I 21F feel like I’m running out of time. Everyone around me is either engaged, married, or in a relationship or pursuing their studies and careers while I feel like I’m just there single and just studying for my bachelors doing nothing special.
It’s getting really tiring.
Is it normal? What do I do?
I’m afraid I’m running out of time
r/Advice
Comments
Yeah it’s normal don’t panic
You’re only 21 remember you don’t know what others go through to be where they are.
Finish ur degree get a job and have fun
Lmao, 21 is not running out of time. In the US, that’s the age when you can finally buy your own alcohol or cigarettes.
You need to stop comparing yourself to others, comparison is the thief of joy.
Oh boy just wait until you’re 31 😅
“studying for my bachelors” that’s what you’re doing.
“while i’m rotting on the couch with my partner this person is studying for their bachelors and theyre only 21.. I should have done that earlier”
the grass is always greener
I am 40F and I got married when I was 26. I wish I had waited until I was 35. Take that for what you will.
You will be fine. In a year you will look back and realise there was nothing to worry about.
Dude, I totally get ya but tbh, relax. Life ain’t a race. Everyone’s on their own timeline. Don’t rush sth just bcoz others are doin it. You’re just 21, got a whole lotta time. Focus on u, build yourself first. That’s when real magic happens. Trust me, been there, done that. Take a chill pill!
I thought I saw that you were 12 and was about to say how being engaged at that age is not normal 😭
But fr, you aren’t running out of time, and it is normal to not be in a relationship at that point
Oh lord I must be doomed then lol. I (28F) used to feel this way but now I (28F) am frightened by those same people.
I’m sorry? 21 is a baby
It’s all good! You’ll meet your special someone – don’t worry! ❤️
I got engaged at 20. Married at 22. Knew it was wrong 2 weeks in. Spent 22 years trying to make it work before I said “fuck it”. Don’t rush. Find your person.
You have your whole life ahead of you. Complete your bachelor’s and move on.
Most people wait until 25 or even 30. Don’t start comparing yourself to others. Lots of times, early marriages end in divorce. Choose wisely
You enjoy your life and then console them all when they file for divorce in 5 years or less.
There are as many unique journeys as there are people.
You are on YOUR journey.
Keep walking!
At 21 marriage was the last thing on my mind. I married at 24 and looking back I was way too young. Get your shit together, your degree, get a job and build up your career and then worry about the other parts of life. The more financially secure you are at the start of a marriage the more likely it w will survive, anyways and the less likely you can be financially abused. Finances are the #1 reason for divorce.
Man. At 28, I still feel like a kid. I just got engaged, career is in a stable place, etc. but I feel like there’s so much more to the world than what I’ve seen. You are in the infant stages of your life still. Figure yourself out before you start thinking about all the window dressing.
You’re 21, you have your whole life ahead of you.
🤦♂️children!!! Am I right? You’re right on track my love. In fact you’re way ahead of the game
The average age for marriage in the US is like 28
Lol relax you’re so young
You’re a baby at 21. Start to worry when you’re 35 and have nothing.
Go Navy and try out for the Navy Seals or Army Rangers.
You have time, girl. There is no set time on marriage & starting a family.
Get your career and get your life going don’t worry what others are doing I guarantee a lot will fail
The first step is never comparing yourself to others because that always always leads bad places. And don’t diminish your own acheivements. You got lots of time
I’d be willing to bet most of your friends who are getting married at 21 will end up getting divorced.
Are you part of a culture or religion that expects you to get married young?for example, where I’m from in the northeastern United States it is quite rare to be engaged or married at 21/while in college.
Just focus on how you can make yourself the best version of yourself everyday. One step at a time. After years of this approach with ups and downs, you can look back and see how far you’ve come. This got me through undergrad and grad school..
I’m so sorry you’re going through this but I know exactly what you mean.
I felt exactly the same in my 20s where I was constantly “running out of time”. I worked as many shifts as I could to try and save and then in turn dated guys in the hopes they’d be my future husband. The constant comparison I was making between myself and my friends didn’t help either. I eventually burnt out twice and had two big mental breakdowns.
