actually considering Trump to be our next president, for Heaven's sake. We have issues all around us, and, frankly, life is unfair.
22. But you should also know that you have the power to make an impact on it.
If you want something to change, be a part of that change. And if you aren't, then you're probably part of the problem. Stand up for what you believe in, despite what others may say or think about you. You only have one life. It's up to you what you do with it. Plus, at this age, the world is literally right at our feet. Embrace it!
