I’m almost to the point where another birthday is not necessarily a good thing anymore and that’s an emotional turmoil I’m just going to have to deal with on my own. To be honest, I don’t really know what turning 20 means. Unlike turning 13 (becoming a teenager) or 16 (getting a driver’s license), there isn’t a clear marker of what 20 signifies. It’s a confusing space – not quite teenager, not quite full-fledged adult. It’s also an opportunity: for the first time, and maybe the last, you get to write your own script on how your year unfolds; without any societal pressures and expectations.

While I navigate my life as a 20-year-old, I want to take this opportunity to introspect on what my past year has been like. So much has happened in so little time but here are my main takeaways:

1. Pursue your passions wholeheartedly, and like-minded individuals will naturally gravitate towards you. Join clubs you’d enjoy even in solitude. This is where you’ll find real connections and genuine friendships.
2. It’s so important to enjoy your own company. When you find contentment in your own company, you naturally become more open and approachable, creating the foundation for deeper connections with others.
3. Be open to new things. College is the time to discover yourself. Try not to get into a routine by trying something new once in a while.

This year has been one of the best years of my life and I can’t wait to see what life has in store for me.