Five Things I Learned Being 22
Time flies when you’re having fun! I learned that the hard way when I turned 22 in February 2018 and with my 23rd birthday coming ever closer, there has been many setbacks and accomplishments along what has been an important year in my life to date.
From the euphoria of getting a job as a Journalist in London to moving back home to Birmingham a few months later, the twists and turns I have encountered and overcome have helped me mature and grow as an individual and professional.
It has been difficult to narrow everything down into one post, so here are five things that I have learned being 22:
There’s no such thing as perfection
For a long time, I used to obsess about getting things done to a high standard. When I turned 22, the idea of perfectionism became a thing of the past as I learned to let go of the fact if a run had not gone according to plan, I still enjoyed getting around a course that I had devised in my head.
As a young boy growing up in Birmingham, I was drilled into thinking that if I made one small mistake, it would ruin everything I worked hard for. That’s where I started to become more perfect in everything I did from my school work to sports and so forth.
When I let go of my perfectionism at 22, a huge weight came off my shoulders which stopped me from bottling up any emotions that I wanted to let out with disastrous results.
Meeting your heroes is a liberating experience
People usually say “You should never meet your heroes” because whoever you have idolised will end up disappointing you whenever you approach them. It turns out, I had completely the opposite experience as I got to meet some high-profile stars from the world of journalism, tech and sport at 22.
In my first month of turning 22, on a day out in London, I bumped into Jon Snow from Channel 4 News on the Tube. The pure elation of coming up to Mr Snow and having a very brief conversation with him was incredible as well as taking a picture with the broadcasting legend was an unforgettable moment.
Over a month later, I had played darts in Birmingham with the “King of Bling” Bobby George, which was an absolute honour in itself. As an avid darts fan, to play with a legend of the sport was something completely unexpected. Despite being beaten in a match by Bobby, money simply cannot buy you that kind of experiences at any cost.
Reporting and travelling the world as a Journalist
If I told you at 22 that I would be reporting around the world at tech conferences and events in Las Vegas and The Hague, you would have thought I was crazy. When I worked in London for a B2B tech publication, this was the right opportunity to showcase myself as a journalist worldwide.
While I am proud of the events I have covered as a Reporter, it also showed me that it’s okay to go outside my comfort zone. Granted, at both the events and conferences I attended in the United States and the Netherlands, it was the first time that I had ever gone on a plane without my parents.
It also exposed me to more journalists from across the world which was a golden opportunity for me to network and learn a bit more about the B2B enterprise IT industry. While I would have liked to have covered more conferences, there’s no doubt I will get another chance in the future.
True friends are always there for you no matter what
One of the things I have learned at 22 is that true friends will be there for you no matter what. Friendships are a two-way street and I realised after reevaluating my friendships that it is important to have a small group of friends that you can depend on for advice or a chat.
At the moment, I’m in such a good place in regards to the friends I have right now. Every friend I have has a unique personality about them which makes for some fascinating conversations about everyday life, journalism or even what’s going on in the news. I guarantee I would never be bored with their company if I was catching up with them over fish and chips or a drink.
It’s also made me realise that a good friend will stick with you for many years to come if you treat them with respect.
There is no straight path in life
My parents used to tell me growing up that life is not one straight road and that advice could not be more accurate. In life, there are many twists and turns that can throw you off-guard when you least expect it so it's about rising up when you’re knocked out on the boxing ring canvas.
I must say at 22, I have had my fair share of twists and turns from moving to London and coming back home to Birmingham to job changes and so forth. What it has given me is the impression that there are many roads that can be taken to accomplish your goals, and that life itself is not one straight path.
It’s important on the journey I have taken as a journalist and media professional that there are days that will be tough, but doors will always open if you’re willing to work for what you want.
I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey at 22, especially Jem Collins, Sian Elvin, Adam Smith, Libby Maher, Jo Goodman, and Ed James who have been instrumental towards making my 22nd year of existence the best to date.
