This is really neat: Cassie Boorn has made a call to women to write letters to their 20-something selves and share them with her (she herself is a mom in her 20s, and looking for some inspiration). If you have time to pop over and share I think that would be great - but I also think it would be great if you do, if you can share the link here too. Or just comment here and hopefully Cassie will see it.
I’m going to share mine here and then send her the link:
Dear 20-year-old Jenn:
1. You look much better than you think you do. That being said, skip the grunge phase. Also, don’t waste any money on Hypercolour t-shirts. Trends really do come and go, some faster than others.
2. Your friends right now are some of the best you’ll have. Years from now you will re-find them on Facebook and regret that you didn’t keep in touch. So keep in touch. Try this thing called…email. Don’t sweat the differences in your paths after graduation; later those won’t matter as much as they do now.
3. So far, you don’t have a credit card. It’s best to keep it that way for a good long time yet. But scrape together some money and buy shares in Microsoft. Also, when some friends-of-friends approach you to invest in their little card game called Magic: The Gathering, borrow money and do it. Ahem. If you look at something and say WOW, chances are good other people may be saying the same thing. This won’t be so true in your 30s.
4. Don’t put off that road trip across the U.S., or you’ll never do it. On that note: Travel more. Don’t be in such a rush to settle down. Once you’re settled it can be a bit hard to get unsettled. Actually, just don’t rush into most things, except love. That one turns out okay. (However, please don’t get the wedding dress with the massive bow on the butt, because The Bow will own the pictures for all time.)
5. Don’t be afraid to admit a mistake and change direction. Teaching seems like a really secure great idea with “time to be creative in the summers” right now, but be prepared that it may just not be a good fit. Also on that note: No matter what everyone says you probably won’t regret skipping the PhD (or MA, for that matter). And yes, you will be part of the “slacker generation” and no, you won’t be stuck working those minimum wage jobs forever, even if it feels that way. And the minimum-wage jobs will teach you some useful soft skills.
6. Do not drive your Ford Probe (which you will soon own) too fast on the ramp to Niagara-on-the-lake in the rain. Trust me on this one.
7. Floss. Use sunscreen.
Love, 39-year-old-Jenn