How Should Someone In Their Early Twenties Act?

This topic is something that has been bothering me for so long! How should someone in their early twenties act? Well, I don’t know! It seems that when you leave your teenage years, you’re automatically supposed to grow up and become a certain idea of an adult. You’re supposed to be mature and you’re not supposed to show when you’re upset. Frankly, I think it’s a toxic mentality to have, especially when it comes to those who are in their early twenties.

Recently, I came across a clip from TLC’s show 90 Day Fiance. One of the girls on that show is 22 and many of the comments talked about how she needed to grow up and how she acts like a teenager. Being 22 is not that far off from being a teenager and I think it’s a bit unfair for people to assume that just because you’re in your early twenties, you should be this super mature adult.

Related: Being 23 and Scared To Grow Up

Often times I still feel like a child. Sure I navigate the world on my own and I do my own thing. Other times I don’t feel like I live up to the idea of what an adult should be. Honestly, I think a lot of people feel this way. I think an argument can be made if you’re getting married. You should obviously be prepared for the responsibilities that come with that. However, in plain and ordinary circumstances, it’s confusing how someone in their early twenties should act.

The blogging community was outraged when Elle Darby, another 22-year-old, was attacked online. A lot of the comments aside from the hotel incident echoed this idea that a 22-year-old should just suck it up. Sure people can criticize someone, but if you’re extremely older, don’t you think it’s one of those things where you should pick on someone your own size? After all, this is still someone’s child and 22 years on this earth is such a short time in the grand scheme of things.

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There’s also the experience of being too young for certain situations. For example, Bekah M from The Bachelor was criticized for being too young to want to get married. Even though I thought she was very mature, there was constantly an echoed idea that she’s not ready for marriage. So, you can see how conflicting these accounts are and how confusing it is to be in your early twenties. You’re so close to being a teenager where you’re allowed to be immature or naive, but you’re not quite old enough in some people’s eyes to handle certain responsibilities. This makes me think there really isn’t any concrete way someone in their early twenties should act.

With my own personal journey through life, it seems that I was just 13 yesterday and I blinked and 10 years have gone. It often feels like time is leaving me and I can’t keep up. I’m still my mother’s child and I still have those moments where I just really need her. So, I don’t think it’s fair to characterize someone in their early twenties as suddenly fully mature adults. We’re still learning and experiencing life. We’re still trying to find ourselves.

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