“You Will Regret It Later On”: 30 Millennials Share The Best Advice They Have For Gen Z
As exhilarating as it can feel to be young, it's easy to also feel lost and unsure. Let's face it, without life experience, it’s pretty darn hard to know what to do and, just as importantly, what not to do. Mistakes are good teachers, but seldom fun to go through.
A netizen asked people 30 and older “What advice can you give to people in their early 20s or younger?” and folks from across the internet gave their best suggestions. So get comfortable as you scroll through and take note if you are on the younger side. Upvote your favorites and share some wisdom if you happen to be thirty or older.
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If you feel like college isn't for you or you have no idea what you want to do, you can make a very respectable living and have far more job security if you learn a trade. The world will ALWAYS need electricians, carpenters and plumbers...etc.
When I was growing up, college was pushed on us so hard that we would feel like failures if we went into a trade. Buying into that mentality is something I will always regret.
That's excellent advice. Pretty much the only requirements for entering those fields is to be willing to work and willing to learn.
Not true. In the US, and more specifically 9 states, the requirements can be stricter that most colleges. Reason being, an average apprentice electrician graduate makes 6 figures as an example. If you aren't already good at college level math, don't bother applying. Laborer on the other hand, you need a pulse. Willing to work and learn, huge requirement. I work as a consultant for the apprenticeship system in my state. Average first year journey worker makes 98k a year.
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For someone who liked using tools and working with my hands, but also wanted a mentally challenging career, I studied electronics engineering and spent my life repairing music electronics equipment. It requires some college, but is mostly a hands on, learn by experience thing. Kind of a niche job as it requires being a musician too.
I learned a trade, Cosmetology. Yep, making 2+ times what my peers make, them going to college. YES, I work 65 hrs a week. But, for myself and people want me, love me and my craft. I am living my dream that a poor kid from a trailer could NEVER have imagined!! I even financially have been able to help my Momma out!! Go for a trade people!! Blessings
Hey I went to school for cosmetology too! I now work in retail marketing haha. Shout out to those of us who went to post secondary school because of the pressure we felt as kids but never used our degrees/certifications because it wasn’t the right fit but we felt rushed into doing something, anything immediately after high school!
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No college. Had a great life. Husband was Air Force. Lived many places. Tour in Hawaii ended. He had a chance to chose a place. He choose Alamogordo NM. At this point he said I am retiring here I said I am not. Divorced with 2 boys. Got a job with a police department in CA. Loved the )ob and retired after 23 years. And now live in AZ
Toolmakers, Millwrights, Pipefitters, Locksmiths, etc. There are many skilled trades.
But a community can only support a finite number of trademen. So find out the jobs prospects in your area and decide whether you can or want to move.
I work at a Career and Technical School and we have welding, automotive, manufacturing, engineering, prelaw, EMT, sports medicine, nursing assisting, digital arts, medical terminology, medical assisting etc and we are on wait lists for almost all of the programs because people have FINALLY realized that college is not for everyone! Yeah!!
But how many jobs are in your area for graduates. Not everyone who has these degrees can move and if the the local job market is saturated with say a dozen H-VAC graduates every year, that Degree end essentially useless when every H-VAC job is already filled.
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Unfortunately, some kind of college experience is often required on many job applications. But trade skills are absolutely a worthwhile education to get for the reasons the OP has stated. We will always need people who are skilled in carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and others. I respect people willing to do those jobs because I didn't want to; I wanted to do something different.
There's no guarantee you'll graduate, let alone with a good grade and even if you do, you might find yourself working in a totally unrelated job that pays less than jobs you don't need a degree for. If you do go, choose your degree based realistic career prospects.
Yes. And then be sure you can actually get a job in your area when you graduate.
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How true! College was always seen as a badge if honour in my country, trade was for losers. Being a plumber was something to be afraid of. How wrong it is.
As someone who teaches at a university, it’s not for everyone! More and more it’s pushed as though it should be the default. It shouldn’t be. Nothing should be a default life plan. It pîsses me off that, as a society, we devalue trades so much when they’re so crucial.
If you get a good job in the trades, you can later go to college if you discover that's what you want. And you'll have enough money on hand to pay for it.
One other thing about apprenticships: show up every day on time. Sounds basic, but some can't manage to do it. My husband completed a five year steamfitter apprentice ship. He retired after 50yrs. I was able to stay home with our kids because of his training.
Totally agree. Especially in an age where further education equals a tonne of debt.
