The most common, overarching theme surrounding 20-somethings around the world is partying our tits off as much as we can before we hit real adulthood, when it stops being cute to get shwasty all the time.
1. We love to party
Any major party city or event around the world is packed with youngsters trying to make the most exciting decade of our lives count as much as possible.
2. We are always down to meet people
Simply observing how social on and offline the current millennial generation is speaks to how much we love interacting with all sorts of people whenever we can. And why else would we go out to crowded venues every night looking fresh to death if we didn’t have the intention of snagging the attention of strangers we have yet to know?
3. We make irresponsible decisions
Should I go out even though I have a test tomorrow? Should I upload that video of me downing a shot and a beer on Facebook because I got nekro-tagged? Should I get that tattoo even though it might interfere with my employment prospects? These are all common life choices faced by today’s youth and if the option of YOLO-ing is available without immediate repercussions, you can bet that we will always go with the less responsible option just because we can.
4. We’re broke and therefore incredibly cheap
It’s a hard knock life being a 20-something as many of us still have nothing to our name and are still working towards that “real grownup job” and a salary. Thus you can always find hoards of us pre-gaming with plastic bottle liquor in public spaces or taking that 45 minute walk home after the club because the metro isn’t open and we can’t afford a taxi.
5. We LOVE free stuff
And the previous reason is exactly why the best event promotions that attract lots of young people are those that promise free food, entry, drinks and swag.
Via bluesodapromo.com6. We’re all about the hustle
From being tour guides in destination cities to woofing in the countryside to teaching English to foreigners, we unexperienced, unqualified young’uns do anything and everything in our power to make enough paper to get us by.
Via jenniferlawrencedaily.tumblr7. But we still kind of fall back on our parents when we get stuck sometimes
Who knew back when you were 13 that in 10 years dining with your parents would be incredibly exciting simply because you’ll get to eat a real meal that’s fully paid for? For those of us lucky enough to have parents who wouldn´t want us to starve, once or twice in a while we still need help standing on our own two feet.
Via camijanin.tumblr8. We have complicated relationships
Being scared of commitment, playing hard to get and avoidance of labels is a commonly recurring theme when dating people our age. You run into the same problems wherever you go as I’m personally learning through my mishaps and rendezvous with romantic partners in different countries.
9. But we still mingle with the hope that we will meet someone special
We won’t ever admit it but deep down the thought of meeting a special someone who will rock our world moves us to bits and pieces and that’s why we continue hook-up, mingle and make mistakes.
10. And if we don’t it’s okay because deep down we know our Smartphone is our one true love
For those of us who are privileged to own this first world luxury, there is no one else we will look at with adoring and unending fervor as our Smartphone.
11. We have no idea what we want to do with our lives
Ask any 20-something in any part of the world what they want to do for a living and more than 90% of the time the answer will be “I have no freaking idea.” Talk to us when we’ve thought about it for another 20 years.
Via headoverfeels.com12. But we dream of doing something we love
Whatever we do end up doing, we pray that it’ll be something we love, that we’ll enjoy, that will make us happy and make our current selves proud of who we’ve become.
Via taylorswift.com13. We’re incredibly optimistic and idealistic
Move to a different country? Quit your job to become a yogi? Sure why not? The cynicism and fear of real life have not caught up to us yet so with our youthful idealism we imagine things will work out for the best and we’ll roll with the punches wherever we end up.
Via allnightlongbabyy.tumblr14. We defend our homies to the death because we all know that our crew is the sh$t and better than anyone else’s
With no families of our own or stable partners, our friends are the backbone and reason that we stay afloat throughout this crazy time in our lives which is why you find most of us in packs at any given time. There’s nothing that makes you feel more proud than rolling up with your crew in a public space and wreaking havoc together.
Via gurl.tumblr15. We’re hipster
No matter where you go these days you can always find hip, well-dressed young’uns riding bikes, Instagramming and looking for the most obscure, trendy hang out spots. From Portland, Oregon to Malasaña in Madrid to Hongdae in Seoul, hipsters are taking over the world.
16. We love tattoos and piercings and pink hair and whatever else makes us feel alive
Speaking of hipsters, it’s impossible not to see young people of this generation with inked skin, face piercings or pastel-colored hair wherever you go. We will never be as unrestrained by societal norms later on in our lives so please leave us alone and don’t judge while we’re busy being ourselves.
Via boards.vinylcollective17. We don’t feel like adults
Whether our age is 21, 25 or 27, it’s difficult to think of ourselves as full-grown, responsible, real-life adults despite being legally considered so in any given country. Our 30th birthday is when we’ll maybe consider the possibility.
Via huffingtonpost.com18. Which is why we often feel the need to avert the judgment of real adults
We’re used to being looked at funny and having our points of view invalidated by virtue of not knowing any better. To which our reply is: no regrets, I’m just living my life.
Via soymuyportena.tumblr19. Our lives are uncertain and scary
Despite the premium placed on youth, being young is overwhelming. Other than the pressure to live it up, there’s also the pressure to build ourselves up and work towards a future which we have no idea will look like plus the pressure to get on our own two feet like a real-life person while working odd jobs.
20. But our lives are always exciting and full of mystery at the same time
Regardless of the constant dread and anxiety, the uncertainty is what makes this time in our lives so magical, and I imagine that the possibility that anything could happen is what adults miss about their twenties once they’re over.
PHOTO NADIA CHO