1. What You Wear When You Head Into Town

When I was a teenager I would spend a good hour or two planning my outfit for the day. This was my chance to show how fashionable I was, it was a chance to elevate my position on the social ladder by showing how stylish I could be when I wasn’t being ‘held back’ by my school uniform. Now I’m not saying that I now dress as a tramp when I head into town (though at times it’s debatable). I just don’t care as much about what others think anymore. I wear what I like. And, if I’m being honest, 9 times out of 10 that’s a hoodie and jeans. I spend my whole work week in uncomfortable clothes – there’s something rather liberating about an outfit that you can just slob around in at the weekend.

2. Relationships

In your teens a text exchange with the guy in the year above could be classed as a serious relationship. It was a mysterious time where you could be dating a guy without ever going on a single date. Perhaps you’d get a note passed onto you in an English class in third period informing you that your relationship was, alas, no more. Brutal. Nowadays give it a year or so after a couple start dating and BOOM there’s a ring on that finger. When did relationships get so serious?!

3. All-Nighters

Although I was never a hardcore party animal, on the odd occasion I would partake in an all-nighter. There was something rather beautiful about seeing the sunrise when you hadn’t yet settled down to sleep. To be honest it was the only time I was ever going to see a sunrise – no way was I going to deliberately wake up early enough! And, I’m not going to lie, the sense of pride that I would get from informing my friends that I’d stayed up the whole night was pretty cool. Nowadays I’m lucky to make it past 11pm. One sip of beer and I’m gone. And I’m not exaggerating – I have been known to drop off at the table on more than one occasion. A heavy night out has a 2am curfew. Max. What can I say? I love my bed too much.

4. Your Attitude Towards Exams

At the age of sixteen I thought my life was going to end if I didn’t get top grades in my GCSE’s. That would be it: I would never get to university or get a job, I’d probably end up on the street and have to learn how to play the harmonica just to earn enough for the essentials. And yet it turns out you’re only as good as your last qualification. If someone at work asked me about my GCSE grades now I think I’d be completely thrown. Heck, it’s rare that I get asked about my University degree. Don’t get me wrong, my exams definitely helped me get into Uni, but by the mid-twenties it’s all about your experiences rather than what you got on a piece of paper.

5. The Importance of Being Popular

Perhaps it’s just me but it feels like social groups seem to have dissolved recently – there aren’t any populites or geeky groups that I know of. People in their mid-twenties seem to be much more accepting of different attitudes & quirks. No one seems to care how ‘cool’ or ‘popular’ you may be, it’s all about celebrating people for who they are.

Any more changes that you can think of? I’d love to hear them! Drop me a note in the comments box.

Rhian x