Now I’m 22, What Do I Do?

WRITTEN BY CHRISTINA SIMONOSKI

So, by the time you’re reading this, I’ve finally graduated. I keep finding myself wondering what exactly other people were doing in their 20s and curious about what I should have already achieved by the time I turn 22.

I’ve definitely made a good start with my first significant milestone of completing my bachelor’s degree. Looking forward, I have two more important life events that almost feel like they’re approaching me at a highspeed rate. One being my Master’s in Digital Communications that I am actually really excited about and the other... turning 22.

I’ve always felt a sense of pressure to set myself up to be someone my siblings can go to for help, support or advice. A Macedonian upbringing kind of does that to you as the oldest sibling (especially when they’re seven and fifteen years younger than you). I know it’s probably an unhealthy amount of co-dependence, but it’s still something I want to be able to do for my sister and brother as they grow up. So, I can’t help but place these ridiculous expectations of achieving some tangible milestones in my 20s more than any other point in my life.

And look, it’s not the number I have a problem with, really, but more so the recent realisation that everything after 21 feels like important groundwork. Whether it be building a career, making general life plans, improving my skills, travelling or moving out of my parents’ place.

I don’t know what steps to take first. I know all of them need to happen at some point, but... what do I even start with?

Some people say to work with lists, I like lists too, but I get extremely overwhelmed when it comes to life goals. The tasks I want to work on start to go round in circles like “what comes first, the chicken or the egg?”

Do I save up for a car or spend money on driving lessons because I am STILL on my learners?

Do I move out of home or wait till I have a car first?

Do I look for work a reasonable distance from my parents or move closer to where I find work?

Do I live at home and save before moving out with my partner or just try to start living independently?

Do I save up for travel or save up for a car??? Will I ever get a car???