The Rising of the Phoenix: Transforming in Your 20s

By Tayler Nowak

Edited by Taylor Morgan

GIANNA / @lovelanguage on Pinterest

These are the moments that have been building from the start of your 20s as you, slowly but surely, change into a new version of yourself. They could be small moments, decisions, or lifestyle changes that have been collectively pushing you towards who you are becoming, or perhaps bigger, more blunt moments that change the direction of your friendships, careers or even the way you see the world around you. This is not just an instant change—but something that comes from the time we turn 18 to our early 20s and does not stop there.

The dictionary describes a phoenix as a legendary, immortal bird that symbolizes rebirth. The phoenix bursts into flames in order to rise from the ashes to overcome its destruction and be reborn into its new life. I cannot help but relate to the feeling of becoming a different person from who I was four years ago, learning from my mistakes and evolving from heartbreaks, friendships and difficult classes. Most importantly, I keep moving forward instead of shrinking or making myself smaller to fit in places I have outgrown. 

As we shed our teenage years, remembering the good memories and sometimes the cringeworthy ones, and start to come into ourselves in our early adulthood, we cannot help but feel closer to the person we were meant to be. Sometimes we need to remember the past and hold on to those lessons and life experiences that made us who we are today—but we also need to recognize that we are not the same person from just a few years ago. Speaking from experience, sometimes it’s bittersweet to say goodbye to friendships or parts of life that I grew out of, even leaving Oxford behind after graduation. As much as you have to mourn the life that you slowly grew out of, you also have to appreciate the hard work you put into yourself, your future career and the friendships you kept and will make along the way. 

Although many of us are scared of what comes after college, do not forget how amazingly talented you are and how your experiences with classes, presentations, clubs and jobs helped prepare you for your future. Take each of your personal experiences—that give you a unique view on the world—and use them to guide you through your 20s. So take it from me, sometimes you need to let yourself be reborn into the next stage of your life and let go of the fear; embrace your fire to live your best life. 

So wherever your 20s lead you, never forget everything college, friendships, heartbreaks, incredible experiences, jobs and yourself have taught you. Those are the life experiences that have helped you grow into the person you are today and will drive you to become your true self. Rise to become yourself from the ashes of the past.