# What would you tell your 21 year old self? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 9, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951 "2004-12-09T17:07:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mottpot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Mottpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mottpot)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/1 "2004-12-09T17:07:39Z")
I have been dealing with all sorts of stuff lately. Not major major stuff, just everyday life kind of things that I am having my first encounters with. Love, friendship, finances, future, acceptance . . . those kind of things. It just feels like I have grown up at warp speed in about the last 3 years and my mind is trying to catch up with itself. So I was just wondering, if you could go back and visit yourself at 21, what kind of advice would you give yourself? What valuable lessons, big or small, have you taken from life that you think would have been helpful then? ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/2 "2004-12-09T17:11:22Z")
1. It’ll get better. 2. You’re stronger than you realise. 3. Don’t be afraid to do the things you want to do. 4. You can’t fix people, so stop trying. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/3 "2004-12-09T17:11:44Z")
> [@Mottpot](#): > > I have been dealing with all sorts of stuff lately. Not major major stuff, just everyday life kind of things that I am having my first encounters with. Love, friendship, finances, future, acceptance . . . those kind of things. It just feels like I have grown up at warp speed in about the last 3 years and my mind is trying to catch up with itself. > > So I was just wondering, if you could go back and visit yourself at 21, what kind of advice would you give yourself? What valuable lessons, big or small, have you taken from life that you think would have been helpful then? Invest, invest, invest. ---
**Author:** ![Lao\_Tsu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lao\_Tsu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lao_Tsu)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/4 "2004-12-09T17:16:10Z")
1. Stay with the law school thing. You’ll have more opportunities. 2. Dump the bitch, run like hell. 3. Appreciate the next 4 years. It will never get better. 4. Listen to people who are trying to help you. If you have questions, freakin’ ask someone who may know. 5. Don’t gain any more weight. With this long of a list, it could turn into a major lecture/bitch session. ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/5 "2004-12-09T17:19:39Z")
Let’s see. That was only 6 years ago. 1. Wait to get married. Yes, marry him, but wait until you’re both out of school. 2. Since you’re not going to listen and are going to marry him anyway, both of you go back to school RIGHT NOW and don’t even THINK of having a baby until you’re out. Get on the pill, your periods are going to screw up soon anyway. 3. Forget journalism. Become a paralegal. You’ll like it. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/6 "2004-12-09T17:23:16Z")
1. The girl you’re going to marry in nine months – she’s good. You’ll love the following years. 2. Get to know your grandparents better. Three of the four won’t be around beyond the next three years or so. 3. When you leave your first job in 1996, don’t take the cash from the retirement fund. It’s only a small amount, but even so, start an IRA with it. 4. Change your college major. TV/Radio is nice, but you’re going to bang your head against the wall for the next few years trying to get in. You like computers anyway, get an earlier start on that career – it’s where you’ll end up anyway. 5. Spend some more time with the kids. 6. In the year 2000, when there will be this thing called the Internet, be sure not to forget to sign up for this message board called “The Straight Dope Message Board.” 7. Buy Microsoft. Buy Yahoo!, but sell in early 2000. Don’t buy Enron. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Emony\_Dax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Emony\_Dax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emony_Dax)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/7 "2004-12-09T17:23:18Z")
Stop obsessing about yourself. You’re not really all that unusual. Start paying attention to other people, and their feelings, instead. ---
**Author:** ![velveeta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/13edae/32.png) [@velveeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velveeta)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/8 "2004-12-09T17:25:41Z")
1. Your taste in men sucks. 2. Old Milwaukee is NOT good beer. 3. That box with the keyboard thingie that you dink around with and play games on is going to end up being your life. Think about changing career paths NOW. I don’t care that you’re a biology major. Hey, don’t you walk away from me! ---
**Author:** ![AsecretK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ab992/32.png) [@AsecretK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AsecretK)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/9 "2004-12-09T17:26:15Z")
1. Yes at 21 you now have a 2 year old and a one month old but in 15 years you will have two wonderful young adults 2. Go ahead and leave him it is going to be one of the best decisions you are going to make 3. Listen to your mother but do not do everything she suggests 4. Listen to yourself more, you have a brain now use it 5. When you lose that baby weight, KEEP IT OFF!!! 6. Do not get that puppy I am sure there are more but that is all I can think of right now ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/10 "2004-12-09T17:28:19Z")
