As young people we are told to go to school, get an education so we can get a life, build something for ourselves and those around us. These words tend to leave a lot of young people under pressure, because some more than others are stunned by what getting a life looks like. It would seem that society has a certain standard of what getting a life should look like for those in their 20s or 30s. There has always been this idea that getting a life means getting an education, getting a job, settling down and having kids.

The journey is different for all of us, some might go the entrepreneurial route, for some it could be through furthering their studies, either way, its fine. I am writing this to encourage the youth out there to not be so hard on themselves. This is a reminder to my fellow 23 year olds who are trying to build something for themselves that we are doing just fine, let us be kind to ourselves, let us keep the hustle going. This is a reminder that we should wake up each day with intentions of making the best out of all our days, to give it our best shot, and stay positive.

Some days will be harder than others, some days it will be hard to get out of bed, sometimes you may not even know what to do. Be kind to yourself regardless, remind yourself that your dreams are valid and they matter, and it is important to stay positive. With each day that passes as you work towards that goal, you become a step closer to realising those dreams, although it may not seem like it, you are close, you are closer.

Define your own standards of what getting a life looks like, because it is not about anybody else but YOU. So, do not be pressured, just keep working at it and remember to stay positive. We are all just figuring it out, some will figure it out faster than others, and it’s okay, just remember why you started and that your journey is unique from everybody else’s.