Folks in late 20s - early 30s: looking back at your early 20s..

Just remember brethren, at 40 we'll probably say "I wish I did xyz when I was 30"

Be the change you want to see starting today.
 
32 Now.

I started off working in Finance/Accounting when I got out of college at 23. When I was about 27, I said this corporate/Manhattan/9-5 life wasn't for me. I saved all the money I made working and decided to go back to school to try to work to work in the healthcare industry. Originally, I set sights on becoming a Physical Therapist, went back to school took all my pre-req. Got into PT school and then said, I wanted more patient interaction. Went back to school again, took more classes, figured some more things out...worked another year just in between at a mortgage firm to make some money. After all that finally, I went into Nursing school. I'm in nursing school now and things seem to be on the come up for me. I'm liking  the direction I am headed now and can see a ton of opportunity within the field. In the end, after I graduate and work for a little while, I will probably head back to school again and get my doctorate degree in nursing or become a nurse anesthetists. 

So as far as what I wish I would have done in my early 20s, it would be to have planned things out better. Took pick a career that actually pertained to my interest as a person. Something that would allow me to grow and present a large amount of opportunity moving forward. While I can say, I wish I figured it out earlier, the only way I was going to be able to figure things out was by going down the road I went on. 

My main advice to anyone in that mid 20s age is, if you're not happy with where you're at now and you feel like your career is compromising who you are as a person, its not too late. Get out and take control of yourself and make the path that you want to lead. Don't watch other people do it and make excuses as to why you weren't able to do it and others could. Keep placing yourself in positions where new opportunities may arise. DO NOT BURN ANY BRIDGES. 

I also agree with some others on being single in your early 20s. I got in long-term relationships when I was younger and I feel like they held me back. You still don't know who you are when you're that young. You're going to keep growing and meeting new people. Don't put making some girl happy or temporary young 20s fun ahead of your longterm building. Figure out a plan and move toward it. 

Keep an open mind to things. Treat people with respect.

Do good and good will come back to you. 
 
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This is NT so I know we all have a fetish for kicks and clothes or whatnot, but don't waste all your time and money chasing this stuff. I fall a victim to it too sometimes...that pair of shoes or jacket that you need to have goes right into the closet with all the others you needed to have 2 months earlier. It's fine if you can afford to spend some extra cash and buy some of the things you like, but they're just things. They don't mean anything and they ultimately will not make you happy. 
 
wj4 said:
....would you do things differently?

I've had this conversation with many of my friends in the last month or so. I'm about to turn 30 later this year so I was just reflecting back.

My friends who are now doctors, pharmacists, etc wish they had more time back in college to go out and party.

Conversely, the ones I know who partied a lot wished they took school more seriously so they're not just starting fresh in college at the tail end of their 20s.

I regret not getting more experience in. So many summers wasted doing nothing while in undergrad.
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No sense regretting.  It's only meaningful to reflect and pass views onto others, as opposed to dwelling and playing Back to the Future.
 
wj4 said:
....would you do things differently?

I've had this conversation with many of my friends in the last month or so. I'm about to turn 30 later this year so I was just reflecting back.

My friends who are now doctors, pharmacists, etc wish they had more time back in college to go out and party.

Conversely, the ones I know who partied a lot wished they took school more seriously so they're not just starting fresh in college at the tail end of their 20s.

I regret not getting more experience in. So many summers wasted doing nothing while in undergrad.
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Looking back on it, I probably wouldn't have done things differently. I felt that I was able to make the choices that made me happy, which directed me on who I am today. Sure, I could have considered obtaining a degree that would had lead toa higher paying career, but I enjoyed what I went to school for.

I, too, am turning 30 in October and it is crazy hiting huge milestones in the past year...But I'm thankful to be where I am in my life.
 
Definitely....but it's important to not dwell on it and just try and improve your current situation as best as can. If I COULD do it all over, I would try and save more, study harder, and party harder.....but hey that's life.

Sometimes I regret copping that Beamer but **** I can't help myself from stuntin' on a nice summer day :lol: :smh:
 
To sit around and regret your past is pretty much saying you dont like who you are now.

The only time you even think about stuff like that is when you're not happy with what going on in your life currently.
 
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A lot of deep stuff in here. There's no doubts we learned from our mistakes. Like my man said hindsight is 20/20.