1. Go back and get that Computer Science degree. Get over that bitch who nearly ruined your life and interfered with your original college plans. 2. If anyone tries to lure you into a get-rich-quick scheme, remember, if it sounds too good to be true, then or probably is. 3. You’re never going to find a decent girlfriend-- EVER-- so you might as well give it up now instead of torturing yourself for the next ten years trying to find one. Enjoy your life as a single! ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/11 "2004-12-09T17:30:08Z")
1. You’re too young to get married. 2. You’re too young to get married. 3. You’re too young to get married. 4. You’re too young to get married. 5. You’re too young to get married. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/12 "2004-12-09T17:30:43Z")
1. Credit matters 2. Credit Matters 3. CREDIT MATTERS 4. Love seriously 5. Enjoy the simple things 6. Listen to your elders 7. Love yourself first ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/13 "2004-12-09T17:38:45Z")
1. Don’t move in with Kara; she’s a psychopath with cleanliness issues. 2. Don’t move in without a lease! 3. Store credit is bad news. 4. Stay away from TC. I don’t care if he smells good. Down, girl! 5. Don’t ever date a lawyer. Period. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/14 "2004-12-09T17:49:03Z")
1. Heed most of the advice in that Baz Luhrman ‘Sunscreen’ song 2. Your parents aren’t that asshole’s you think they are 3. Convince your friends drinking and driving = death 4. There are many, many fish in a very vast ocean 5. You don’t now – nor never will – know as much as you think you do ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/15 "2004-12-09T17:49:55Z")
Goodness, 21 wasn’t even very long ago but I’ve got a _lot_ I’d like to have drummed into my dumbass head. 🙂 1. NO CREDIT DEBT. If you can’t pay it off in a month don’t buy it! If Vinny the Shark came up and asked if you wanted to borrow money at 21%, would you say _yes_?! 2. When you start feeling pretty bad this next year and start blowing class off to sleep all the time, seek help in the _fall_, not in the spring when your advisor will have to make deals and possibly have cheap and tawdry sex with the head of the department to convince them to let you graduate. I might have a full time job by now if I hadn’t blown that last year of college with depression. 3. Go out. Have a good time. Sleep around a little. Drink more. Really, it’s okay. Find out where the men are and meet them, learn how to date them. You really are a fine looking female and you should be reaping the rewards our society pays fine looking females. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/16 "2004-12-09T17:51:09Z")
1. Don’t get involved with women who already have children. The relationships won’t last, and they will be made more heartbreaking because of your attatchment to the kids. 2. Dad dies suddenly in 4 years. You can’t change it, but appreciate him more now. 3. Meghan is a great person, don’t be a dick to her. 4. That rainy day is coming soon. Put some money away, and DON’T TOUCH IT for at least 10 more years. You’ll be needing to buy a house. ---
**Author:** ![woodstock989](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f05b48/32.png) [@woodstock989](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstock989)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/17 "2004-12-09T18:11:37Z")
1 Stop getting back together with him - it not’s going to work. You’re both too young and immature. 2 Don’t buy that car, it’s going to be a piece of shit. 3 Don’t buy that next one, it’s going to be a piece of shit too. 4 When you meet (name withheld) in a couple years, run the other way. 5 Go back to school now, don’t wait. 6 Get rid of that black miniskirt - it’s too short. 7 Don’t move back in with the parent - you will regret it! ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/18 "2004-12-09T18:13:44Z")
1. There is so much i need to tell ya. Hey, come back here. It is really important. Yo, seriously get back here! What do ya mean you don’t need my advice?!? Hey, really…COME BACK!!! ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/19 "2004-12-09T18:17:53Z")
1990: Giants 20, Bills 19 1991: Redskins 37, Bills 24 1992: Cowboys 52, Bills 17 1993: Cowboys 30, Bills 13 1994: 49ers 49, Chargers 26 1995: Cowboys 27, Steelers 17 1996: Packers 35, Patriots 21 1997: Broncos 31, Packers 24 1998: Broncos 34, Falcons 19 1999: Rams 23, Titans 16 2000: Ravens 34, Giants 7 2001: Patriots 20, Rams 17 2002: Raiders 21, Buccaneers 48 2003: Panthers 29, Patriots 32 ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951/20 "2004-12-09T18:19:41Z")
That was only a year ago and the only thing I can think of is “If or when you do decide to move, skip Nebraska and go straight to Oregon.” Not much else has changed to really warrant any sort of talk. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-your-21-year-old-self/278951.md?page=2)