As Theodore Roosevelt allegedly said, "Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you have to start young." Recently, there have been a number of articles circulating LinkedIn, covering the topic "If I were 22...", written by various successful business men and women at the height of their careers. These articles ask what advice they would give to their 22- year old self - if they could go back and live life over again.
I have six weeks left of being 22. And whilst reading their collection of articles it made me wonder if I had lived up to this now middle-aged conception that 22 is " the best seat in the house"1. Have I accomplished all that I thought I would have done by 22? Do I have any regrets?
Well, the start of my year went well. I had a job offer before I had left university and had even moved into a house with a friend. Better yet, it was a job that was something I was deeply passionate about; helping offenders with learning difficulties. Richard Branson made the point in his article that "if you don't really love what you're doing, you won't succeed".
However, I soon found the job to be a dead end, no matter how much I cared for the patients. I realised I wanted the opportunity to learn in my role, and not, as Jwala Vedantam explained, "see the immediate job as the ultimate destination".
Which takes me to another of the points raised in the articles; " if you want to travel, don't wait" 2. I didn't. That is one of the things I am happiest about when I compare myself to my friends. Teaching, working, and travelling for 3 months out on a graduate placement in Sri Lanka was definitely the definition of work hard, play hard. I had the time of my life out there, and came back with a much clearer idea of what I wanted to do next.
However, even though I have spent 9 months of my year working in various roles that have been developing my career, it has been the past 6 weeks that have tested me most. Coming home from having 'the time of my life', to unemployment and back living with my parents. Just like Greg James describes in his parody of Taylor Swift's song, "22", my life suddenly went from being " happy and free", to where I'm "sad, skint, confused, and lonely at the same time"!
It's not that I'm regretting any decisions that I've made this year. If I hadn't quit my job at the hospital I wouldn't have been able to accept the graduate scheme in Sri Lanka. When I ask myself what I wish I could have done, there is actually very little I can answer with. This year has been a very productive one. Maybe I should have travelled a little while longer? Maybe I should stop worrying about money and go to the summertime ball with my friends? Maybe tomorrow will be the day..?
But if we're serious for a minute, when reading these articles I don't think there are many pointers on them that I have not followed. Just like Taylor Swift's song, I seem to stay up most nights dreaming imaginatively of what my life could be like, but, as Tim Westergren says, there have been very few nights I have lain awake thinking "I wish I'd never done that..".
In a few weeks I will be 23, and as of this moment, I am unemployed. However, after reading those articles and writing this, I realise this is not the end of the world - just yet. I am most definitely guilty of worrying too much about the future rather than focusing on the present. After writing this, I must count my blessings and remember that "age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter" 3.
1. Jwala Vedantam
2. Joy Johnston
3. Mark Twain
