Crash Course of Becoming a Person

If I had to describe post-grad life in one word, it would be weird. You’ve already learned the basics of living on your own, how to pay rent, follow a recipe with a few extra spices as your own touch, and maybe even budget, but there’s still this whole world of lessons no one ever thought to teach you.

Your 20s are truly transformative. It’s not just about building a career, it’s about learning how to communicate for yourself, how to hold your own in a room where everyone’s at least twenty years older, and how to know when to listen instead of talk. It’s realizing no one’s going to do it for you, you have to dive right in, even when you feel totally unqualified.

It’s learning that bringing a bottle of wine to someone’s house is just good manners, that staying in a hotel alone for the first time feels like they should call my mom for permission, and that confidence can look a lot like pretending you know what’s going on until you actually do.

It’s finding your signature drink, something between a beer you still can’t quite get into, especially the sours and stouts, and a martini that feels slightly out of your league.

Since turning my tassel to the left side of my cap, which yes, I had to double-check, the amount of learning I’ve done has been incredible, terrifying, and awesome.

There’s no written guide to being an adult, but maybe that’s the best part. You get to decide who you want to be.

Sure, doing my taxes still feels like I’ll be receiving a scary call from the IRS if my math is wrong, but at least I know what time my friends and I should meet at our favorite restaurant to make it for happy hour prices.

Maybe I’ll never understand how a 6x3 phone has so much storage but the 20,000 pictures and videos of me and my friends is proof I’m doing something right.