young

It's kind of funny how every year we get older and realize there were so many things that we didn't need to stress about so much in our past. My father once told me, "If it's not going to matter in 5 years, it doesn't really matter at all," and now I'm beginning to understand what he meant. Sometimes it can feel like older adults don't understand what younger adults are going through, but usually, they can. They literally went through it themselves and came out the other end okay it seems. 

Of course, some things change, and we face different issues from our parents, but some pieces of advice, like many of the ones mentioned in this Reddit thread, will always be applicable.

Being a young adult can be hard. What makes it even harder is when there's an entire younger generation roasting you for every single thing you've ever done or said. Why is Gen Z so harsh on Millennials. Do they deserve it? Is it really such a big deal that they used Myspace when they were younger?

The best thing to do in these cases is to laugh with them I suppose. Millennials did do a ton of funny sh*t, so Gen Z isn't entirely off. Give in 10 more years and Gen Z will get equally roasted on Twitter by the generation following them. So no worries, this is just how it goes.

When we're young we are basically testing our parents to see how much we can get away with. How late can I push my bedtime? Will my parents actually check my homework every single day? If I just ask for a toy enough times will it appear out of nowhere?

Another common question is, "Can I change my name?" It's a phase that a lot of children go through as they struggle to find independence in their highly constrained world. But what if it's more than just a phase? A 5-year-old girl named 'Charlie,' showed a lot of determination when requesting to change her name to 'Charlotte.' Her mother, Bri, made a Tiktok about it, and it quickly went viral.

As someone who has been suspiciously carded time and again long after I turned 21, I definitely understand the struggles of baby-faced women. A Reddit user asked women who look younger than they are about the funniest ways people reacted to their youthful features, and the thread totally blew up. Whether it be a teacher being mistaken for a high school student, or not being allowed into Rated-R movies at 30 years old, baby-faced women have had their fair share of hilarious experiences. Read on to get a glimpse into the encounters super young-looking women have on a daily basis. 

Gen Z simply loves to cancel things — all day and all night. Some of it is necessary, and we can thank Gen Z for how on top of it they are with social activism and movements towards equality. But they can also be damn hurtful sometimes. Unfortunately, Millennials only have two choices they can either spend their every waking moment trying to keep up and stay 'cool,' or they can just laugh along with these tweets and roast the weird stuff they do as well. 

Generation Z is full of surprises. One day they'll start a worldwide movement, and other days they'll be scarfing down tide pods. You never know what to expect with people who are literally too young to remember JT with frosted tips — and what a time that was to be alive. These kids are not to be underestimated, they will literally cancel you for the way you part your hair, but at the same time celebrate all forms of love. Sometimes they need to be humbled, but sometimes they need to be celebrated. It depends on the vibe.

Okay, this is definitely a thing. As girls, we usually all learn about what being pregnant is before we fully understand what sex is. This results in a delay of information, a disconnect you might say. We know that we are the gender that has babies, but what leads up to that? Some parents will try to scare their kids by saying that they can get pregnant in all kinds of ways. Thank god we have the internet these days. Just try not to get sucked into the "I didn't know I was pregnant" stories.

The choice to begin a relationship is a biggie. So often we tell ourselves to not over-think that decision, to ~follow our hearts~, but sometimes our heart is just confused AF and then we have to effectively undo our spontaneous decisions. Seems harsh, but maybe it's still better than knowing you're not into it and stringing the other person along for months, maybe years? Decide for yourself.

Let's talk crushes. We love them and we hate them. They're exciting in the beginning, "Oooh I have butterflies! I wonder if he likes me too!" But if they last too long they can become exhausting. A crush really should be a temporary state, but it depends on long it takes you to admit it to yourself and finally to them. 

Regardless, one thing is clear, whether they last one whole day or one whole century, crushes can be so embarrassing!

*Trigger warning: this may remind you of your cringy middle school days. Although this is a safe space, everybody can admit to an awkward story or two from their cringy tween years. Such stories only add to your character development, right? Asking for a friend. 

Reddit users shared their most awkward first kiss stories and they are sure to bring you back to the good old days. If you can top any of these I would love to hear it. Personally, my first kiss took place in a Hollister surrounded by uncomfortable high school sales associates and the store's signature overwhelming scent — did I forget to mention we counted down from three? Yes, it was extremely romantic.

Although growing old is the natural passage of time, no one wants to say goodbye to their youth. Because with age comes more responsibilities, aches and pains, and a loss of blissful naivety about the world. For some, the time flies by without us even realizing it. But for others, there's that one moment where everything changed, and we came to the quick realization that our youth has gone. An AskReddit thread asking people to share those moments is all-too-relatable; check out the answers, and you'll see what I mean.