Turning 30: Damn That Came Quick!

The year is 2010. It's my senior year at Darlington High School. It's May 28th, my graduation day. As I sit listening to my valendictorian speak on our experiences from the past four years, I'm like "Wow! That time really flew by quick! I can just remember being a quiet and shy freshman, with the only worries of the world were that of going to school. Now I have a new chapter to embark on: COLLEGE." Moments later, the diplomas were dispersed. When my name was called, I accpeted my diploma, proud of my accomplishment and excited to be out of high school forever to start my new journey of college in August.

I attended Winthrop University to pursue a chemistry degree. While I was there I must say it was a STRUGGLE lol! I take full accountability of all of it though. First, I picked my posion (that chemistry degree lol) and I was determined to see it through no matter what! Next, I'm the type of person that doesn't like to ask for help, so I rarely asked my professors nor classmates for assistance until I got further into my studies. I finally realized there was nothing wrong in asking for help if I don't understand a concept. I mean that's what my professors get paid for anyways lol. Then, there were times when I didn't put my best foot forward in my classes and ended up retaking a few (Word of Advice: It's not the end of the world if you ever have to retake a college course. Figure out where you were lacking in your first attempt and try again. I had to retake Calculus II 3 TIMES and I still obtained my degree so don't give up!). I received my degree in May 7th 2016 at the age of 24. I once again sat thinking to myself "Man I thought this day would never come and I must say I'm happy asf but WHERE DID THE TIME GO?!!"

Now in 2022 and several life changes later I am 30 years old (to be exact my birthday was on April 9th and don't you ever forget it lol). Once again I'm sitting here stuck with the same question "Where is the time going?". As each birthday came and went in my 20s I always felt that 30 was farther than it actually was. You know what I mean? Time is still going at the same pace but it just seems that it's moving too fast. Or maybe it could be that I wasn't worried about it because I was still in my 20s. Just living in now and not thinking about the future. I'm gonna say it was both lol but the point is that I WAS NOT READY FOR THIS AT ALL!

Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful to have reached a new decade and to have been able to celebrate it with the ones that I love. I just saw my life being in a completely different direction than it is now. If you would of asked me at 18 what I would be doing at 30 I would have said "Employed at my dream job as a Forensic Chemist, married with maybe two kids". You know basically have a traditional lifestyle. As you guys can see that is not the case lol. I didn't end up employed in the forensics field and I'm still very single with no kids. Yeah, a complete 360 from what I thought back in 2010 lol.

At times I felt like I failed my younger self because from the time I was around 10 or 11, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in forensic science. That's what I worked so hard for in school all these years and it was a blow when I was turned down for countless positions in that field. I also definitely thought I would be married at this point, but I'm still in this dating pool where sometimes I come across a lil piss every once in a while lol. And kids! I'm getting older now and it's like I'm on a time clock to have them! Ugh!

I say all of this to say that though things have not turned out like how I planned at 18, I'm not mad, bitter, nor upset about it one bit. Things always happen for a reason. If I would of had a career in forensic science, I probably would of never took the leap to put myself out to the world and start my own business. If I would of been married now, I probably would of never had the time I needed to "find myself" during that crucial weird period in my 20s. You know, to live and do stupid shit and learn from it lol. If I would of had kids, I know I would be more broke than I am now, not able to give them the time from me that they deserve. So sometimes your plans fall through, but the outcome may be what you needed more. In this case this is just what happened to me.

So yeah this shit came quick but I'm here now and very grateful. I'm looking forward to taking all the lessons I learned in my 20s and applying that wisdom and knowledge to live an easier life in my 30s. I'm also very excited to see my "come-up" personally and professionally. I'm still a mess at times just getting my life together and figuring this out along the way. I'm totally fine with that because this has shown me how precious time is. It is something that we spend but can never get it back. I plan to make all my time count because I worked so hard in my 20s that now I'm just ready to reap the benefits of my labor in my 30s. I'm creating the life that I deserve. What about you?