My advice is, take a step back and just breathe. Maybe speak to a therapist if possible? I managed to get out of the mindset by changing my perspective in life and appreciating the things I already have rather than what I need to achieve for self worth.
I hope you find your path and don’t be too hard on yourself. Xx
I don’t want to discredit your feelings, but you literally have the rest of your life in front of you. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing and enjoy where your at right now. Everything will fall into place for you at the right time in your life.
You’re studying, you’re not doing “nothing”
It is so so easy to compare yourself to others and we are all guilty of it from time to time. I know it’s cliche to say that everyone is on their own journey and that life has no specific timeline, but I believe that wholeheartedly. What is meant for you will make its way to you in due time. You are still so young! I know people who weren’t engaged or having children until 35+. You are not behind in life, breathe.
Sometimes it’s hard for us to celebrate the little things about our life. Usually people celebrate large milestones like the ones you’ve mentioned, but don’t forget to give yourself credit for what you are currently accomplishing—your bachelors! That’s a huge milestone to recognize!
I understand your feelings—I am 25, engaged, and going back to grad school. By the time I’m done school, I will be 30 and likely ready to have kids while my friends all have children right now. It feels like there’s an unwritten rule or pressure to accomplish certain milestones at a certain time, but you really must stop and remember that everything will work out in the end.
Sending strength and confidence to you. Everything will happen as it should & sometimes it’s easier to just trust in that. Xo
Don’t worry too much about it, everyones life is different, what matters is if you’re happy with the path you’re on right now. Do you enjoy your studies or what they will lead you to? Great, then you’re doing just fine. If not, change paths, do a different study. Love will happen when it happens, I didn’t get into my first “real” relationship until I was 27, probably wouldn’t have been a good relationship if it had happened any younger🤷♀️ don’t compare yourself to others to much, focus in your own journey and you’ll get there. But also, I feel like everyone in their early 20’s goes through those same feelings as you right now
Are we in 1957?
Madam, chill!!
😬
LOL! Just the age to have fun. Just imagine how jealous your friends will be when you tell them about threesomes (or more) that you are having while they are locked down. Go nuts! Get wild! Make them jealous!
https://youtu.be/yoEezZD71sc?si=rsRpJg7v2XdJH5ZM
This is good.
21 is too young to be getting married for 99% of people. You’re studying to build a life in the future is what you’re doing.
You are not at all
You are 21. The world is ahead of you.
I will tell you a simple fact. 90% of those people engage or married right now. By the time they are 21. In 5 or 10 years they won’t be married any longer. Or if they are, they aren’t happy.
You are still growing into being the person you will be. Don’t rush that, let it all play out and you will be much happier in the end
I’m 32 and just finally got engaged for the first time ever. Stop comparing yourself to others.
It’s easy to feel this way when everyone around feels “ahead”. People grow and change on their own timeline. Nothing is wrong with you because you’re doing it differently
You site pursuing studies as a part of the proactive group and yet discredit your own participation in that same endeavor(?). I think you’re being reductive about your part in all this and should keep on keepin on.
Why do you think you need to live by some invisible deadline?
Dude…you didnt even graduate highschool a decade ago. Take a chill pill. You’re not that much younger than my eldest sister and literally the same age as my second older sister. They’re both in college. You are FINE.
I wish I had some advice to give but hopefully sharing this makes you feel less alone. Girl I feel you 1000% percent. I just turned 25(F) like 3 weeks ago and I feel the same. I’ve never had anything romantic in my life, no bf, no dates, kisses or anything. And I still live at home with my parents. But on the flip side of that, I work full time, I’m in art school full time for my BFA, I run a ministry with my mom, and I have an amazing group of friends. I have to constantly remind myself that there are so many people who’d kill to live the life I do, even if it seems inadequate to me sometimes. As they say, the grass is always greener.
The thing about life is it’s a long race. Sometimes you’re ahead. Sometimes you’re behind, but ultimately the race is only with yourself.
