Biggest Success and Regrets of your 20s

[2one3E90]

I just wanna know what you people remember what was it like....

[vreihen16]

I worked two full-time jobs through my 20's. The highlight of that decade that still sticks out is the day that I got two extra McNuggets in a 20-piece box. Yes, my life back then was really that pathetic with zero free time.....

[2one3E90]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

I worked two full-time jobs through my 20's. The highlight of that decade that still sticks out is the day that I got two extra McNuggets in a 20-piece box. Yes, my life back then was really that pathetic with zero free time.....

im sure jt paid off

[3.0L]

My 20's didn't start off well. I was drafted into the US Army 3 weeks after I turned 20 years old.

[2one3E90]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

My 20's didn't start off well. I was drafted into the US Army 3 weeks after I turned 20 years old.

Dude how did the draft work? Were people forced to just go? Did some families able to keep there sons away from the draft? Did you know anyone that evaded it?

[fiveohwblow]

Biggest regret (20): getting married
Biggest success (27): children born micro premie and surviving against all odds and explanation.

Your twenties are a decade of self discovery unlike any other. Self, self worth, career, interests and more so capabilities. You’re fighting for your place in this world and establishing your foundation. It’s not all, some of that bleeds into your thirties but the biggest frustration for me was lack of consistency and or stability.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by 2one3E90

Dude how did the draft work? Were people forced to just go? Did some families able to keep there sons away from the draft? Did you know anyone that evaded it?

All young men are required to register for the draft at age 18 and subject to conscription from age 18 to 26, as I recall. During the Vietnam era, young men were being called up by the thousands every month. Most went to the Army. The remainder went to the Marines. There are various ways to evade the draft including leaving the country, obtaining fake disqualifying medical diagnosis, or just go surfing and fail to show up (and risk imprisonment).

The honorable way to avoid the draft was to simply enlist in a branch of the military of your choice such as the Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard. One could even enlist in the Army. The advantage of enlisting is that you get to pick your MOS (Military Occupational Specialty).

I don't know anyone who evaded the draft. They either enlisted or just waited it out, hoping to not get picked. Some got drafted, others weren't. It was a luck (or not) of the draw.

[upstatedoc]

I ate way too much Wendy's

[2one3E90]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

I ate way too much Wendy's

Success aye

[M_Six]

I spent most of my 20's in the Army (Cavalry). Was a staff sergeant at 23. At the end of that decade I was working for UPS in Germany. Mostly good years and fun times. My regret is not making better use of the free time I had early in my 20's with the option of free college.

[2one3E90]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I spent most of my 20's in the Army (Cavalry). Was a staff sergeant at 23. At the end of that decade I was working for UPS in Germany. Mostly good years and fun times. My regret is not making better use of the free time I had early in my 20's with the option of free college.

That regret looks like the face of ur profile pic

[DETRoadster]

Regret = Married at 24
Success = Divorced at 25

Seriously though, my biggest successes were graduating college with an engineering degree, landing my first "big kid" job, buying a house, and becoming financially independent. No real regrets; even the starter wife thing. Yeah it sucked and ended bad but I got out with no debt, no alimony, no kids, and it taught me how to spot the right person to settle down with.

[4Hockey4]

After living on the streets as a teenager, I barely finished H.S., spent my early 20's working FT and college FT (to qualify for small pell grants) paying for all myself, and got my accounting degree at 25.

Next few years I learned my profession in a mid size CPA firm at 70 hours a week.

Regrets meh, I did the best I could lol

[Sassicaia]

Made good money in my 20s and career advancement.

Biggest regret is living with a girl. I would strongly recommend to every man in their 20s to not live with a woman. It will need up making you poorer and will reduce potential. Doesn't matter if you think you love them (you may very well) the idea of it lasting forever is near zero. The breakup will result in losses. She should have her place and you have yours.

Have fun, save, focus on making yourself better and doing things you want to do. Your dreams not someone else's.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by 4Hockey4

After living on the streets as a teenager, I barely finished H.S....

That's a very interesting lead-in. Care to expound? Good on you for your success.

[c1pher]

I probably pissed some people off and I did break a law that I paid for, but I can’t say I regret those things because it helped me become the person I am today and helped me grow up and understand what the real world was like. If I didn’t do those things, I might not have learned until too late in life to recover.

As far as biggest success was remaining in the Navy by re-enlisting. Unbeknownst to me became the foundation of my career today.

[RickFLM4]

Success: graduating college, getting and MBA and getting career off to a good start (all interrelated)

Regret: going with the ‘94 Lexus ES instead of a 3-series

[2one3E90]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Success: graduating college, getting and MBA and getting career off to a good start (all interrelated)

Regret: going with the '94 Lexus ES instead of a 3-series

Es is like a camry LOL. They look nice tho. Very i have money and good job now car

[4Hockey4]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

That's a very interesting lead-in. Care to expound? Good on you for your success.

Parents divorced when I was 8, mom 3 jobs, older brother and I ran wherever we wanted, drugs/booze, got out of hand and at 16 mom couldnt take...cops blah blah...10 months living in my bros truck (had camper) we had mower and had like 20 lawns. Parked in field in Springfield VA, was truck station right off 95 there we used daily.

at 18 mom helped me finish HS diploma, 2 years of selling Jeeps and construction and said F that...community college to get 3.5 GPA and wouldnt have to use HS trans lol. Took me 5.5 years doing 4 classes a semester, while waiting tables.

It was hard but had great flex with schedule (worked doubles Fri/Sat/Sun, where the $$ was, last year in college I made $40K waiting tables while FT school, that was 95'

I chuckle when folks say its not available, ANYONE can, in fact many are given a push/leg up, I never was.

(short version lol)

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by 4Hockey4

Parents divorced when I was 8, mom 3 jobs, older brother and I ran wherever we wanted, drugs/booze, got out of hand and at 16 mom couldnt take...cops blah blah...10 months living in my bros truck (had camper) we had mower and had like 20 lawns. Parked in field in Springfield VA, was truck station right off 95 there we used daily.

at 18 mom helped me finish HS diploma, 2 years of selling Jeeps and construction and said F that...community college to get 3.5 GPA and wouldnt have to use HS trans lol. Took me 5.5 years doing 4 classes a semester, while waiting tables.

It was hard but had great flex with schedule (worked doubles Fri/Sat/Sun, where the $$ was, last year in college I made $40K waiting tables while FT school, that was 95'

I chuckle when folks say its not available, ANYONE can, in fact many are given a push/leg up, I never was.

(short version lol)

Man, that is super impressive.

BTW, I grew up in Springfield. Went to Washington Irving, WSHS, GMU. Lived literally right behind Washington Irving. Best sledding hill!!

[4Hockey4]

huh small world, I did Jefferson/Annandale off Braddock rd. Also grad of GMU What year at WSHS and GMU ? dated a girl from WSHS lol

[3.0L]

Now that I've passed the, "Best if used by date" I can look back and see that getting married (at 21) and having two great kids by age 29 have to count as my greatest successes. My son is a pilot with a major airline and my daughter is an RN, and I'm still married to the same, great gal.