They say hindsight is 20/20. Looking back on my 20s now as a mom, I can’t even begin to tell you how true that is. There are so many tidbits of worldly wisdom I wish I had known back then, which would have made life a lot easier for me– relationships, family, career, and personal life. 

I look back at old college picture albums and cringe at times, thinking, “I wish I had known that.” While I can’t step into a time machine and go back in time, I can share these tidbits of wisdom with the new 20-something generation. The young, carefree college no-longer-children-but-not-quite-adult population is learning life lessons as we speak. 

If I could go back in time, I would give myself 6 crucial pieces of advice.

1. Find Your Passion

It’s so hard to slow down when you’re entering college and think about what you love most. You’re too busy with so many other things that you might not realize the importance of finding your passion. Sure, you may have lots of hobbies and play sports or an instrument, but what is it that really gets you fired up and excited to wake up every day? What are you doing now (or maybe not) that you'd want to do in 10 years? 20 years?

If you aren’t sure what your true passions are, you may need to stop and reflect. Try creating a vision board or journaling daily to see where your passions lie. Try making lists of the things you love to do and take note of things you really don’t love doing. Still not sure? Go out and try new things. Take risks and try activities or hobbies that you have never tried. Step outside your comfort zone and make friends with people different from you. If you don’t know your passion, you may need to step outside of your bubble to discover it. 

All of my life, I had a love of writing. I wrote stories, books, poetry, letters, you name it. When I got to college, my favorite courses were my grammar and creative writing courses. I decided to pursue education because I thought it was a safe choice. While I enjoyed teaching, It was never a real passion. After ten years, I got really burnt out and found myself kind of lost career-wise. It wasn’t until I was almost 40 that I decided to pursue that passion, and it’s been life-changing. I now have a career as a children’s book author and blog writer, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been! My passion is my work, and my work is my passion.

2. Find a Mentor 

20 years old is young to be making lifelong choices. You are learning so much about yourself and about the world. You’re transitioning from childhood to adulthood and are expected to make many decisions about your future that will seriously impact your entire future. It’s terrifying to think about! One wrong decision could really change the course of your life in so many ways–financially and personally, 

If you could jump into the future and talk to your older, wiser self for a while, would you? Of course! Someone who’s been through it and who knows the end result. Someone who can tell you if you’re making the right decisions based on her experience. 

 Since this is impossible, the next best thing is to find yourself a mentor–someone older and wiser who has the experience and can offer you relevant advice. There are so many reasons that every college student should have a reliable mentor to guide them and cheer them on. Mentors have boundless knowledge and can help you grow in business and life. But where can you find a great mentor? There are plenty of mentoring programs at universities. Look in your field for mentors who are willing to help but also look within your own network. 

3. Invest in Yourself

Investing in yourself has so many parts to it. Being in college is a small piece of the puzzle. Investing in your physical health, mental health, career goals, and future are all equally important. You don’t want any of these to be an afterthought because you will only come to regret it later on in life. 

While I don’t advise you to obsess over fitness, taking care of yourself and implementing good habits from the start is critical. Go to the gym or be active in other ways every single day... Swap out your desk chair for a yoga ball. Start your good habits at an early age. Drink tons of water. There are so many benefits of drinking water. Skip the sugary drinks and get in the habit of staying hydrated with water. Small practices can pave the way for good health, and good health is something you’ll come to realize later on is priceless. 

Invest in your mental health because it’s often overlooked when it should be a priority. Limit your stress and anxiety, and improve your mood. Practice mindfulness in whatever way makes the most sense to you. Keep a journal, practice yoga, meditate, and listen to music. Whatever you need to keep yourself mentally strong will help you in all other facets of your life. 

4. Live Below Your Means

While college students aren’t known for living lavish lifestyles, often there is an income stream from parents, a part-time job, savings, or even student loans. Whatever your finances may be in college, it’s essential to learn basic budgeting knowledge early on and live below your means. That means, quite simply, not spending more money than you have. 

Making a conscious effort to do this can make a difference in the long run. Keep track of your expenses, make a budget for yourself, and don’t fall for credit card companies when they try to convince you to open more credit cards. One credit card is perfectly okay to build your credit, but multiple cards can quickly get you into financial trouble. Pay your cards down at the end of each month, and never spend money you don’t have (no matter how tempting it may get). 

When it comes to more significant debts like student loans, tuition, or car payments, just make it a habit to pay your bills on time each month. Being late, even by a few days, can hurt your credit score, which can really hurt you in the future after college. Your goal is to leave college with a clean slate, financially, not more debt than when you came. 

5. Have a Vision

It’s so easy in college to forget why you’re there. Distractions are all around you–friends, parties, alcohol, and an alarm clock that’s easy to snooze. Every so often, it’s important to remember why you’re there. What are your goals, and what kind of a future do you want? You’re an adult now and the only person who can determine what kind of a future you will have.  

It’s important sometimes to stop and reassess your goals. You’re young, and your dreams will likely change (and more than once!). The important thing here is that you always have goals and work towards them. 

Early on, I discovered the power of vision boards. A physical representation of your vision and goals–both personal and business oriented. A combination of pictures, words, and short phrases of your life vision which, if manifested, can turn your vision into your reality. Vision boards are a tool used by some of the most successful people to keep their dreams front and center. Take some time to clarify your life vision and manifest it every day. 

6. Find Your People

College is the place where you will meet your best friends and people who are like-minded. You’ve already got things in common with many of the people at your university. Go to campus events and sporting games, join a club or sorority/fraternity, and join study groups. Or, if you are lucky enough, you might find your people right in your dorm. Be open-minded to forming friendships and relationships. Your time at college is so quick; making connections makes daily living enjoyable. But the connections that you make now will go far beyond your everyday living. Once you’re lucky enough to find your people, you’ve got friendships that will likely last a lifetime. 

I formed a bond with 9 college roommates that is stronger than ever today, years later. We started as dormmates, eventually becoming a 10-girl living situation (that wasn’t a sorority). In the years following college, we have traveled and been a part of each other weddings, baby showers, and family funerals, and now our kids are friends. It’s a bond that you will never regret, and one like you will have with no one else, and it begins in college. Find your people, and don’t let them go.  

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Sometimes I wish I could go back and take my own advice. I wish I could fix the mistakes and stay focused on what was important. But in many ways, we are a product of our mistakes. We live, we learn, and grow into the people we are at this very moment. Sometimes it takes a little reflection to realize that the mistakes made us who we are now and take pride in that. The best we can do is share our tidbits of wisdom with the next generation and hope they use our advice in some way to live, learn and grow.