by Shannon Moham
So, I’ve been 23 for a week now and of course this age still has the new car smell on it. I’m still feeling things out and learning the ropes all the wile waving goodbye to 22 in the rearview. I can only imagine the adventures and shenanigans this age will take me through. I always get super philosophical during the first two weeks of June leading up to the 14th. I usually spend those two weeks reflecting on how much time I wasted during that year and brooding about yet again not being popular enough to have the huge birthday party of my dreams. But this year, I spent my birthday alone and celebrated everything I’ve learned, good and bad.
Here are 22 things I learned while I was 22.
1. College is a pyramid scheme. Think about it. You give away your money for a period of time with the promise of a big return for the money you spent. And all you get in the end is a piece of paper and debt! Ok, and an education.
My mother and I at my graduation last year.
2. My mom will never respect my adulthood. Haven’t lived at home for 5 years? Doesn’t matter. If you don’t call your mom for two days, expect an angry text message in the morning.
3. Taylor Swift is a liar. So, 22 did not feel like that God awful song of hers. She makes 22 year olds sound like idiots. No Taylor, I’m not gonna fall in love with a stranger or have breakfast at midnight. And I’m not gonna stay up talking to you all night because I have work in the morning. I need sleep. But the whole dressing like hipsters thing? She hit the nail on the head with that one.
4. Change the oil in your car. Please don’t forget.
5. Stop thinking so hard. Sometimes I think college put me at a disadvantage. When I try to put my critical thinking skills to work in the real world, I find myself saying, “there’s no way this can be that simple.” And I mess things up by over thinking. Hopefully 23 year old Shannon will learn to chill out.
6. It’s always good to own a pair of pants. Seriously, I bought some pants earlier this year and previous to that, I hadn’t owned a pair (besides an old pair of Levi’s) in a little over 2 years. I live in leggings all day everyday. But apparently leggings aren’t accepted in the “real world.” Haters.
7. Don’t worry. I am a worry wart by nature. The biggest challenge for me this year was telling myself over and over that everything will be OK!
8. It’s ok to be confused. Half the fun is figuring it out!
9. I put too much pressure on myself. I’m surprised I haven’t pooped a diamond by now. The weight of the world is not always on your shoulders, Shannon. Calm down bro.
10. Bills will always be here, opportunities won’t. I’ve missed out on some great opportunities because I was concentrating on making money. Biggest mistake of my life. Someone will always be there to take money from me but somethings are once in a lifetime.
11. It’s ok that I’m quiet. My whole life I was made to believe that there was something wrong and unnatural about being quiet. I’ve learned that my quietness is one of my biggest assests. Because I know how to shut up, listen and observe, I notice things that others don’t. Because they were too busy TALKING.
12. My dream job doesn’t exist. What is my dream job? I’ll let you know when I figure it out.
13. I have done some amazing things. My friends are constantly telling me how proud they are of me and how they hope to accomplish as much as I have. And I’m all like, “who me?!” It’s hard to see from the inside looking out, but I now realize that I have done some truly amazing things. Thank goodness for my friends. Without them telling me, I wouldn’t know!
14. I’m pretty much a rockstar. Well, at least my friends and my mom think I am.
At the Honors Class show with L.T.Z. and Jabee. I was recording for my web show The Fressh Life.
To see that show check this link.
15. I have some of the best hair in the city. Jabee said so.
16. Being a grownup is overrated. Â Bills suck and so does responsibility. Although it feels great to be seen as mature and trustworthy, it sure does make me tired to be all responsible.
17. If wine is on sale, buy it. Self-explanatory.
18. The present isn’t forever. Even when life sucks the most, the suckiest part will be over in like 20 minutes.
19. Sometimes, I’m too serious. Maybe I should be more like Taylor Swift….
20. I never want to leave Oklahoma. People tell me to move away all the time, that there is “more to life than Oklahoma.” If they were talking to 18-year-old me, I’d completely agree. But over the last year, I’ve fallen in love with this place in so many ways. I can’t see myself calling any other place my home.
Interviewing singer Jack Freeman for The Fressh Life.
To see that show check this link.
21. Although this isn’t where I thought I’d be at this age, my life is pretty dope. I think about this all the time. I always thought I’d be doing something completely different than I am now and living in a different place at this point in my life. But there are people who tell me on a constant basis that they would love to live the life I live. That always puts things into perspective for me.
22. I have the rest of my life to figure this stuff out. I’ve lived 23 great years on this Earth. Most of that time I haven’t had a clue what I was doing. I expect the next 23 years will be the same way. It used to stress me out that I didn’t know what was next for me and that I had no plans. Then I realized that most people my age don’t have plans. And even if you do have your life planned out, things happen and plans change. So what’s the point in planning every single day of the rest of my life?
I hope you learned something from my list of failures, accomplishments, and life lessons. And I can only pray that this year has even more accomplishments and less Taylor Swift songs.