Dear twenty-something-year-old,
If you missed the first part of my letter to you on the things I wish I knew in my twenties Pt. 1, then click HERE to catch up.
In continuation of my letter to you, here are additional things you should watch out for as you live freely:
No. 6: You will be disappointed but don’t wallow in it
I have been disappointed too many times to count by people around me and by my own expectation of myself, but the worst thing was the time I spent dwelling on disappointments.
Disappointments could lead to depression if you do not take care of them, so you must not allow them to grow.
Regard them as a part of life that should be faced with courage. In fact, some disappointments I have faced have unlocked even bigger opportunities for me in the end. What matters the most is that you get up and try again.
Did you fail at entrepreneurship? Give it time and start again. Did you receive a mail stating that you are not qualified for that job? Give it time and start applying again. It does not matter that your friends laugh at you, it doesn’t matter that your family pities you. Those will pass.
The greatest disappointment is not failure; it’s not getting back up when you fail.
No. 7: You are the only one who fully understands your dream – trust yourself more
If you have ever shared an idea with someone and heard them laugh, you know how hurtful this is.
But really, don’t blame others for not understanding your vision. You can’t count on everyone to support your dreams. Forget it. Some may try to dissuade you with the best intentions. Others may do so just to watch you fail. Only a few will really be supportive enough to push you further to achieve your goals. And when you find those few, stick to them like glue.
But beyond others, trust yourself more. If you do not trust yourself, it will be so easy to get swayed.
No. 8: Don’t bother competing with anybody
It’s exhausting, really. Only compete with yourself.
She just got a job that pays her millions monthly and she was your secondary school classmate, and so? He just bought a new car and both of you graduated from the same set in the university. So what? Before you give yourself a heart attack for no reason, you need to slow down and re-evaluate.
The only person you should be competing with is yourself 1 year ago, 2 years ago, and so on. How much have you achieved compared with what you did a year ago? If there is no difference, I officially give you permission to worry.
No. 9: Take calculated risks
Your twenties are the best time to take risks. Yes, I said it.
The older you become, the more responsibilities you will have and the greater your fear to take risks. In other words, take your risks at the right time and don’t keep postponing them.
And apply for everything. Do you see those opportunities that keep popping up on LinkedIn? They are for you. Don’t be lazy to apply. Try your hands at everyone you can find, even if it is just for the experience.
It’s always best to make your mistakes early so you can amend them.
No. 10: Don’t wait till you finish school to get experience
I interview a number of young people today and every time, I am amazed at how enterprising and competitive they are. Many of them already have a project that they began in school, and it helps them showcase their skills and what they can do, even when they are applying for their job after school.
Don’t wait.
I know it is tricky to combine studies and work, but if you can, I will advise you to take on a side job that does not take too much of your time. At best, something that can take a maximum of 14 hours a week.
This way, your CV is loaded right after school.
No. 11: You don’t know it all. Get a mentor and an army of supporters
Really, you don’t.
I am always so embarrassed to review emails from my past and see how I was confidently spewing B.S* when in fact, there was so much I did not know.
What you are taught in school is great and will set you on the path to discovery, but it is only a mere fraction of what you actually need to succeed in life. The rest, you will pick up from the actual doing, and the best place to learn is at the feet of those who have gone before you.
So, this is the time to get a mentor, an adviser, and an army of supporters and people who have your back. Google may not know all the genuine answers, but real people – with history and experience – do, and they can tell you where to go and where to stay away from.
No. 12: There’s no rush in life, savour every moment
You only get one chance to be in your twenties. Sometimes I wish I could visit my 25-year-old self to tell her the things I have written down, but even if I had the chance, I doubt my stubborn little self would listen to this wiser, older version in her thirties.
If she indeed were to listen, I would tell her this: don’t rush, savour each moment, relish every stage because it will not come again. If you rush through a stage, you miss out on a critical learning curve and an incredible experience of a lifetime.
So dear twenty-something-year-old, I really wish you well.
Above all, I wish you would find the courage to own your decisions. I wish you many moments of laughter, and I wish you wisdom for your thirties because you will surely need it.
Happy Living!
Photo Credit: Canva AI
