What Were Your 20's Like ?

neverdespairgirl

I'm 35. I spent my 20s doing different things, and enjoying them.

In terms of studying / work, I was at university doing my undergrad degree, then Bar School (vocational training), then back at uni for a year doing a master's degree, then pupillage (year-long barrister apprenticeship), then working as a barrister from the age of 24 onwards. I liked all of those things in different ways.

I wasn't really single at all - met my OH when I was 19, got together when I was 20, and have been living together ever since. We have been in similar study and work patterns, as he did pretty much the same career stuff as I did. We aren't the same people at 35 as we were at 20, but we've grown up and grown closer, together. He's the star that lights my life.

I worked abroad for a year before I started uni, and travelled with my best mate after my first and second years at uni, in the summer holidays. After the third year at uni, OH and I spent the summer together, working in China and Mongolia for a total of nearly 3 months. I also did some other stuff abroad with my mother, during uni holidays.

OH and I had our first child when we were aged 27 and 26 respectively, and are expecting our second now. Didn't manage to buy a house or anything in our 20s, but did get round to it nearly 3 years ago, in our early 30s.

I don't know if I'd do exactly the same things all over again, but I do know that I enjoyed them, valued them, and learned from them.

toniq

I had a wild time in my twenties,I was in care for my teens so think I was making up for having no restraints, Dated loads, somehow managed to be married twice?!?! Thankfully we are still friends as it was all infatuation, done the raves/donnington scene, Just lived like there was no tomorrow!

Now I'm a grown up I look back at my 20's and think yeah! No regrets loved every minute but am glad I'm early 40's now and past that stage.

poet123

I married at 20 (sounds so young now!) we bought our own home before we married from savings we had as we had both worked from 16. I had a Civil Service career and DH an Apprenticeship. We married young, but before we had our children we travelled the world and enjoyed the freedom we had.

DH worked full time and studied through his twenties, and through the births of our first two sons. How he did it I am not sure, MA, PhD, in addition to having a child who didn't sleep till he was 4! I was a zombie!

Another son followed and illness with my parents. I decided to return to study and did my degree and post grad with young children. Hard, but I had my parents to help despite their frailty. Then, the tables turned and I became the carer, such is life. Another son followed and I believe they all extended the lives of my parents, or of my mother in particular. Sadly, I lost them both. I feel blessed that they saw and had input into all my children and they are still remembered by them.

So, my twenties were well spent I think.

TheEffect

I'm 23, so have enjoyed reading some of these posts. I'm finishing university in a few months and can't wait to move onto the 'next chapter' in life, as I've been a full-time student since 19.

I've got a flight booked for the week after I finish university for a working holiday over the summer. I plan on taking a year to travel, meet new people, do whatever job I come across and just generally enjoy not worrying about studying, exams, assignments etc, and hopefully come to some conclusion on what career/job I'd like to get into (teaching is on the cards).

After a year, I plan to attempt to jump into a career, save for a mortgage and enjoy the quieter side of socialising than what I've been doing at university.

Plans change though. At the moment, I'm just excited to finally finish university. It seems like I've been doing my degree for a lifetime and the only thing I've taken away from it is the uncertainty of what career/job I want.

One thing I'm thankful for at this point in my life though is that I've always got somewhere to live, sleep and go to at the parents. I think many people (including myself) take that for granted.

dawyldthing

Angelinaxoxo wrote: »

Yes I do.
I want to build my career (fashion buying).
So hopefully just continue keep building my career.
and ....that's it! :rotfl:
I'd like to make more female friends (but I've heard that you lose them all ? )

Oh and travel and save

i don't have any clue much else hence making this thread to find out all you guys learned in yours and how yours went

I second trying to make more female friends. I work erratic shifts and have one main friend but don't see her much as shes got one kid and a second on the way and would like to have more friends to go out with and chat with. I'm hoping to go to some meet up groups soon to try and get out more.

