My 21st birthday was way back in December, so this article isn't a celebration of my age or anything. But a lot of my friends have been having birthdays recently, so what better thing to write about than to steal their thunder and write a list of 21 unsolicited life lessons?
Thanks for turning 21, guys. Let's start.
1. Take ownership of your life. Things may happen to you, but what matters more is how you handle things after the fact. 2. There has never been a situation where I’ve regretted working hard. Work hard, even when no one is watching, even if you’re not sure if there’s a reward at the end. It will always pay off, one way or another. 3. The correct amount of water to drink everyday should be half your weight in ounces. Yes, you read that right. 4. The grass is greener where you water it. Don’t be so quick to jump ship when things don’t go your way--the best things in life come with time, effort, and compromise. 5. Don’t peel nail polish off of your nails. 6. Life will go on whether you are ready or not. Time does not stop when you are hurt. Be strong, but be graceful. Things have a way of working out in the end. 7. Truly learning something is different from just getting an A. 8. Boba is extremely easy to make. If you really must satisfy the craving, consider buying your own pearls and tea and make your own. 9. Being organized and timely is a skill. Do not create a self-fulfilling prophecy by repeating the words, “I’m just a late person.” Be realistic with yourself--don’t estimate your time according to how long an ordinary person would take, estimate on how long you will take. 10. You will never be able to please everyone, so you might as well keep doing what is good for you and makes you happy. 11. People cannot read your mind. You cannot expect things or people to change if you do not let them know how you feel. 12. Always give people a chance to improve. Being kind is more than just a description of one’s character, it is an action. 13. Don’t watch mukbang videos at night. You will get hungry. You do not need to eat again. 14. If you are in a place of privilege where precious opportunities are given to you and not others, leverage these experiences to benefit others too. Do things for a common good. 15. Save the bags and tissue paper people use when they give gifts to you, and then reuse them when you need to for others. I promise no one will notice, you save a lot of money (why are some bags $5+?), and it’s better for the earth. 16. If you’re going to ask risky hypothetical questions, don’t get offended when someone answers in a way you weren’t expecting. 17. When making decisions via coin flip, the result of the flip isn’t what determines your decision--it’s how you feel when the coin is in the air. Listen to your heart. 18. Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best. Enough said. 19. My senior quote in high school was “No rain, no flowers.” Whenever you are going through tough times, know that they are necessary in order for you to recognize the good times. Again, everything is gonna be alright. 20. Stand up for yourself and others. 21. Show people you love them. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
Written by Jacquelyn "Luana" Huynh