You’re only 21. You have your whole life ahead of you. You seem to think that some magical door unlocks new perfect things when you find romance and marriage etc etc. It doesn’t.
I promise you that married people fight, argue, wind up hating each other sometimes, do really dumb shit, and sometimes regret their choice to rush into marriage because they didn’t wave feel left out.
The grass isn’t greener on the other side – the grass is greener where you water and tend to it. I promise just like you’re here lamenting your life wishing to be someone else, there’s a married person in their twenties with kids and a mediocre job lamenting they were you and were still in school trying to do better for themselves.
Relax. It’ll happen when it’s meant to. Relationships and especially marriage shouldn’t be a race to the finish line.
Bruh…. A majority of people in their 20s don’t even have a stable relationship.
I wanna start by saying I understand what you’re saying! I’ve felt that way for some years now, but finally coming to the understanding that my journey is not someone else’s.
But I get it especially if you have a map of what you thought and expected life to be at this age. But I promise you you’re doing great and you have soooo much time ahead of you to adventure and find yourself and people who will come along on that journey with you! Doors will open and new opportunities will be created for you. And when the time comes and you do find your person it’ll be outta this world.
Fun fact our brains don’t fully develop until the age of 25. So be young and don’t rush anything or force it. It will all come naturally how it’s meant to<3
You are only 21. You have plenty of time.
Most (not all) people who get married/engaged this young crash and burn before they hit 40
Running out of time at 21? LMAO WTF GTFOH.
You’re not even fully grown yet much less running out of time 😉
Bro you’re 21. Enjoy being young
No one could pay me to be 21 again and worried about this kind of stuff…. Trust me, none of this matters! Enjoy your life. It’s not a race
😊 same
Yeah we are all in someone’s high school musical movie. There isn’t much really worth the effort anymore. What does anyone do?
You are so young – focus on your education and getting a career. Those two things will provide you security independent of man – which will allow you the freedom to make healthy relationship decisions. Many people who get married too young end up divorced. You have so much time!!
Your brain isn’t even finished developing til you’re like 25. Trust me, you’re doing things just fine
You’re normal. Chill out. The average age of for women’s first marriage in the US is 28. You’re gonna be fine.
I’m not sure how old you think people get, but even if you keep it to the averages you got a good 50+ years of life to do everything.
You’re just getting going.
I will say this, 20-something years ago i was your age, and as i thought i was missing out, turns out life changes dramatically if you choose to live, do other stuff, live in other places, travel. I am a whole different person and ya, you have a lot of time in front of you.
Just chill, don’t accept less than you deserve!
What’s the deadline? No serious – you said you feel like you are running out of time . . . are you dying?
I’m in flipping high school and this pressure hits me every single day. Everyone is getting good grades, they have things that they want eg clothes games or whatever, most of them are in relationships and I’m just here trying to survive. Worst feeling ever
Just wait. In another 5-10 years, these same fools will be divorced and looking for number 2 spouse. Be patient. You have plenty of time. Don’t rush and don’t settle.
Relax
At 21, focus on your degree then a job.
Everyone goes at their own pace. Don’t compare yourself to others. That’s the best way to lose hope in life. Getting a degree is a huge accomplishment. Don’t sell yourself short. You’re still young; you have time. Keep grinding and don’t give up 🙌
I know lots of people in their 30s who are just starting their lives. Many aren’t even thinking about marriage yet. Don’t worry, you’re fine
I actually laughed as I was reading your post, sorry. You’re 21 and literally have the freedom to do whatever you want. It’s like the best age to be I’d kill to be 15 years younger. Enjoy it i stead of worrying about what everyone else is doing.
You don’t have to believe me, but depends on what I’ve seen, the later you get married the better the out come.
People in your age most of them get married because that’s what they’ve seen people do or because they want to feel good about themselves & feel better than others,which result in choosing wrong person & too much drama & crap.
They may know what they want but not what they actually need, so they just get married like it’s what supposed to do sooner or later.
Most if them are not mature enough.