My dad worked awful shifts so that his kids could go to a university, unlike him. He was a little sad we don't but it was more important for him, that we chose our own way because that was the real goal he wanted to reach: that we can choose our path. My pay is awful but I like being in trade
When I was in grade school we had things like printing and woodworking, or small engine repair in the curriculum, no longer I understand.
Does spelling count? I’ve noticed an alarming number of grammar errors, from my own nametags to my senior award to my first AAA card.
UPVOTE! This was my experience as well. Then I ended up going into the military, but choosing a career path that didn't translate to the civilian sector. I wish I was given different guidance on both counts.
Agreed. I often wished I had pursued a trade, albeit being a girl.
Also think about becoming an aesthetician if plumbing and carpentry are not your vibe!
I’ve been preaching this for years! (How many “art historians” do we really need ?)
I went to university because I really loved learning... Figured out a decade or so later that I really hated teaching. Now work a a field service EPOS/IT engineer... Love it and it pays well. No formal qualifications required, just interest in the field and building up experience (over a dozen years or so).
ASL interpreter if you have a brain that can think in two languages at once. We will always be needed.
I had a cousin who was training as that. She quit training when she found out the only way she could get a job in her area was if the current ASL interpreter died. And she couldn't afford to move.
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I go to a tech HS, and I know for a fact that you don't need to go to college if you want a good job. My first job was at a pretty big company (selling, renting, repairing heavy equipment), and all I really had to say is that I go to a tech school and am studying things that would help there, and I was hired on the spot. I'm willing to bet that after HS, I'll be able to just say that I know how to do a trade, and I'll be able to get a job. Hell, knowing a trade can be useful anyway lol
I have a degree and spent 16 years working in IT during a time of start ups. Worked for about 7 companies as they went belly up, restructured, or merged and I was left without a job. Start over at the bottom with a new place and without going back to school to specialize in something like programming, which I have no interest or aptitude in, I just couldn’t get ahead. I work in a trade now. I took a pay cut to start but 7 years in I make more than I ever did in IT plus pension and job security.
I was a carpenter for almost 15 years. It was in no way particularly repetitive. Different job sites, builds, materials, tools, people and different towns regularly. I'm in Healthcare now and used to work in radio. Carpentry was no more repetitive than those fields by any means.
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Don't take criticism from someone you wouldn't ask for advice. Why would you let a bunch of basement-dwellers' DMs make you feel bad about yourself?
Take care of your teeth.
To be more specific, if you're like me and find yourself without insurance in your early 20s, find your nearest free clinic to keep up with this. I did not do this, and a root canal, an extraction, and like 20 fillings later I wish I had kept up with the dentist and flossed waaaay more.
It's okay to keep things private and live offline. As you get older, you might regret how 'open' you were with the world.
Don’t start using tobacco products. Your health will thank you.
I have never met a single nicotine user that doesn't wish they had never started, including myself. seven months nicotine free.
For guys especially - don't be afraid to seek help if you feel you're struggling mentally (male s*icide rates remain shamefully high in Western societies). Also, no matter how embarrassing you may find it, if you have medical concerns about your d**k, balls, prostate, etc., then for f***s sake go see a doctor.
Don’t keep toxic people in your life based on brief memories of good deeds. It’s temporary and probably manipulative tactics. Friendship is a two-way street, it’s a mutual giving. If this person tears you down, makes jokes at your expense, doesn’t contact you unless they want something. Get rid. I had so many toxic friends in my early 20s that took me way too long to get rid of.
The entire economy is set up to abuse you in every way that it can. Learn math, financial literacy and how to plan EARLY, OFTEN and CONSISTENTLY.
Indulge in your hobbies, it’s so fulfilling and gratifying. Sketching, painting, pottery, crochet? DO IT. Hobbies nurture the soul and feed the spirit. If it makes you happy keep at it. You don’t need to make a career out of it. Just so long as it makes you happy.
Don't rush growing up. Enjoy yourself.
And please for the love of all that is good let your children enjoy being children. This world is crazy and life will throw enough at them without people making kids grow up too fast.
Don’t be afraid to say I’m sorry/ I was wrong/ I don’t understand/ could you please explain that again? People don’t think about you as much as you think they do.
Yes! Advocate for yourself! I learned this way too late and it’s helped me so much. Especially helps with school. Good teachers love when you ask questions because it means that you care about learning and getting it right. And accountability is a great virtue to have that people will respect you for.
Take care of your body. Eat healthy and exercise. You will be shocked at how much your body starts falling apart as you age. I know I was.
Keep in mind that when someone who is older and more experienced gives you advice, they're generally giving the advice that they wish they had followed when they were young. It's not necessarily advice that is calibrated for you or your circumstance.
So, as an older and more experienced person, your advice is to be sceptical about the advice that older and more experienced people give you?
Don't try and be the person that everybody likes. Not everybody is going to like you. Deal with it. The faster you realise that some people are always going to be a******s, or the faster you realise that some people are just never going to like you, and that you shouldn't give a f**k, in return - the faster, and happier, you will be.
Remember those insulting, bullying jerks in high school? They become bosses. Do not expect to be able ever please those types of people.
I have two pieces of advice. Do not run up debt it will follow you or ruin you. Do start saving money as soon as you possibly can. If you have 5000 dollars in savings you will be better off then 70% of Americans.
... And NEVER reveal to anybody, including family, that you have savings. Also NEVER lend people money from your savings.
Wait to have kids.
Nah. Go by what you feel is right in your gut. Have them in your twenties, have them later, or not at all. There are pros and cons to each
Drink less booze or non at all.
I went crazy with the booze in college and struggled with alcohol in my late 20s. My wife urged me to quit and I finally quit 2 years ago and it's been fantastic! You don't need booze!
Learn to cook. Way cheaper and way healthier. Learn to change your car’s brakes yourself. There’s not much else with owning a car where you can turn a $500 fix into an $80 fix in two hours.
Don’t stay in a job that makes you miserable. I’ve had multiple jobs and at nearly every single one I was treated like shit by management or bullied by coworkers. My mental health suffered and I was miserable. I’ve since left years ago and found myself a happier one. It’s just not worth it, even for the pay.
But only risk changing jobs when the economy is doing well and there are jobs in your field to choose from.
Wear sunscreen… everyday.
Regardless of skin tone or type.
And cover up. A wide-brimmed hat, long sleeves, and long pants will go a long way to protecting your skin. Ad before the "bUt It'S HOT!" comments, fabric and fit is key. Natural fibers like cotton and linen breathe well; wear loose-fitting clothing. Saudi men don't wear the robe style clothing for fashion; it's practical.
Please put your own health at one of the highest priorities. Both physical and mental. Things get much harder the older you get. Your health will help you if you take care of it for many things.
If it means deciding on taking breaks from things that's OK.
One needs to realize that as one ages the body deteriorates faster than one can keep it in shape. So one should start young to get in the habit of long exercise workouts so when you reach 65 you can still get around with minimal pain. After that age the worn out parts will never heal. And avoid exercise with impact on the joints, as knee replacement will take a year out of your life to recover from.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes. When you do own up to them, learn from them and move on.
Appreciate your body and imperfections! Don’t waste your 20s feeling insecure about things you cannot change. You will likely look back one day and wish you had the body you have now so enjoy it. Wear what you want. If insecurity creeps in, think about what you DO like about yourself every day. Remember there will be people out there who LOVE the things about you that you don’t like so much.
When have freckles been even remotely imperfect ? That is the most adorable thing ever
Never stop being active.
This needs to be higher. A sedentary lifestyle can and will cause you all sorts of health concerns. Just ask this former computer geek\Television addict. My screen time is down to an hour a day now from 10+ hours a day.
Don’t get married yet. You have no idea who you actually are and what’s really important to you in your early 20s.
Learn to enjoy your own company. I've watched too many people tolerate abusive, horrible partners solely because they didn't want to be alone. I'm 32 and blissfully single not because I can't find a partner, but because I'm fulfilled without one.
Save for retirement. Nobody else is going to help you in the US.
DO NOT SETTLE! You are young. You may feel societal, familial, or relationship pressures to settle. Whether that be settling in a relationship with someone you are afraid to leave, or settling in a career that you don't like because it will appease your family etc... don't do it. You will regret it later on down the road. Enjoy life, be free/ be your authentic self.
I wasted my 20's with someone I didnt like or want to spend my life with. I felt like I didnt have anywhere else to go and we had 2 children so I stayed. Now that I can be on my own we actually co-parent really well and I am so happy. I have started to dip my toe into the dating pool again but I am very critical of my needs as well as my children so I have no problem taking my time and even just being on my own. I recognize I am deserving of my standards and feel no need to rush which is a blessing.
You can’t control what other people say or do. You can only control your own actions and words. Stop trying to change others and focus on ensuring what you say and do reflects who you are. Likewise, nobody else can control your words or actions. Be accountable for yourself, and don’t let someone else have control over what you say or do.
