Why Your Twenties Matter: 3 Decisions That Will Set The Course Of Your Life
Being in your twenties can be adventurous, uncomfortable, and exciting all at once. After graduating high school or college, some people feel that the world is at their feet, while others are overwhelmed with anxiety about what is to come.
My 25th birthday is in a few months, so I’m taking some time to reflect on the first half of my twenties. When I was a junior in college at 20 years old, I was required to read Meg Jay’s book, The Defining Decade. In the book, she reveals that 80% of life’s most defining moments happen before age 30 and that the best way to see positive personality changes in the twenties is to “get along and get ahead.” It was a wonderful book that got me thinking about how to best spend the decade ahead.
At 20 and 21, I was in my last two years of college, working on school while maintaining a leadership position in my sorority, staying plugged in to my church community, competing in pageants, and dating my now husband. At 22, I moved to Maine. While in Maine, I started working on my master’s degree, volunteered as a community educator for the Alzheimer’s Association, competed for Miss Maine USA, got engaged, and started planning a wedding. At 23, I won Miss Maine USA and fulfilled that role with appearances at a myriad of events throughout the country while preparing for the Miss USA pageant and getting married. Thus far, at 24, I have competed in the Miss USA pageant, continued working on my master’s degree, finished my role as Miss Maine USA, moved to South Carolina to be with my husband, continued doing volunteer work, and started freelance writing and speaking.
Am I an example of the perfect twenty-something? Certainly not. But I am content with the trajectory of my life. Over the past five years, I have had moments of confusion and frustration, but in each aspiration and experience, I have found purpose. The key to success in your twenties is not perfection or reaching your peak. But rather, it’s about making decisions with the end in mind. The twenties are about progress, process, and laying the foundation for what is to come.
While your twenties are certainly a time to make mistakes and grow, it isn’t a season of life to waste. So, how can twenty-somethings seize this era of their lives? Let's get into the 3 decisions that will set the course.