Dear 20 Somethings, Here Are 10 Brutal Truths You Need To Know

Turning 20 is exciting. You have lots of friends and your life couldn’t be better. However, it’s also the most confusing time in a young adult’s life. It’s where you make so many mistakes (God knows I have made countless) and learn from them. It’s also the time that society expects so much from you.

You are done with school and your parents expect you to get a job and get your life in order. It’s the time you want to invest because you have been told time and time again that investing in your 20s is a smart move. You also want to be independent but life seems to be serving you one lemon after another. You know what you want but have no idea how to get there.

It is the most confusing time when you realize that nothing is set in stone yet; the society expects you to have everything figured out.
So as a fellow 20 something myself, here are 10 brutal truths that I have had to learn and still learning in life that has ended up shaping me into who I am.

Related: An Open Letter To 20 Something Young Kenyans 

1. Nobody cares

Nobody gives a damn if your career is not going well. Nobody cares if you are not feeling well. Nobody cares that you are in a rocky place right now.

Sure, there are those who care but that’s just for a bit and they move on and leave you to pick up the pieces that are your life. Everybody has stuff going on and it’s up to you to take responsibility of your own life.

Sure friends will be there, but how many are willing to remain and stand by you even as you are going through turbulence?

2. There is nothing like being on time, you are late

I have come to learn this the hard way. Time doesn’t wait for you and people move on around you. It doesn’t matter whether you arrived for that job interview right on time. To everyone else, you are still late. You should have arrived before time.

3. You have nothing to prove

Sure, you have been made to feel like you owe everyone an explanation for how your life is. Well, you don’t. You don’t owe anyone anything and you have certainly nothing to prove to anyone.

The truth is that, the harder you try to prove how much you know something; you only end up showing them how much you don’t know. So treat the world as a learning ground and know that there is still so much you have to learn in this world.

4. Reading is very important
It still amazes me how most people abandon reading the moment they graduate. They can’t even make an effort to even go online and browse through a blog. You can’t even sit through a 30-minute documentary.

Dear 20 something, reading never stops and whether you like it or not, you have to keep feeding your brain with knowledge because you need it.

5. You are who you spend your time with

Show me your friends and I’ll tell you the kind of person you are. Surround yourself with success and you will become a successful person. Surround yourself with failures and that’s the end of you.

Choose your friends carefully and don’t be afraid to break hearts. The kinds of friends you keep today reflect what your life will be in 10 or 20 years.

6. You are the most valuable asset you have

Never be afraid to enjoy life in your 20s otherwise you will be a very bitter old champ. However, as you enjoy your life, realize that your 20s are the best time you have to invest in yourself.

Instead of giving yourself liver cirrhosis every weekend at the club sign up for gym sessions. Instead of spending five hours of your life window shopping at Two Rivers Mall, learn something new.

Learn to draw or paint or anything else that interests you instead of browsing through IG before bed. Take good care of yourself and nurture what is important in life.

7. Learn the art of the deal – master money

Someone once said that ‘unless you master money, money will master you.” Move from that apartment to a more affordable place. Learn to cook instead of ordering out. Learn to save instead of spending. Always take a portion of your earnings and save it up for a rainy day.

You don’t have to wait to be 30 to start making conscious decisions about money. Start now when you still have the time.

8. Achievement is momentary

That raise that you have been longing for won’t necessarily make you happy. That job switch won’t change your attitude about being employed.

If you don’t enjoy what you are current doing, then stop and do something else because it’s a long road down that regret path. Don’t miss out on being happy because you want to prove to people that you are responsible and not choosy.

9. There is nothing like failure

Failure is basically a reflection of what you expect. If you don’t expect failure then it doesn’t exist. Stop listening to people who keep making you feel like a failure because your friends seem to be doing so well in life and you are yet to figure out what career path you want to take.

We can’t all move at the same pace. Your time is coming so don’t stress about it.

There is nothing like failure just lessons. Learn from those lessons, pick up from where you left and move on with your life.

10. Life is all about who you know

The greatest asset you have is the people you know. Never take for granted anyone in your life especially those that may help you move forward.

Invest in creating meaningful networks and strive to also add value to their lives.

Being 20 something is awesome but at the same time, it sucks when people compare you with others or worse when you make that comparison with yourself. Move at your own pace and make life decisions that will influence your life positively.

Related: 10 Misconceptions in Your 20s That Are Keeping You Frustrated

Lilian Wamaitha is a Communications and Digital Marketing Officer at Career Point Kenya. Contact her via lilian@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke. Click here to like us on Facebook.