My wife has a BFF at work. For the purposes of this article, we'll call her Kaylee – mainly because that's her name. Normally, one might refer to Kaylee as Heather's work wife, except that Kaylee is 23 and often refers to Heather as her work mom (which kind of makes me want to smack her – sorry, K – but that's all right). Anyway, I recently had the opportunity to spend some time with Kaylee, marking the first time I've hung out with a 23-year-old since I myself was in my early 20s. Why is this article-worthy? Because young twentysomethings get so much crap right now. They're painted with a broad brush that uses a horrifying color palette and I think it's a shame. I know this is only anecdotal – this is one 23-year-old among millions, if not billions. Spending time with her was delightful, though, and it changed my perspective.
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Everybody Seems to Think 23-year-olds Are Stupid
Actually, by today's standards, if you're younger than 25, you apparently don't know anything about anything.
Or Inherently Lazy
There's also this idea that all young twentysomethings are lazy and waiting for handouts.
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Or Just Generally Flaky and Unwilling to do Anything
I hate to tell everybody this, but these traits are not restricted to 23-year-olds.
These traits are prevalent in many adults too. Flakiness knows no age boundaries; you'll find it in colleagues who cancel meetings last minute or friends who ghost plans. Procrastination is like an equal-opportunity menace, affecting everyone from teenagers to retirees. So, before you start eyeing younger folks as the sole proprietors of this behavior, remember that many seasoned adults have mastered the art of inconsistency and indecision. Life's unpredictability makes it difficult to always be reliable, no matter how old you are. Cut some slack and recognize that reliability is a universal challenge.
But They Hustle like Nobody's Business
They have to, really, and they do it well.
At 23, many young adults feel like they have the world at their fingertips. They’re ready to take on the world and make their mark. But it takes hard work and dedication to get to where they want to be.
That’s why 23-year-olds hustle like nobody’s business. They know that to get ahead, they have to put in the time and effort. They have to be willing to work hard and take risks, and they have to be willing to make sacrifices.
It’s not just about working hard, though. It’s also about being smart about how you work and how you spend your time. 23-year-olds know that they need to make the most of their time, so they’re always looking for ways to be more efficient. They’re always looking for ways to get more done in less time.
23-year-olds are also great at networking. They know that having a good network of contacts is essential for success. They’re always looking for ways to meet new people and make connections that can help them in their career.
At the Same Time, They Have to Prove Themselves on the Daily
This is why they hustle – but that's not so different than being a person of color, a woman, or a woman of color.
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Today's Dating Scene is Way More Complicated than It Was a Decade Ago
It's not just complicated, it's brutal – and frequently disgusting, and often threatening, and just generally messy, scary, and awful.
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Blink-182 Was Correct: Nobody Likes You when You're 23
Everybody's got something to say (I myself referred to Kaylee as a fetus, but she laughed – annnd now I'm ashamed of myself).
The article discusses the experience of hanging out with a 23-year-old and all the things that one can learn from them. It mentions that Blink-182's song "What's My Age Again?" was correct in saying that nobody likes you when you're 23. The author admits to referring to their friend as a fetus, but the friend found it amusing. This highlights the societal pressure and expectations that come with being 23, as well as the struggle to find one's identity and place in the world. It also touches on the humor and self-deprecation often associated with being in your early twenties. Overall, the article provides a relatable and insightful perspective on the ups and downs of being 23.
And Sometimes, Some 23-year-olds Take Themselves Too Seriously
We all do that at some point – for example, I truly believe that I am very srs business.
At 23, many people are in a transitional phase of life, between finishing college and starting their career. They can be feeling a lot of pressure to succeed and to make the right decisions. This can lead to taking themselves too seriously, and feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of making the right choices. They may also be struggling to find a balance between their personal and professional lives. It can be helpful for them to remember that it's ok to make mistakes and to take time for themselves. Taking time to relax and have fun is essential for mental and physical health.
But Again, It's Because They Have to Prove Themselves Constantly
Just so that you don't keep thinking they're lazy, entitled, or somehow incapable of hard work.
On a Purely Anecdotal Note, They Know Nothing about the '70s and '80s
Seriously, though, we played some sad little version of Trivial Pursuit focused on those decades, and Kaylee didn't know anything – but then again, neither did my beautiful wife.
They're Caught Somewhere between ~that College Life~ and Professionalism
That is, they still want to have fun, go out, and party but they also want to present themselves as responsible professionals, and striking that balance can be difficult and draining.
There's Sometimes a Struggle to Make Friends in the Workplace
Well, it's hard to strike up a friendship with people who don't take you seriously.
Mainly Because Their Colleagues Tend to Be Older
Unless you're used to having older friends, it's also hard to strike up friendships with people who are five, ten, fifteen, maybe even twenty years older than you.
Meaning That They're Often Stuck in an Environment Where People Complain about Their Age Group
All. The. Time.
So There's This Adorable, Endearing Struggle to Find Things to Talk about
I really don't mean to sound pretentious or condescending here, either – I always think it's genuinely sweet to see someone trying so hard to talk to people with whom they don't have a lot in common.
They Get Accused of Being Entitled All the Time
If you've ever read the comment sections of any articles devoted to this age group and millennials in general, you know this.
This is Usually Due to Their Desire to Get Ahead as Quickly as Possible
When you graduate college with crippling debt and have to deal with the paradox of needing experience to get a job when no one will hire you to give you experience, it's easy to understand why this age group is so eager to rise above entry level positions.
However, when They're Working Their Asses off to do That, They're Not Really Entitled
Yeah, being willing to work hard for something you want kind of proves that you don't believe you're entitled to it.
They're All about Body Positivity and Self-love
This generation as a whole is just on fire with self-love – as a whole, anyway – and that tends to extend to an open-mindedness and acceptance for so many other things.
And They're Kind of over What Everyone else Thinks of 23-year-olds
Honestly, can you blame them?
If there are any 23-year-olds out there, please weigh in. Hell, if you're younger than 25, I'd like to hear about the stereotypes you encounter from day-to-day.
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