Why Life Begins At 20...

Seeing as I'm really not far from turning 21 and I read a magazine article in April's Elle Magazine (pictured) on this very topic, I decided to write my own five reasons of why in my opinion, life begins at 20.

Reason 1: You're no longer in your awkward teenage years. Teenage years are full of trying to figure out who you are and attempting to become comfortable in your own skin. Now I'm not saying you won't do any of this in your twenties, but I would hope that by now you find at least a sense of your personal identity and some contentment in simply being you.

Reason 2: The graduation. Now by this I don't even mean necessarily the typical university graduation. I mean it in a whole wide range of ways. For example, graduating from teeny-bopper club nights to more sophisticated bars (eventually). Graduating from seeing your girlfriends every day because you went to school/college with them to seeing them for lunch dates or coffee because you all have new commitments, be it work or uni or whatever. Graduating into a new style which fits 'being in your twenties'. Yes, sometimes these things are scary but I think if you embrace it all then you can really see how far you've come in just a few years.

Reason 3: Meeting new people. Your twenties give you the opportunity to really break out from the little cocoon you were previously so content to huddle in. Moving away, starting a new career... all of these things allow you to begin to form new relationships with people who you maybe in the past, would not have considered as people you would be drawn to or fit in with. Okay so it's important to not lose the friends you have always cherished but these new ones may be major players in your future. Who knows, you might even find the one. Just saying.

Reason 4: Travel. Until you retire, you will never have a better chance to travel than in your twenties. You're young, fit, unburdened with kids, a mortgage... all those things which for the majority come later in life and so get out there. See all the wonders of this little planet called earth. Work for a year to blow it all on an around the world trip, bungee jump, skydive, swim with dolphins, try that weird-looking  food, cry when you have to leave your new BFF/sexy Australian boyfriend, take a road trip across the US, inter-rail through Europe. Whatever. As Nike would say, 'Just do it'.

Reason 5: Career opportunities. Now is the time to take a year or two to yes, chill and relax and enjoy life but also to work your butt off at other times to ensure that you reach the highs that you dream of. So take that unpaid internship. Stay up all night studying to ensure you pass that exam/finish that essay. Work weekends and holidays to prove to your new boss that you have the drive and passion for promotion. Your twenties can be the most exciting years of your life but the real test is how hard you are also prepared to work because hey... you'll be thirty before you know it!