I believe you should invest on yourself as much as you can until you because emotionally & financially independent at this point no one can mess with you.
You’re not too late or doing anything wrong, everyone has a different journey, if you didn’t find the right person it’s mean it’s not the right time.
One day you gonna have that moment of realization that you are lucky that you weren’t doing like everyone else
Just remember 1/2 of them will be divorced in 10 years
I’m younger but 21 is legit so young… The human brain doesn’t even fully develop until like 25/26 you got so much time ahead of you. You were a teenager just a year or 2 ago.
wtf is this post lol
I had a similar feeling when I was 21. Currently 28. Look, you’re in school. That is your job right now. You ARE doing something.
However, if you want to start getting ahead look for internships while you are going to school, depending on your degree you can start doing research and try to get published inatead of an internship (this is the route i took). Look for opportunity at your school to bolster your resume. You’re entire job right now is to set yourself up nicely for when you start your career. There are many paths.
You have SO much time
That’s why he wants to send Natl Guard there, claiming they need protection like he did in CA!! Don’t let it happen!!
You’re not even close to running out of time.. just use your time wisely but yeah… you’re still young.
Comparison is the thief of joy. You’re doing just fine actually you’re doing better than most people cus you’re at least finishing your education.
You’re so young! I don’t understand why you feel like you need to have it all at such a young age. Usually people who attain success that early get it taken away fast…lol
Take your time you have SO many years ahead of you. A lot of these people are probably still having problems that they don’t show in their life despite appearing to have it all. Most of them will probably get divorced or want a career change or something. Life will always throw you a curveball…
Just focus on your studies your timeline stop comparing yourself!! I got my bachelors at 26 & am still single at 31 & you know what I’m actually happy to be single I think if I got married too young I would’ve had regrets. It’s nice to feel like you own your own life so to speak I can’t even fathom being tied to kids now. I’m also still trying to figure out my career as well & tbh I’m glad I gave it more time to sort out. If I had decided on a career at like 18 I would’ve settled for something I did not enjoy just for the security. Now I’m actually more in tune with my passions & I actually have an idea what I want to do career wise.
Anyways yea you’re young I’m actually concerned you feel the need to be settled & everything now!!! Just enjoy your twenties for gods sake! lol
Enjoy life! Do not rush to start a family and other bs. Explore the world. Make friends network.Try things. You will make better decisions when you are 30. Year 20-30 is the best decade of your life.
Got married at 36 and saw a number of my peers marry, have kids, etc. but I wasn’t ever really jealous. Do your own thing. Watch some of them get divorced. Be thankful you didn’t do that.
It’s tiring AF. I get that. Saw both of my brothers get married and have kids before I even got engaged. Like 10 years.
Continue with your degree. Have some fun while you can. You have more time than you realize.
A VERY large percentage of your friends are going to find out that they jumped too quickly into the wrong career or relationship and find themselves starting over as well.
Slow and steady is just fine. Find your own path at your own pace and, most importantly, try to stop comparing yourself to others. It’s unhealthy and not even good information. Apples and oranges, if you will. There isn’t a prize awarded for first place because it’s not a race.
>others are “pursuing their studies and careers”.
It looks like you are doing that also. At least I hope you are. If you don’t have a plan to use your degree to lead to a career, what is the goal and how does the degree fit in with that goal?
“Doing nothing special”
Your doing a fucking bachaelor degree! Thats already more than most people.
At 21, your doing awesome.
35f I met my husband when I was 30 and we knew we wanted to get married basically 7 months in. I moved in, but we didn’t get engaged until 1.5 years and then the engagement was 1.5 years. You have plenty of time. Honestly the best advice I can give you is to focus on life. Focus on who you are as a person, what are your hobbies, what are your dreams and aspirations? You’ll find someone along your life journey pursuing these goals. There’s no rush- you’re very young.
I am 25. There’s no need to be part of the rat race. You are not a rat. Be something else instead, your life is more than catching up to others!
Single is golden at that age! I was single until I was 29 and it was perfect. Those around me who got married early all divorced (all of them) or were trapped in lousy relationships.
