24 & Still Figuring Out Life
This is where I’m at right now. Lost. Restless. So, I’ve decided to spend thousands more dollars on another degree to figure things out, but this time in Scotland 🏴
I’ve been programmed to think that starting over means I’m a failure, or I’m falling behind. BUT THAT’S NOT TRUE! Everyone moves at their own pace, and there is no standard to which you have to measure up.
I realized I’m not ready to settle down the way I felt pressured to in my teaching job. I want to see more of the world, meet new people, and soak in every bit of beauty I can before I even think about settling anywhere and starting a family. Is that okay? Yes.
I graduated with an English education degree in 2023, but teaching high school literature in a public school just isn’t my calling. I love teaching; I love students; but I knew that something wasn’t right, so I took a risk and quit. I needed a fresh start somewhere new, so here I am, 24, still figuring out who I am and what I’m meant to do, and stepping out of my comfort zone to move away from everyone and everything I’ve ever known.
Recently, I’ve met so many people who feel the same way, just trying to make sense of life one step at a time. If that’s you too, you’re not alone, and you aren’t a failure for being in this season💛
My parents always pictured the classic path: graduate, get a good job, get married, start a family, and settle down near them. But that’s not my reality, as the world has changed a lot since they were my age. They don’t quite understand, but I do not have to settle for a traditional life to meet others’ expectations.
I’m still discovering who I am and what God made me for. And pursuing him is more important than ‘having it all figured out.’ I don’t know what I’ll do in a year when I finish school; I don’t know what my 5 year plan is; I don’t know a lot of things.
But I do know this: I was made to honor God. And right now, I’m doing that by standing in awe of His creation: chasing waterfalls, learning about new cultures, meeting incredible people, moving to Scotland, and getting to know the Creator more intimately through His handiwork. ✈️🌍
Here’s to spending money, wandering far, and slowly becoming who He designed me to be — one beautiful place at a time.
Are you turning 24 and feeling like you're somehow 'behind' in life? Perhaps you're constantly asking yourself, "Is 24 years old still young enough to not have a clear path?" If so, I totally get it. So many of us reach our mid-twenties, bombarded by societal expectations and the curated highlight reels on social media, making us question if we're doing enough, achieving enough, or even being enough. But let me tell you, from my own experience, 24 is absolutely, unequivocally, still young! It's a time of incredible growth, self-discovery, and, yes, often profound uncertainty. It's the perfect age to challenge the notion that life has a fixed timeline. We're often programmed to believe that by a certain age, we should have a stable career, a clear five-year plan, maybe even be thinking about settling down. But what if those expectations don't align with who you truly are or what your soul craves? I’ve been there – pouring my energy into a particular path, only to have a nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right. It can be a jarring realization, especially when you’ve invested so much. Imagine spending years, maybe even a significant amount of money on a degree, only to wake up one day and realize that all you truly want to do is sit by a waterfall in Iceland, or explore ancient castles in Scotland, or simply connect with the world in a way that feels authentic to you. That's a powerful moment of clarity, a signal to re-evaluate and redefine what 'success' means on your own terms. It takes immense courage to pivot, to say no to the traditional path, and to listen to that inner voice urging you to explore. My decision to leave a secure teaching job and pursue a masters in Scotland wasn't easy, and it certainly wasn't what my parents envisioned. But I've learned that measuring up to someone else's timeline or expectations will only lead to discontent. Your journey is uniquely yours, and there's no universal standard you need to meet. Embrace the 'lost' feeling, the restlessness. These aren't signs of failure, but rather invitations for introspection and change. This season of uncertainty is an opportunity to chase new experiences, meet incredible people, and truly discover what sets your soul on fire. Don't let anyone tell you that 24 is too late for a fresh start, to move across the world, or to simply take the time you need to figure out who you're meant to be. Trust your instincts, and remember, you are absolutely not alone in this beautiful, messy journey of becoming.
Is there anyone here in there 20s that relates?