My twenty-first birthday is approaching very fast. With this age comes new privileges, new responsibilities, and a new picture on my driver’s license. I’m one of the oldest among my friends so instead of spending my night out at a bar I’ll probably be spending my night at home playing “Cards Against Humanity” (which I think sounds like way more fun anyway). During this past year, I’ve grown a lot as a person. My twentieth year of life hasn’t been particularly exciting or mind blowing but I figured I’d share some life lessons I’ve learned along the way.

1. Put yourself first
2. Fight for your happiness
3. Going to bed early is the bomb
4. Waking up early is also the bomb
5. Do all of the reading for class
6. Avoiding confrontation doesn’t mean you should let people take advantage of you
7. Skin care is very important
8. Tell people what they need to hear
9. Make time for your friends
10. Treat yo self
11. If you don’t feel comfortable with something don’t do it
12. Talk to new people
13. Listen to old music
14. Listen to new music
15. Leggings are the best pants
16. Iced coffee can change any terrible mood into a happy one
17. Watching an entire television series for the second time isn’t as great as the first but it’s still pretty good
18. Put as much effort as you can into everything you do
19. Being early is always better than being late
20. Don’t be afraid to try new things

By applying these lessons to my own life, I’ve found that I’m a genuinely happier person. I think I’m getting pretty close to being the adult I want to be. Whether you’re the same age as me, slowly approaching twenty-one, or older, it’s important to realize that there’s always more to learn.

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