Powerful Quotes for Those Desperately Seeking Guidance in Their 20s

For those of you in school or just finished with school, I’m going to present you with some powerful quotes to get you thinking about what’s next.

Last week I shared my golden laws for life after college. This week I’m going to look at powerful quotes for those that are desperately seeking some sort of guidance on what to do next.

I wanted to share my favorite quotes on life after college that will help you think outside of the box:

“Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing worth knowing can be taught.” — Oscar Wilde

As important as it is to get that piece of paper, it’s also critical that you experience a few things along the way. Are there any experiences from your early-20s that you’re really proud of?

“You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world.” — Tom Brokaw

You can take the first job that you find tomorrow or you can do some pretty cool things in your 20s. The choice is yours. The only person that will hold you back is you.

I understand that student loans can hold you back. I’m not oblivious to this harsh reality. This just means that you now have a reason to work harder to speed up the repayment of your student debt.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” — Gandhi

Now that school’s over you can learn totally new kinds of things. You can travel the world, learn a new language, pick up a new skill, or just try your hand at something else.

What cool new things will you try?

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain

You can take a chance and start a business right now. You can risk some time and money to see what you’re capable of. Playing it safe all of the time is boring. Who wants to choose the safe option all of the time?

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” — Henry Ford

There will always be more reasons why you can’t do something than why you should do it. Obstacles, reasons, or excuses, call them what you want. They’re useless and will only prevent you from doing anything. I made excuses for years as to why I shouldn’t travel to Europe by myself. I finally gave in, bought a ticket to Poland, and had a blast.

“The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one.” — Oscar Wilde

If your job sucks right now, you can always look at the bright side. At least you have a job. If you’re not happy with the income. You can start freelancing to make more money.

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” — Winston Churchill

Are you afraid of failing? I believe that we’re all terrified of the thought of failing. In fact, I’ve seen many friends give up after one simple failure. This holds true for those trying a new diet or looking to start a business.

“College wasn’t originally designed to merely be a continuation of high school (but with more binge drinking). In many places, though, that’s what it has become.” — Seth Godin

If you didn’t enjoy your college experience, then there’s no need to sweat it. You can do whatever you want now in your 20s. You can change careers, upgrade your skills, or try something completely new.

Oh and there’s nothing wrong with a little binge drinking. Right?

If you’re confused or stuck on what to do next, I urge you to bookmark this page and check it out whenever you need some sort of guidance.