5 things I wish I knew before entering my 20s

Artwork by Aamir Khan

KARACHI: I’ve made it halfway through my 20s and as I look back at the years that have passed me by, I’ve come to realize how hard I was on myself. From unnecessary and unrealistic timelines, to running after relationships that should have died a natural death to fighting things that were inevitable, I realized that growing up, I had only made things harder for myself than they needed to be. I wish I had an adult to tell me these five things about life in my twenties as I transitioned into adulthood.

1. You’ll change as you grow older

As you mature into an adult, your thought process will mature with you. The beliefs and thoughts you once held may change completely and that’s okay. As you grow up you’ll experience the world and all it has to teach on your own and those experiences will change the way you think. And this might even mean ending up losing friends you once held dear and as painful as it is, it’s normal. You’ll end up finding new people who align better with you. Always remember you shouldn’t ever be made to feel guilty about your individuality.

2. You can have your own timeline

It’s been instilled in us that we need to graduate from the university by 21, have a well paying job by 25 and be married by 30. But who really set that timeline for us? There’s nothing wrong with going at your own pace. You can graduate by 23, find the job that was meant for you later on in life and you shouldn’t rush to find a partner just because you’ve hit that age. If you spend too much time stressing on the future, you won’t be able to focus on the present and all the good things that are happening around you.

3. No one knows what they’re doing

Always remember not to compare yourself with others around you. Never feel bad about the fact that it seems that your peers have it all figured out. Chances are they’re just as confused as you are and are winging their way through life. Growing up isn’t easy and there’s no set manual on how to go about it.

4. It’s never too late to make a career change

Sometimes we think we’ve got it all planned out. We want to be doctors, lawyers, bankers and we dedicate our lives to studying our way to our dream job. But what if we finally get that job and realize that the field just isn’t for us? Or after spending years at your dream job you realize there is something out there that you’re better at? What if instead of being a banker you’re meant to be a baker?

For some reason, we’re led to believe we need to have our jobs figured out from the get-go and we need to stick to that. I wish someone would have been there to tell me that it’s never too late to make a career change.

Things that were a part of every 90s’ kid’s childhood

5. You don’t owe anyone any answers

Half the time we shy away from doing the things we want to do because we fear that we’ll need to justify our decisions to those around us. You don’t owe anyone any answers or justifications for what you decide to do in your life. Do what makes you happy!