I got my post-secondary, worked a bunch of cool jobs, did some once-in-lifetime travelling, learned a bunch of cool skills (sailing, photography, renovations, cooking, car repair) and launched a successful company. The company would never have happened if I were in some relationship… I worked hard at it and travelled a lot to close deals.
Go and live YOUR life and capitalize on your 20’s. You only have one go at it.
21 is super young unless you’re mormon.
21 and afraid of running out of time? Girl, you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of unhappiness now if you settle for someone because you think you’re out of time. You got at least a decade left if kids are something you want to pursue, and more if you don’t. Just have fun.
You are very young and marriage at 21 is a terrible idea anyway
I didn’t get married and have my first kid until I was 37 after I already had an established career… You’re good, enjoy your time on this Earth
Do nothing you’re still just a baby you’re not running out of time just because it’s their time doesn’t mean anything about yours did you get invitations to the wedding?
Just live your life and stop worrying
Babes there’s no formula to this life stuff. No one knows what they’re doing
Yes its normal.
Increment is king, keep adding small stuff until you have so much stuff.
Gl in life kiddo
Where I’m from it’s at least 32-35 to be engaged or married
Embrace the positives of where you’re at in your life. You can make your own choices and pursue your own interests or hobbies. Consider an adventurous internship after getting your degree and start saving your money for a fun trip after you graduate. When I was your age I did the Disney College Program and really enjoyed it and having it on my resume has always been a benefit. Nowadays I recommend waiting until the semester after graduation to try it but I still think it’s a great way to learn about living life independently. I understand how you feel because I felt the same way about things at your age.
GIRLL same I am 21. You are not running out of time! You are just starting your life! I think this is a normal feeling. At least it is for me. Getting your bachelors IS doing something. And even if you weren’t now is the time to discover who you are and figure out what you want to do in life. Maybe this feeling is coming from a place of uncertainty about your future. If you’re graduating soon without any current plans or ambitions, it’s understandable to be worried or feel “behind” but it’s ok if you don’t know what you want to do yet. A big thing I learned at my internships is that most people don’t have an exact plan after graduating and their first job (or sometimes many after) is just figuring out what you like and don’t like until you find your actual passion or interests. You are not alone, not a failure, and not behind. Think about it. It is batshit crazy to be married or engaged right now. Especially still in school. People are pursuing their studies but so are you! You have so much time and don’t have to follow the path of anyone else. What helped me was reframing from I’m behind and a failure to omg I have never been more free in my life to do exactly what I want.
21…. Umm you have plenty of time. Have fun with your life.
Take it from someone who spent their early 20s doing a lot of comparing- comparison is the thief of joy
I don’t mean to minimize your feelings but please just enjoy the present, you are exactly where you are supposed to be.
You are single it means you are a wife material.
You are not running out of time When I was 33 I was making about 30k a year alone and doing nothing with my life im 37 now married with a little girl and made 1.2 mill last year some people launch late keep a good mind set never stop improving and things will fall into place
genuine question who is getting married at 21😭also theyre probably gonna get divorced a couple years down the line because thats wayy to early to get married lol
Nah, the later you get married the less likely you’ll have more divorces than your other friends who got married in their 20s
You’re pursuing your studies too, aren’t you? You aren’t running out of time.
Enjoy it in 5-7 more years they will all be divorced or miserable with kids and divorced.
Doing your bachelor’s is special, and being 21, not engaged, married, or in a relationship, and pursuing your studies and career is normal. If you were fifty years old, that would be a different story; even then, I would tell everybody that they are on their own journey. We are very young, including me, I am a 23-year-old, so I am in the same boat. We are all on different paths; our journey looks different. I am also in the same boat, so I am 23 as well. Most of my classmates already have their bachelor’s degrees. I am over here asking myself, am I slow? I failed some classes, and I switched my major twice. So that is part of the reason behind it, but again, everybody is on their own journey.
I would have married at the age of 24, may be even younger, but I did not find the right person until I was 36. I felt just like you, so do not worry.
21? Be patient, it will happen. Try being 40, divorced, and hopelessly single lol. My life is a nightmare.
Relax.
Breathe.
I think you should give yourself credit.
You’re only 21 years old and the fact that you are studying for your bachelors is amazing!
You have so much life ahead of you!
don’t sit and compare your life to another person’s trust me!
I’m 29 F and I am not either engaged, married, or in a relationship much less have a kid!
I felt like I was behind myself at some point and to others maybe I am! But I love my life just as it is 🙂
Leave the South. You’ll feel just fine in NYC, SF, DC, Philly, LA, or Seattle.
You turned old enough to consume alcohol this year.
You’re fine lol
You’ve barely just begun. However in a way, it’s good that you think this way because that means you recognize that you want to do things with your life. Don’t be complacent. Set some goals for yourself. 6 months away. 1 year away etc. and stick to them. Also have fun. Because as you get into your mid late 20 and then 30s the most responsibilities kick in. You got this! Don’t stress
Lol kid I got married at 32. Had my MBA, my own home, and a career. I’m 45 now with a loving wife, 3 fantastic kids and a pretty good life. I don’t regret anything. Spend some time focusing on yourself, and don’t worry about a biological clock. Learn to enjoy life and appreciate your youth.
I’m about to turn 28 and I’d already kill to be 21 again 🤣🤣
Classic societal pressure right here. Dont fall for it, do things out of genuinity
No rush u got lots of time u need to be content to be alone give yourself time for the right one to come along trying to rush it will draw the wrong kind when u least expect itis when u will meet someone meaningful
Don’t rush it. You’re still young. Rushing leads to settling. Settling leads to bad relationships and the snowballing will be intense. Date around and see what the field looks like. In time you will find someone you truly connect with. Might be tomorrow. Might be 10 years from now. But enjoy the ride. One thing you don’t want to do is wish your life away or throw it away on a bad relationship. Best of luck!
Girl please dpmo. Getting married of being in a relationship should be the last thing on your mind. Go and enjoy life please.
Even if it takes you till you are 40 years old, wait to get married until you find the right mate. Meet a lot of people and explore; there is no hurry.
Most ppl aren’t marrying at 21. Not sure if it’s just who you know.
But they aren’t comparing themselves being married and you’re not. You’re at where a vast majority of 21 year olds are.
It’s better to get your life in order and rn figure out what you want to do and don’t want to do. Than make crazy commitments.
Most ppl get married mid 20s to late 20s or early 30s.
It’s better to not be in a shotgun marriage and later wife cheats on you, etc….
Like you haven’t made any bad decisions from what you’re saying
If I were to change 1 thing about my youth it would have been not worrying so much. Generally about things out of my hands. waste of time.
Get your education FIRST !!! Everything else can wait !!!
Oh girl, you’ve got lotsa time! It’s just not your turn to settle down with a partner. I told me own adult daughter the same while she was in this phase of early adulthood especially since my other daughter was already married with 1st child by her 21st bday. Anyhow, we are all different & do things in our own time not everyone else’s . So I encourage you to finish your education , perhaps start your career or better yet your vocation in life, meanwhile try to live life as a strong, independent woman. Surround yourself with like minded people & enjoy life each day. At the same time live life in the ready position just incase your person is just around the corner. Please don’t wish your time away anticipating next steps. Just establish yourself in a life you love & the right person will show up when it’s right. Good luck ✌🏼
You’re 21. Slow your mind down and stop overthinking. You have plenty of time. I done this at 19, 24 and was even doing it this year at 28 and started to realise that worrying myself about things and overthinking is getting me absolutely nowhere.
Don’t let society and the things going on in it have you thinking in this mindset. It’s a fast living world now but do what you are doing continue to better yourself and you will be perfectly fine.
Overthinking leads to anxiety and anxiety will only distract you from finding any form of happiness or success.
What you are meant to do in life will come to you, life is a process, we all learn at different speeds and developing ourselves and becoming who we are meant to be is a process.
Life is a marathon, not a sprint. We get nowhere by worrying.
Stop being a herd animal would be a good start on what to do.
Delete social media. Maybe come back to it in a year.
You are so young! Enjoy life while you can! I met my husband in my 30s. You have loooots of time.
Meeting people through friends is best, so keep building friendships some of your friends must know single guys
Stop. Jeez.
This is the age when people start their adult lives on different paths.
Some go with more education, others by marriage. Some with a career or trade.
Its kind of the first milestone after high-school or college when you actually look up from your grindstone of choice and take stock of the paths of others.
Youll be fine.
You wont be a haggard old maid for at least a few more years and then itll be a small apartment full of cats and a box of cookies to pass the time.
Chill out…. 21 lol
Don’t get married at 21. Far too young
Um hi, you’re getting a bachelors. That’s amazing and also hard and also shitty. Education needs for a job is stupid in America. I’ve worked my job for years and it can include needing a Master degree. On the job work is the job. So just don’t hold any certificate thinking it will go somewhere. Education should be free and unless it’s a good career directory it might be the wrong path with the needed education. Write down what you want. Then write down what you want to do. Do those lists correlate? Does one get you to the other? But be smart. Getting married in your 20’s can be brutal and hard. What if you were just you and got you to what you needed for you before adding someone to it?
Breathe. It’s normal. Life is hard. We all have a path. I know people that divorced young and those that have married old.
Take care of you first. If you have no you adding someone to it. Taking on their things you become a we. Have an identity before then.
Your special is that you are working on your bachelor’s. I was 20 or so when I started noticing the same thing. Others were seemingly farther along than I. However, I have learned that every journey is unique. They may be closer to marriage or their degree, but thats their path. I didn’t get married until almost 30, haha.
My career skyrocketed from 18 thru my late 20s so I wasn’t worried about it. Just about since covid, my career path tanked but through it all, I started a business. Passion project if you will and feel great.
You are being too hard on yourself. You are transitioning to adulthood, and unless the individuals help you with your degree or professional expertise- just keep your blinders on. No one matters in this journey but yourself.
Keep on trucking, feel proud (you working on your bachelor’s WTF!?!? That is badass!!!), and just focus on you. You will smile at this later on. Promise.
You have basically just reached the age where dating begins. It’s like a runner standing maybe 500 meters past the starting line of a 10k race and saying “I feel like I’m nearing the end” you got PLENTY of running left girl and there are plenty of people there along side you.
Only advice I can offer is start looking. I, like you, prioritized my education along with career, fitness, finances, and house. And when I got done with that I finally asked the question “do I want a relationship” and the answer was yes (well, it was “I feel like yes but I lack the experience to truly know”). I’m 31 now.
I have been told I have time, along with “but it’s not going to be easy cause people expect you to know things you don’t.” Luckily for you, you don’t have those expectations. You’re at an age where it’s okay to be figuring this out, 90% of other people your age are too. And you’re much more self aware having these thoughts so much earlier than I did.
TLDR: Stop stressing, the dating race has essentially just begun and you’re far from the end
coming from a 43 year old, you are 21, still a pup. Don’t rush into anything, and enjoy your 20’s.
Give it a few years, a lot of those relationships will start falling apart.
There is no timeline for things like this. Worry less about what other people think and start paying more attention to how YOU feel about it. If the only reason you feel like you need to be doing those things is because other people are doing them, maybe you don’t really want those things yet. It doesn’t mean that they won’t happen for you.
It’s better to wait for the right relationship than to settle for someone now just to check that box.
21 is pretty young
Running out of time? Nah, you’re just on a different schedule! You’re just in a committed relationship with your freedom right now! Embrace it before someone tries to tie you down with wedding plans!
Lol you are running out of time and you are only 21? LMAO ok
Seulement 21 ans ,prépare ta carrière, selon moi c’est plus important pour l’instant que d’essayer vainement de trouver l’âme soeur, qui se présentera a toi au moment ou tu ne l’attendra pas.
Do not fret. Enjoy your life.
Marry at 36