When I was in high school, I couldn't wait to get older. 18 was a magic age to me. It meant I could move out of my parents' house, go to college, and I was legally considered an adult. If I could go back and talk to my 17 year old self, I would slap her on the backside of the head and tell her not to move out.
Yes, my parents and I fought about my desire for independence and I didn't like living where we lived. BUT, I had no rent, no utilities, no medical bills, no grocery bills, and when I had a crappy day there was always someone to come home to.
If I could go back and make different choices based on what I know now, I would have gotten my Associates Degree in anything marketable before going on to a bigger school. Not that I didn't get in to some of the top schools in the country but because it would have been really nice if I had been able to fall back on a career that offered a dependable salary with benefits these past 10 years. To never have to worry about where the paycheck is coming from would be a fabulous feeling and I would have 10 years of experience in my chosen field at this point.
I have learned a great deal and am a better person for it, but there are days I regret not doing more homework in real life subjects. Don't be so quick to grow up and move out. If you need a secure support system most parents offer that. If you are in an abusive or unsafe family situation this might be your ticket out.
I don't regret attending BYU, Texas Tech University, or even where I am now, because I know in that time I made the right decisions. But, if I had worked to get my RN starting my senior year in high school, I would have been in a position to have a regular salary at the age of 21. I would have had skills that are always in demand and could have gone anywhere to work. I would also be able to support myself and pay for any additional schooling without having to go further into debt to secure that education.
Before you get super-excited about what school you're going to attend and what classes you will take, see what is possible if you wait just a few more years before achieving your dreams. When you aren't financially prepared or educated so that you can handle whatever life throws your way, those dreams start to feel farther and farther away. So be wise and look at all your options before plunging head-first into adulthood.
*sigh*
ReplyDeleteI think all of us wish we could go back and counsel our younger selves. I would go back to myself about the time I was 14 and tell me all the things I wish I had done differently.
That being said, I am who I am because of choices I made and experiences I've had, and I rather like who I am. Would I like me as a different person? Probably. But there is no room for regret. There is only room to look forward to the next choice and see if we can be patient enough to look ahead a couple of years. It's tough. I still am not able to do that consistently, but I am working on it.
:)