Being a twenty-something has its ups and downs
People older than me say they wish they were my age when they ask me how old I am.
I can see their minds start to wander off as they repeat, “23, wow.” I imagine them thinking of themselves at that age.
It could be regret they are thinking about. Maybe they are over scrutinizing all the little decisions they made in life, thinking how it all could have worked out so much better.
I want to tell them being young is not always what it’s cracked up to be. Yes, there are a lot of good things to being young. I can do pretty much whatever I want.
I don’t have a family. I’m working and in school, but my time is pretty much my own. I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to pay the mortgage this month or figure out a way to bring my kids to practice.
I have potential. Potential to go in any direction in life. After I graduate next year, I can go for a job around my home state or apply somewhere far away. I can start a business. I can work somewhere that has nothing to do with my degree.
My options are pretty much limitless. This is a good thing.
But it’s also a bad thing.
I have a hard time making decisions and sticking with them. I have many different interests, and it scares me to pick just one and stick with it for the rest of my life.
I’ve switched majors three or four times. I’ve had countless jobs already in a ton of different fields. I've worked in banking and in pest control, and almost everything in between.
Having this many options makes me overthink things. I’ll hear about a certain career path and fall in love with it. I’ll work toward that path for a year or so and then end up dropping it completely.
I think I might love the grind that comes with working to a goal more than the goal itself. It’s something I need to work on.
My problem is figuring out how to be more consistent. Actually, my real problem is figuring out who I need to be and what I want from life exactly.
I’m not afraid to work. I know once I figure out what I want, I can get it. I’ll do what it takes.
The problem with being young is that you don’t know what you want.
There are a few exceptions, but I’m not one of them.
It’s time to do some soul searching.
