Your 20s Should Be More Than A 'Party Stage' | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post

Your 20s Should Be More Than A 'Party Stage'

I am not going to waste my time on nights I won't be able to remember the next day.

527
Your 20s Should Be More Than A 'Party Stage'
Courtney French

Have you ever felt stuck? So stuck in place that no matter what you do, all your efforts cannot help change your great amount of stuck-ness? I am stuck – stuck on a path that hopefully leads to somewhere that is less sticky. If you've ever been in a party house during daylight hours, you know that I mean. My life is both physically and metaphorically sticky.

One of the most popular questions people in their late teens and early adulthood hear the most is "What do you want to be when you grow up?" We know what you all want to hear: "I'm going to school for _____, so obviously I'm going to do that."

False.

We don't want to do that. If anyone could choose anything, we'd most likely choose something else.

I want to do yoga on a beach every morning, adopt 12 dogs, eat only from farmers markets and somehow still manage to travel the world.

However, when I answer that famous question, I always reply with, "Wherever the wind takes me." This is mostly for insurance purposes, as younger me answered with ludicrous ideals such as a dentist or US President. Not that those aren't something to strive for, they just aren't for me. Just like I know my parents won't appreciate that I aspire to be a homeless, dog-hoarding beach bum. I have real aspirations. One current goal is getting a full night's rest and still managing to wake up on time. That goal has been hopelessly unattainable in previous years, but I am working on it.

So here is where I am stuck. I am in college surrounded by wonderful people with amazing goals and abilities, future leaders of our world and loving parents to next generations. I meet amazing people every day, and they all get caught up in the same routine. Study hard, play harder. Now, it is no surprise that the US is one of the binge-drinking capitals of the world; we have no traditions like small glasses of wine with food to enhance the experience of the meal. We have a culture of partying and throwing up.

The US is not the only country that glorifies alcohol consumption, though: Hostels and tourist towns all over the world propagate drinking as a way to entice travelers and erase the language or social barriers among guests. Since one of my main goals of not being stuck is to travel, I do not plan to spend a vast majority of it drinking and dancing the night away – I can do that at home with people who will keep me safe, and take proper care of me.

So, I am still stuck on a path of higher education and trying to find that gust of wind to take me away and set me down somewhere I can be happy and useful. I am not going to waste my time on nights I won't be able to remember the next day. In order to be carried away on the wind, I need to have great wings, wings made of talents and skills you can't get from any ordinary college degree. I will have strong wings made up of even stronger memories and experiences. No matter how stuck on chasing that big dream you may be, you are never too stuck to work on the little things in life. Chase a small dream, become a certified yoga instructor, find a job that allows you to learn a new skill, spend a day with your friends attending a workshop or seminar.

There is so much in life we have yet to experience, and why not try to get that full nights rest instead of going out for the night? Wake up early and show the world its stickiness is only temporary.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

180374
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

7401
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

452581
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23334
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments