Growing up is never easy, everyone is bound to have their share of ups and downs. Particularly as you transition out of being a teen, times will be turbulent and challenging. While plenty of adults are quick to remind you about the stresses of life, it’s important to remember that you are allowed to enjoy your 20s. There are undoubtedly challenges ahead that will require hard work and dedication, but you can also stay entertained in the process. Get ready for your wild ride into adulthood with these 25 things everyone growing up will learn.
1. School Will Get More Important
I know you’re tired of hearing it, but school really does get more important. When you only have a few assignments per semester, one or two bad projects can make your grade take a hit.
2. School Gets More Entertaining
That being said, every so often in university you’ll have off beat hobby classes, like Philosophy of Harry Potter. Thankfully, this is also the class where you have one project for the whole semester and the professor’s always 10 minutes late.
3. School Will Get More Fun
Despite the fact that you’ll be studying nonstop and sleeping never, you will be able to experience the perks of midnight fast food runs and prank wars.
4. You Can Go To School ANYwhere
General studies are pretty much uniform across most nations. Even if you don’t go to school in another country, don’t forget that you really can just pick up and move. Striking out on your own for school could make all the difference in your life.
5. Your Safe Places Will Always Be Your Favorite
As much as you grow up, and as far as you move away, the places you cuddled up as a toddler will always be your favorites. Suddenly, you’ll be looking for more reasons to visit Grandma’s house.
6. Moving Will Always Suck
On the other hand, when you do move away, you find out why mom or dad was always so cranky on moving day. It doesn’t get better.
7. Moving To New Places Will Never Get Old
But, seeing a completely new place and people will always be rewarding and stimulating.
8. You Can Choose Your Work
Everyone will tell you that you must choose a career that pays off. However, remember that you will spend approximately 90 000 hours at work over your life. Choose something you love.
9. You Can Choose Your Dream Life
Though it’s easy to get tied down with responsibilities, you really can pursue the things you always dreamed of.
10. You Can Deviate From The Norm
It might be comfortable to choose a predictable career, so you might be tempted to settle. However, more and more companies are adopting flexible work weeks and better employee conditions. If you throw yourself into what you love, you can usually find some ways to pay your bills.
11. Cooking Will Become Valuable
You might get picked on for knowing how to cook now, but it won’t be long before everyone will be wishing they had your skills.
12. Cooking Will Make You Sexy
In fact, you will be able to save money on dates if you know how to cook. Nothing is more sexy than someone who knows their way around the kitchen.
13. Being Smart And Dedicated Will Make You Sexy
Similarly, you probably get made fun of if you are someone who pays attention in school. Don’t worry – give it five years and people will either envy your job, or your accomplishments.
14. Nerdy Interests Are Suddenly Valuable
Similarly, having nerdy interests will start to pay off. Where you used to be made fun of for doing well in school, you now get paid to tutor.
15. You Will Find Your People
Especially if you’re someone getting picked on, know that you will find your people as you grow up. As you move to new places, you naturally shed the assumptions of your past.
16. The World Is Bigger Than You Think
Keep in mind that the world is much bigger than you think. Thousands of distinct and impressive cultures span the globe, waiting for you to appreciate them.
17. The World Is Scarier Than You Think
However, especially if you’ve grown up in the Western world, it can be easy to forget the terrible realities of much of the world. The fact of the matter is, you do need to be careful going about foreign places, but that doesn’t mean your decisions have to be cautious.
18. You Are More Capable Than You Think
Even though the world is a challenging place, you will find you are tougher, and more adept at handling challenges than you thought.
19. You Are More Talented Than You Think
You are also likely to find that your younger self was too critical on you.
20. But Talent Isn’t Enough To Get You There
Even though you should appreciate yourself, unfortunately you’re about to find out that talent is not enough to get where you want to go. Hard work, perseverance, dedication, and tenacity are all required as well. But, if you can hone good work habits, you will be unstoppable.
21. Money Is Worth More Than You Think
Money suddenly spends faster than you think as soon as you’re paying more of your own bills. For a long time, it will seem like no matter what you do, you barely make ends meet.
22. Being Thrifty Is Better Than You Think
Which is why you will suddenly discover why your parents made you reuse sandwich bags and wear your clothes more than once before washing.
23. Living Simply Is It’s Own Reward
Even though this financial struggle isn’t always fun, you will learn to love living simply. Things money can’t buy really are the most rewarding.
24. You Don’t Have Forever To Be Adventurous
Make sure you strike out and discover a new corner of the world while you’re growing up, because you don’t have forever to be adventurous.
25. You Do Have Forever To Work Somewhere Soul Crushing
There will however, always be repetitive, mundane jobs waiting for you when you get back.