In answer to your question i'm in my mid to late 20s. In my early 20s I spent time at uni, went to work at summer camp in America for 2 summers (travelled around America after one of the years) and Canada for a summer (and travelled around Canada too), went travelling around at festivals as a volunteer for oxfam for a summer and done others for 2 summers, been to tonnes of gigs and stuff, been abroad to 20 odd countries and spent 6 weeks with a uni friend travelling around Thailand, Maylasia and Singapore. Plus 2 years ago bought a house (which all being well will be paid off by my 30th birthday if not before).

I think the only thing I would have changed would be to have stayed up Leeds longer rather than coming home as its ok being home (I say that loosely as its a bit boring as there isn't much happens in our town going out wise or anything - it will be even worse if they get rid of the night buses with the cuts) but i've turned into a carer as my nans had to move in as she isn't well enough to live on her own so we all live together and I think normally i'd have lived seperately for a few years. But on the other hand i don't mind us all living together as it helps tick the house over when i'm at work and we get on most of the time.

On the whole though I wouldn't change things for the world and i'd tell my 22 year old self to follow most of the same path as they were some of the best years of my life meeting some amazing people along the way - just ashame said people are all over the country.

Squish815

In my early 20's I met my OH (at 20!), started studying (same year) finished my Criminology Degree (23), got engaged (24) went through losing a few family members but also spent a lot of time having fun and going out with mine and my OHs friends.

I'm still enjoying my 20's now (26!) but I'm different to how I was a few years ago. Prefer to stay in with the OH and watch a film, play a board game or we go to the cinema with friends, than head out to a busy, overpriced club. Boring to some people but I prefer it.

Blue264

Spirit hit the nail on the head earlier in this thread. I'm 48 but feel about 26 in my head. Mentally, you don't really age. It's just your body that starts taking liberties and refusing to do things you took for granted in your 20's.

On of the best things I did in my 20's, was to start using eye gel every day. It was a family trait to have dark circles or wrinkly skin around the eyes, but I've escaped that...for now!

My 20's was party time for me, same as many people on here. Spent the first year as one of Maggie's Millions of unemployed, so when I did get a job, I worked all the hours I could. But, come Friday night, that all changed. Gigs, festivals, all-nighters, etc.. Was engaged twice and married once at 29.

I made a conscious decision to travel as far as could for holidays, as I'd be able to travel closer to home when I has kids. So now, I've been to Hawaii, Fiji, etc, but still haven't been to Spain!

Angelinaxoxo

Blue264 wrote: »

Spirit hit the nail on the head earlier in this thread. I'm 48 but feel about 26 in my head. Mentally, you don't really age. It's just your body that starts taking liberties and refusing to do things you took for granted in your 20's.

On of the best things I did in my 20's, was to start using eye gel every day. It was a family trait to have dark circles or wrinkly skin around the eyes, but I've escaped that...for now!

My 20's was party time for me, same as many people on here. Spent the first year as one of Maggie's Millions of unemployed, so when I did get a job, I worked all the hours I could. But, come Friday night, that all changed. Gigs, festivals, all-nighters, etc.. Was engaged twice and married once at 29.

I made a conscious decision to travel as far as could for holidays, as I'd be able to travel closer to home when I has kids. So now, I've been to Hawaii, Fiji, etc, but still haven't been to Spain!

We have the same in my family may I ask you which eye gel i should use

CTID86

Well Im 27 so Ive still got some left but so far not too bad. I finished Uni, started my career and been on business trips to Ireland and USA, visited cities like Milan, Nantes, Cologne, Dusseldorf and been on 'lads holidays' like Ayia Napa, Malia, Laganas, Marbella. Had some great nights out with friends to loads of UK cities, upgraded my car in 2013 to a Jaguar XF, been to concerts, moved out of home, co-produced a Drum n Bass track with a friend of mine and had it played on BBC Radio 1.


Having said all that...I still haven't crossed anything off my bucket list!

Shoshannah

I'm 28 (29 next month) and I feel like my twenties have been waaaay more stressful than they should have been.

"All work and no play" comes to mind... a few regrets there.