as promised, to commemorate the fact that 10 years ago today i graduated from college, below is a partial list of some things i've learned in that time. full disclosure: most of them i've learned in the last two years. but they still count.
- Letting fear get the best of you sometimes means spending a year living in a New Jersey suburb—memories of which will haunt you even in your 30s.
- Even if everyone is bitchy to you at your first job, smile and say hello.
- You may be able to drink whatever you want even into your late 20s, but keep in mind that it all catches up with you eventually.
- Hangovers get progressively painful the later into your 20s you get; prepare, at age 30, to be out of commission for days after a night of partying.
- You’re going to make a mistake pretty much every day, but it’s cool—no one said you’re supposed to know what you’re doing.
- Sometimes your 20s are worse than your teens in terms of self-esteem, hormones and pimples—but it will get better.
- There will be moments when you use what you learned in school, and moments when you think you didn’t learn a damn thing in all four years.
- Keeping in touch with former professors is a really smart and fun thing to do.
- Playing it safe has its benefits (I guess) but at no other time in your life than your 20s will you be able to take big, crazy chances and get away with it.
- It’s OK to job-hop for a little while, but keep in mind that every job has its negatives and hard work, long hours and tough bosses are just par for the course.
- The friendships you had in college will change dramatically, and that’s a really normal, OK thing.
- Go on a blind date if someone you trust and like offers to set you up—the worst that can happen is you have a funny story to tell.
- Be brave at work—speak up, suggest ideas, ask for a promotion or more money.
- Take some time to not be in a relationship—it’s the only way to figure out who the hell you really are.
- If you find yourself buying cereal with your credit card, you probably need to find a cheaper apartment.
- Having a job that people think is cool is sorta cool, but only if you’re being paid a reasonable amount and only if it’s challenging you.
- Make exercise a priority—it’s the best way to keep a clear head and when you reach 30, you’ll be glad you did.
- For many Septembers, you may walk up and down the aisles of Staples or a drug store, desperately wishing you had a reason to buy new school supplies. (It’s OK to buy a new notebook, just to satisfy the itch.)
- You will do many embarrassing things while intoxicated—sometimes even worse than college—just make sure none of them happen at your company holiday party.
- Semesters used to seem like they dragged and you couldn’t wait for winter break, summer vacation, graduation—in the post-college world, life is on fast-forward. The passage of time will knock you on your ass.
- It’s good to be open to anything—job opportunities, social engagements, living situations. Nothing is permanent; might as well give it a shot.
- Having a core group of friends is essential to staying sane.
- Having your own place to live at least for a little while is essential to knowing who you are and what you’re capable of.
- Everything in life is a choice—good, bad and otherwise—and every choice has its consequence (good, bad and otherwise).
- Roaches will show up in the worst places (your white bathroom rug) at the worst times (late at night)—crying seems like the only option, but it’s best to take a deep breath and gas the sucker with whatever is handy—hairspray, Fantastik, ant killer, etc.
- Yeah, real life can be a bitch sometimes, but not having homework, ever, is pretty awesome.
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