I turn thirty next weekend, and as a result I’ve been spending a lot of time reminiscing about my 20s. I’ve found the whole process of remembering my 20s endearing, and have actually found myself laughing at the trivial problems I used to have. Back then I used to think that failing a subject was the end of the world; it’s funny how life experiences make us grow and mature, I would never consider a failing grade a problem now.
When I was in my early 20s, I spent a lot of time worrying about the future and the fact that I was probably never going to get a job after I graduated university. Even though I was young and naive, I was emotionally intelligent enough to recognise that this wasn’t a healthy mindset, and so to combat it I participated in a program of career coaching for students. I found it quite helpful, and although I still felt a little bit hopeless, I was much more aware of the many opportunities available to me once I finished university. That helped quite a bit.
I spent my early to mid twenties enjoying my youth and the fact that I had very little in the way of responsibilities, and the year I turned twenty six was when I decided to get my act together and start finding a job. I found one that didn’t require any of the qualifications that I had, but I just wanted to get something so that I had income coming in. At twenty eight, I was no longer happy about my job, and wanted a career. That was when I made the smart decision to make an appointment with a career counselling service. Melbourne is a massive city and I figured there had to be an opportunity for me out there somewhere. I just needed help finding one.
At twenty nine, I secured my career and I’m very much looking forward to continuing it in my thirties. Here’s to a new decade.