I am young, 20 years old to be exact. I know I have a lot of lessons to learn, places to see, and mistakes to make. But, the other day I realized I hit some type of maturity level in my life where I wasn't the same old high schooler that I once used to be. I think you hit a level maturity when you take lessons and instead of just throwing them away, use them for the future. People say "Learn from your mistakes," but they forget the, "and don't let them happen again" part of the saying. I think people don't realize how much better life can get when you use your mistakes and lessons to your advantage.

A long time ago, there was this guy I thought I loved in high school. He was the most frustrating person I have ever met, and with that being said we realized we both weren't right for each other. But the one thing in that whole relationship that I learned was that I should ask before I assume. The words coming out of his mouth irritated me every second but as I grew older I came to realize that maybe the words weren't that far from the truth.

I took that lesson and made sure to put that in every relationship and every friendship I have ever had since. I'm here to tell everyone that it works. Taking your mistakes and lessons and actually using them for the future helps you become a better person and helps you hit a bigger level of maturity along the way. It will make your relationships, your friendships, and your everyday experiences a lot better.

The lesson of asking before you assume is such an overlooked concept. Many people judge from a distance and believe what others say and fail to ask the person themselves. The people that do that are narrow-minded and may be missing out on someone who they would get along with or even love. When it comes to relationships, partners assume things about there partners like what they are thinking, how they feel, or who they are texting. People jump to conclusions and ruin good things. Then there are friendships, where your friend thinks you did something behind there back and instead of asking they assume.

Everyone matures differently and at there own pace. But I am happy I have learned this lesson because without it I would not be the person I am today or be in the position I am today.