It’s not my birthday just yet. At the same time, in a mere 20 days, I will no longer be 19. It’s a hard thing to come to terms with. I tried wrapping my head around it for the longest! There are a lot of things that come with getting older…credit cards, relationships, graduating, moving out, etc. I’m not anywhere near half of those things just yet. I’ve still got 2 more years “officially” until I have to trek out on my own. I learned a lot in the last 19 years that will help me grow into my 20’s and come to terms that I’m not a teenager anymore. I want to share 6 of them with you now.
1. Taxes Suck, but You Can Make Them Your Friend.
This one’s boring, but a good starting point, I promise! I think everyone hates taxes. Honestly, I’m surprised that I’m filing mine. Now that I started my LLC, I am annually. People talk about how horrible the IRS is, but I’m making it work in my favor! Because I run my own business, 95% of what I do on a day-to-day basis over the fiscal year is now expensable. Any travel expenses, new lenses, food or lunches with brands or other creatives, everything is expensable. Even my gas! Talk to the people around you to help you learn these little things because it can truly pay off in the long run.
2. People Come and Go, but Don’t Let That Define You.
In some ways, being 19 really sucked. Saying that, I’m gonna look back when I’m older and know that this was truly nothing. In the middle of it all, it seemed like my world was falling apart. It’s not that I lost a boyfriend or a real relationship. I lost some of the people who I put my trust in at vital parts of my life. Looking at what I did and how the situation went down, there are a lot of things that could have gone differently on everyone’s parts. I can’t dwell on that. I let half of my year, also known as my first year of college, define my life at the end of my teenage years.
That was a time when I was supposed to be going out and enjoying my life. Instead, I spent my time sitting in my bed, wrapped in my housecoat, wondering where I went wrong. People are not always meant to be in your life. It’s hard to come to terms with, but it’s really true. You can’t let people define who you are and stand in your way.
3. It’s Okay to Not Know Where You Want to Go in Life.
Earlier this semester, I wanted into a professor’s office and blatantly asked if they thought I should be in their class. Not that I’m a bad student or I was failing, geez it was the first week of classes, but instead because I was unsure of if I belonged. I didn’t know if I should continue on with the class because I didn’t know if I was as smart as everyone else or if I was good enough.
Stop doubting yourself and know that it’s okay to not know at 19 that you want to be Pre-Med and be a neurologist one day. I have a general idea of what I want for my life and it’s becoming my guiding factor on a daily basis. Especially if you’re in college, not knowing is the best part because you get to try new things and really find who you really are and want to be.
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Cecile Copenhagen “Claremint” Dress || ASOS Matador Hat || Steve Madden Suede Over the Knee Boots
4. Watch Your Health and Your Mind and Love Yourself.
I’ve been so bad at this since I was about 16, which is a different story for a different day. I know that I’ve only got one body and I need to treat it like it’s a temple, but there are times when I don’t use lotion because I’m lazy or don’t eat dinner because I genuinely don’t feel bothered to get out of bed. Health is a fragile thing and at any moment, you can crack. It’s so important to take care of yourself in your late teenage years because this helps form some of the many habits and traits you adopt in your 20s and form your life around. Love yourself because you’re the only self you have.
5. Don’t Let Society Pressure You into Anything.
I don’t know if this one needs an explanation, but you’re getting one anyway. Never feel like you need to change who you are to please society or someone. Don’t go losing 20 lbs for a new revenge body because your boyfriend called you fat and dumped you. He’s a loser and needed to exit stage right from your life ASAP. Don’t let the gorgeous blonde, photoshopped girls on magazine covers make you starve yourself until you end up in a hospital because you want to be like them. They don’t even look like them.
Your friends keep calling you a prude because you just haven’t found the one guy you wanna have sex with? Well, tell them to piss off because you will know when it’s right for you too because at the end of the day, your body is your own and no one else’s. Societal pressures are at their highest now and some of the worst they’ve ever been. You see the thousands of “IG models” making hundreds of thousands of dollars online because that’s just who they are, but don’t let society change who you are just to make people like you. These pressures and how they affect you are not something that can wish away with a simple heel tap in ruby slippers, but it’s such a needed thing if you want to progress and grow into yourself.
6. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone!
I never thought I’d get out of my comfort zone when I was 17. I thought I was going to get to where I am today without sending an Instagram DM or an email, just passing through life. I’m an introvert and getting out of my comfort zone has led me around the world. I’ve experienced so many new things and met so many beautiful people in this world because I pushed myself, so push yourself to do something new and fun. Enjoy your life and don’t just let it pass you by.
If you’re 19 or 20 and coming to terms with the fact that you’re not a little kid anymore, I really do hope that this post helped. It really did help me to write these things out for you all so maybe they will come in handy to someone who had a lot of the same thoughts I did going into my 20’s.