I do wish I was less selfish and more caring back then. I used to hate talking on the phone back then especially with dudes because I thought it was suspect. Now I prefer voice over text. I feel like now even though my friends are far apart we are close because we talk so often.
 
Tr1ll said:
To sit around and regret your past is pretty much saying you dont like who you are now.

The only time you even think about stuff like that is when you're not happy with what going on in your life currently.
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I agree
 
Your twenties is just a period where you're grown and think you know. You hit your thirties and realize you didn't know **** about ****. In sure the same will happen in the 40s and 50s
 
I always thought when i was in gradeschool that senior week was the pinnacle. Then i went to college and lived on my own, partied non-stop, got my taste of bars and clubs. Finished school then i thought my college years would be the Ultimate. Nope, started my career here in Charlotte at Bank of America HQ, made madd dough, moved to an Uptown condo, had a million friends and met a billion people, out in the streets thur-sun.

Left BofA, went to Wells Fargo, left for a healthcare consulting job last year. Just moved out of Uptown a year and a half ago and moved to the lake, 25mins from center city, into pretty much my mid-career dream home, met an amazing woman with (spotless credit and gorgeous). All the while thinking my 6 years living in Uptown was the pinnacle. All i can say is life gets better as you mature thru the birthdays bro, real talk.
 
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Just Be happy for who you are, and what you accomplished thoughout your life. No need to think about "IF"
Be happy, be yourself
 
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SuburbanGuy said:
I always thought when i was in gradeschool that senior week was the pinnacle. Then i went to college and lived on my own, partied non-stop, got my taste of bars and clubs. Finished school then i thought my college years would be the Ultimate. Nope, started my career here in Charlotte at Bank of America HQ, made madd dough, moved to an Uptown condo, had a million friends and met a billion people, out in the streets thur-sun.

Left BofA, went to Wells Fargo, left for a healthcare consulting job last year. Just moved out of Uptown a year and a half ago and moved to the lake, 25mins from center city, into pretty much my mid-career dream home, met an amazing woman with (spotless credit and gorgeous). All the while thinking my 6 years living in Uptown was the pinnacle. All i can say is life gets better as you mature thru the birthdays bro, real talk.
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What did you do at BOA and Wells? And how old are you and said girl?
 
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SuburbanGuy said:
I always thought when i was in gradeschool that senior week was the pinnacle. Then i went to college and lived on my own, partied non-stop, got my taste of bars and clubs. Finished school then i thought my college years would be the Ultimate. Nope, started my career here in Charlotte at Bank of America HQ, made madd dough, moved to an Uptown condo, had a million friends and met a billion people, out in the streets thur-sun.

Left BofA, went to Wells Fargo, left for a healthcare consulting job last year. Just moved out of Uptown a year and a half ago and moved to the lake, 25mins from center city, into pretty much my mid-career dream home, met an amazing woman with (spotless credit and gorgeous). All the while thinking my 6 years living in Uptown was the pinnacle. All i can say is life gets better as you mature thru the birthdays bro, real talk.
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I hope so man. I just copped my Harleyt FXR I've been wanting since before I could talk and got my first raise coming on Monday. :pimp:

I like to think I'm doing alright even if I never till a 7.
 
thefasterblade said:
32 Now.

I started off working in Finance/Accounting when I got out of college at 23. When I was about 27, I said this corporate/Manhattan/9-5 life wasn't for me. I saved all the money I made working and decided to go back to school to try to work to work in the healthcare industry. Originally, I set sights on becoming a Physical Therapist, went back to school took all my pre-req. Got into PT school and then said, I wanted more patient interaction. Went back to school again, took more classes, figured some more things out...worked another year just in between at a mortgage firm to make some money. After all that finally, I went into Nursing school. I'm in nursing school now and things seem to be on the come up for me. I'm liking  the direction I am headed now and can see a ton of opportunity within the field. In the end, after I graduate and work for a little while, I will probably head back to school again and get my doctorate degree in nursing or become a nurse anesthetists. 


So as far as what I wish I would have done in my early 20s, it would be to have planned things out better. Took pick a career that actually pertained to my interest as a person. Something that would allow me to grow and present a large amount of opportunity moving forward. While I can say, I wish I figured it out earlier, the only way I was going to be able to figure things out was by going down the road I went on. 

My main advice to anyone in that mid 20s age is, if you're not happy with where you're at now and you feel like your career is compromising who you are as a person, its not too late. Get out and take control of yourself and make the path that you want to lead. Don't watch other people do it and make excuses as to why you weren't able to do it and others could. Keep placing yourself in positions where new opportunities may arise. DO NOT BURN ANY BRIDGES. 