Love people. Hold onto the people who matter to you, learn to forgive (with the caveat that you keep a soft eye out for manipulators), and know that no one is perfect. But they’re worth keeping around. Hold on tight, for as long as you can.
Nurture friendships. After school, a lot of people drift apart. I was surprised to see that a handful of my group of friends were still in touch and bff’s, decades after school. I realized that was because they made that effort to really continue being a part of each others lives.
If you think you might have a addiction take care of it now. The whole "you hurt the people closest to you" isn't a cliche and if you have a conscious it'll be hard to live with. It's better to get it taken care of sooner than later.
THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO STOP THAT ADDICTION RIGHT NOW. GET HELP. NOT “I’LL DO IT TOMORROW,” TODAY. It’s going to take a while, but the longer you put it off, the worse you’ll feel.
Note: this post originally had 59 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Here's my advice to the younger generations: Leave your eyebrows alone. They are fine, I swear. Do you have two? Then you're good. Don't touch them.
Agreed. Many millennials regret those pencil-thin brows and they’ve never grown back…
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Men especially - learn how to take care of yourselves. Cooking, cleaning, scrubbing toilets, laundry and every disgusting part of having children is NOT beneath you. You are not "helping" it is your responsibility just as much as your spouse. If you can't do these things it's because your parents didn't do their job. It is NOT up to your wife/partner to take care of you.
And caring for your children is *NOT* "babysitting". It's parenting, and you're just as responsible for it -- whether your parents chose to teach you this fact, or not.
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How about -Don't blame previous generations for everything that goes wrong with yours because before you know it you'll be the ones getting blamed.
Sorry but no. The economy, social security, environment, and housing are squarely to blame for the previous generations and they are still voting and making it impossible to correct those mistake.
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As soon as the mortgage rate situation calms down... BUY PROPERTY!!! My worst mistake in life was believing the old-fashioned notion of paying 20% down. Yes, mortgage insurance sucks, but pouring $100 a month down the toilet in mortgage insurance is way better than pouring $1500 a month down the toilet in rent.
I was able to purchase in 2020 with only about 8% down and good-to-great credit. Yes we had mortgage insurance, but after about two years or so it was no longer required.
Load More Replies... The curse of being human is very few people ever learn from the mistakes of others. BTW just because you think you made a mistake doesn't mean you did.
Every generation has always told their children these things, since the dawn of man. Most of us didn't listen, most of today's young people won't either. It is never too late to change, it is never too late to start over, be happy.
This site's comment have become really rather pedantic and predictable, to say the least. They're either, "I hate the US" or "I have a better idea or way to restate exactly what was already said" and it's become a grab for "Likes" just like Facebook and every other social media site.
Here's my advice to the younger generations: Leave your eyebrows alone. They are fine, I swear. Do you have two? Then you're good. Don't touch them.
Agreed. Many millennials regret those pencil-thin brows and they’ve never grown back…
Load More Replies... Men especially - learn how to take care of yourselves. Cooking, cleaning, scrubbing toilets, laundry and every disgusting part of having children is NOT beneath you. You are not "helping" it is your responsibility just as much as your spouse. If you can't do these things it's because your parents didn't do their job. It is NOT up to your wife/partner to take care of you.
And caring for your children is *NOT* "babysitting". It's parenting, and you're just as responsible for it -- whether your parents chose to teach you this fact, or not.
Load More Replies... How about -Don't blame previous generations for everything that goes wrong with yours because before you know it you'll be the ones getting blamed.
Sorry but no. The economy, social security, environment, and housing are squarely to blame for the previous generations and they are still voting and making it impossible to correct those mistake.
Load More Replies... As soon as the mortgage rate situation calms down... BUY PROPERTY!!! My worst mistake in life was believing the old-fashioned notion of paying 20% down. Yes, mortgage insurance sucks, but pouring $100 a month down the toilet in mortgage insurance is way better than pouring $1500 a month down the toilet in rent.
I was able to purchase in 2020 with only about 8% down and good-to-great credit. Yes we had mortgage insurance, but after about two years or so it was no longer required.
Load More Replies... The curse of being human is very few people ever learn from the mistakes of others. BTW just because you think you made a mistake doesn't mean you did.
Every generation has always told their children these things, since the dawn of man. Most of us didn't listen, most of today's young people won't either. It is never too late to change, it is never too late to start over, be happy.
This site's comment have become really rather pedantic and predictable, to say the least. They're either, "I hate the US" or "I have a better idea or way to restate exactly what was already said" and it's become a grab for "Likes" just like Facebook and every other social media site.