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Sharon Wu
Omg girl you are sooo young! Haha you have your entire life ahead of you. I wish I was still 19 turning 20 haha. Great photos babe! xo, sharon
http://www.stylelullaby.com/personal/up-close-personal-qa/
Camille
This post is sooooo relatable as I just turned 20 last May and still think of myself as a teen! I definitely have had a lot more responsibilities the past year, but so far it’s kind of thrilling being an adult! Enjoy your last days as a teen babe, we’ll be waiting for you in the 20’s club 🙂
Thomas Falkenstedt
For someone as young as you and everyone out there I think number 3 and 5 are the most important ones. It’s never too late (or rather, you’re never too old) to change course in life and do something completely else, so don’t rush into anything. Also, don’t let other people define your life, just like you said! Cheers to the last days of being a (very mature) teen! 🙂
xoxo
Thomas
http://thomasfalkenstedt.com
Mariann Yip
You are so young! I hope you enjoy your birthday and what a cute dress 🙂
Christine Kong
Happy early birthday to you! Wow, you are so young and still have your whole life ahead of you (I envy that). But even at 19, you are so wise. I love these lessons you outline for us because everyone is so true and very relevant not only at your age but at every age. I definitely think we figure things out as they go and there is not a set path or answer to everything. People will continue to come in and out of your life but for the better, to teach you, to help you grow, and better you. Whether they are a blessing or a lesson, you still learn from them. I hope you have something nice planned to celebrate you turning into a real adult and no longer a teenager! xoxo, Christine
http://dailykongfidence.com/
Kusum
Haha what you said is boring is what is most interesting to me, especially this time of the year – you should actually do a blogpost just about how you are so efficiently filing your taxes babe! That is such a cute dress, looks lovely on you 🙂
xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com
Stephanie
I wish I had read something like this when I was 19. There are so many choices I made at that age that I wish I hadn’t (ha – getting engaged and moving to another state for starters), but now I look back and I realize that those choices made me who I am today, and without them, I wouldn’t have the life experience to help others, so that’s what I learned from my “coming of age” years haha. Girl, you are a hundred steps ahead of where I was, and for that, I’m damn proud of you. 20 is gonna be awesome for you, and you’re only going to continue to grow and learn from here on out.
Stephanie // SheSawStyle.com
Josie
You are so young darling and have the LIFE ahead of you. I have to say, you seem very mature for your age! I like these lessons you have learned. To be honest, when I turned 19 I was not that mature haha. I’m sure turning 20 will be a great thing for you … in a few year you’ll back and just be thankful that you were that ready!
Also, great tip for the taxes especially when you run your own business. I keep all the receipts to make them count as business expense. haha
Bisous, Josie
http://www.petiteandbold.com
marcy
Really love this post babe!! Just had a flash back reading your post when i was 20 and think all these.
You are such a great example for many other girl out there and see that you have control of your life and that is okay not knowing what is going to happen but thats how life is. The best things are always the ones you did n’t planned. Life can really surprise you.
What re you doing to celebrate our big 20’s? so jealous wish Im 20 again hehehe
xoxo
Marcy
Deddeh Howard
The details on that dress is on point, I’m loving this whole outfit girl.
Yasmin
Love this look with the boots and the cute printed dress. Yes – it’s totally okay to not know where you are going at your age. Now is the time for you to explore and figure things out. I’m in my 30s and I still don’t have a lot of stuff figured out haha.
xx Yasmin
http://banglesandbungalows.com
Samantha Mariko
oh yes, the dreadful taxes… they aren’t so bad when you get used to the process. And I agree about the friends part -I’ve learned that there are times you have to let people go, but then you meet new people anyways so it’s all good!
http://www.samanthamariko.com
Jo
Love that dress babe! The mix of patterns and ruffled neckline is so cute!
xo, Jo
http://www.cutandchic.com
Bernice
It’s pretty daunting no longer being a teenager but as long as you have a good support system you can get through anything xx
https://www.bunnybernice.com/single-post/2017/02/10/Evening-Luxe-for-Lexx
Candace
At 27, I have finally figured out what I want to do for the rest of my life, so turning 20 for you and you have so much wisdom about that, it’s great! I have also had to recently cut some people off who I thought were my friends due to jealousy and other reasons. We live and we learn though. Best thing I can do is keep praying for discernment to not put trust in everyone like that again.
http://www.thebeautybeau.com
Atsuna Matsui
Congrats girl on almost turning 20! Seriously haha it’s so true when they say… 20’s are one of the best years of your lives. You really grow into who you are and there’s still so much more spontaneity, freedom, and drive that you experience. 🙂 I hope you have a happy birthday.
http://www.atsunamatsui.com
Helen Chik
Girl you are wise beyond your years and how exciting for you to enter into your twenties because let me tell you – the twenties are exciting!! Love all of your insights and especially agree with the one of not knowing what you want to do with yourself 😉
Helen xx
https://helenchik.com/5-must-see-places-in-bali-for-first-timers
MJ Junior
This look is fire! Love your boots!
http://www.tlmurban.com