I also agree with some others on being single in your early 20s. I got in long-term relationships when I was younger and I feel like they held me back. You still don't know who you are when you're that young. You're going to keep growing and meeting new people. Don't put making some girl happy or temporary young 20s fun ahead of your longterm building. Figure out a plan and move toward it. 

Keep an open mind to things. Treat people with respect.

Do good and good will come back to you. 
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Pretty much the path I went :lol:
Got a business/finance degree, worked in finance/accounting out of college. When I turned 25, decided to go back to school to change fields. Started working on my BSN degree and graduated last year. Working as an RN now in ICU. I sometimes wish I went straight into healthcare, but I gotta say experiencing the "other" 9-5 life helped me make my decision in the first place. It all happened for a reason and I'm happy where things are headed for the most part.

I don't really have significant regrets that haunt me lol, but I guess I wish I would have been better with saving money through my early 20's. But the experiences I had during that time were great. I partied often, met a lot of people, dated a bunch of girls, did the whole Euro trip thing. And now I'm more settled down and in a good relationship, with a good relationship with my family. I party much less but I guess that's how it is as you get older. I still have plenty of goals that I want to achieve though, and I wish I did some things sooner. But that's life.
Who knows where the next 10 years take me, but like I said, everything happens for a reason.

Some great insight/advice in this thread for the younger NT'ers.
 
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TH0MAS CR0WN said:
Pretty much the path I went :lol:
Got a business/finance degree, worked in finance/accounting out of college. When I turned 25, decided to go back to school to change fields. Started working on my BSN degree and graduated last year. Working as an RN now in ICU. I sometimes wish I went straight into healthcare, but I gotta say experiencing the "other" 9-5 life helped me make my decision in the first place. It all happened for a reason and I'm happy where things are headed for the most part.

I don't really have significant regrets that haunt me lol, but I guess I wish I would have been better with saving money through my early 20's. But the experiences I had during that time were great. I partied often, met a lot of people, dated a bunch of girls, did the whole Euro trip thing. And now I'm more settled down and in a good relationship, with a good relationship with my family. I party much less but I guess that's how it is as you get older. I still have plenty of goals that I want to achieve though, and I wish I did some things sooner. But that's life.
Who knows where the next 10 years take me, but like I said, everything happens for a reason.

Some great insight/advice in this thread for the younger NT'ers.
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How old are you, my man?

I spent most of my years in healthcare, clinical labs, but I moved onto a hospital/research center in the recent months...one of the top treatment centers for cancer in the US. I'm sure you guys can relate, but it got me thinking about life and how fragile it is. I would see a lot of affluent people in there that's about to get the cancer removed with pastor praying for success before hand. Money can't buy back health. The first time I did my audit in the OR, the bright lights had my heart thumping for some reason. This was like half hour before the surgery.
 
I wouldn't have bought so many Allen Edmonds.

Other than that, my early 20's life was mad proper.

Probably should have traveled more too I guess but I was focused on stacking bread to invest with.
 
Verdykt said:
I wish I had done more interacting with people. i was pretty reserved. now that Im married ive had several girls tell me how they wanted to talk with me, but I was so shy. i would have planned a career. i've fallen *** backaward into all of my jobs. I'm pretty stable now, but I wish I would have focused more on one career path.
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Why does that matter now?
 
wj4 said:
....would you do things differently?

I've had this conversation with many of my friends in the last month or so. I'm about to turn 30 later this year so I was just reflecting back.

My friends who are now doctors, pharmacists, etc wish they had more time back in college to go out and party.

Conversely, the ones I know who partied a lot wished they took school more seriously so they're not just starting fresh in college at the tail end of their 20s.

I regret not getting more experience in. So many summers wasted doing nothing while in undergrad.
Click to expand...

My biggest regret about being premed in college is not planning my schedule well enough to study abroad. I got my partying in and still had a great time.

Wish I could've found a better higher paying job in between college and med school. Didn't start any savings.

Other than that no real big regrets. Knew what I was signing up for by choosing medicine
 
You should never have regrets because at one point in time, it's what you wanted. It's what made you happy. What was meant to be, happened. You write your own story. I ain't perfect, but I wouldn't change a damn thing of my past. Partying a lot in college, made me a better person....after college. Views changed
 
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