21 is a good number, a good age. It is the time when you are in the final year of college, or just graduating from your Bachelors. A time of change, a time of transition, when you are old enough to follow your dreams, and young enough to believe in the strength of those dreams, strong enough to feel that you could take on the world if push came to shove. It is an age where you have yet to be drowned in cynicism, but have already been tempered in the forge of life. It is an age where you can believe.
So, here are 5 things we believe you should do before you turn 21:
Conquer One Fear
Most of us have numerous fears, it’s just that we do not give voice to them, we prefer to keep them hidden deep down within ourselves, out in the darkness where they can’t come near us, where they can’t harm us directly. However, it is often better to confront your fear than to shy away and hide from it.
Conquer one of your fears before you turn 21. It could be anything from learning swimming, to learning to ride a motorcycle, to getting over a fear of heights. Face the fear and defeat it, it will be a feeling like any other, and the rush as well as confidence that you will derive from that act will hold you in good stead in facing other hurdles in life.
Start Saving
This doesn’t sound like a big deal, right? But you should open a bank account and start saving by adding a certain amount of money in the account every month. This will teach you the importance of handling your own finances and of saving as well, something which will be vital for you in the future as well.
Go on a Road Trip
Take your friends with you and go on a road trip across the country – perhaps even across continents, if it is possible and within your budget. The act of saving your money as mentioned previously will help you here, and you won’t have to beg for money from your parents at the last moment to proceed with the plans. Instead, you’ll be able to use your own saved money and travel, giving you a feeling of empowerment and strength.
Stand Up
Stand up for yourself if you are being bullied by anyone, or stand up for your friend or for someone else who is being bullied. You could even stand up for a cause that you believe in, if the first two aren’t an option. This will make not only make you feel good but also shower you in the gratitude of those whom have saved. Standing up for a cause will make you feel a part of something greater than yourself, something larger than life, and teach you the importance of having a goal, a vision, something you care about, for which you are willing to stand tall and take on any obstacles.
Make a Bucket List
Create a bucket list of your hopes and dreams and start working towards turning them into reality. Don’t let it sit idle, gathering cobwebs and dust in a corner of the room. Instead, stick it on your desk, or place it in a book you read often so that there will be a concrete proof of your aspirations which will make your work towards them.
There are many other things you can do before turning 21, what matters is you do something that you are passionate about, something that will add value – both to your life as well as to the world in general. Doing that will surely keep you on the right path in life.
