“I grew up thinking I had to get married by 25.
“That college is the only path to a successful life.
As someone who graduated in 2001, I heard that sentiment on the daily while in high school.
mister_nanda
3.
Like, if I could just distance myself enough from being female, maybe guys would treat me equally.
As an adult, I recognize that that was internalized misogyny.
I use my strengths to support other women instead of seeking approval from men.”
Zara
5.
I work in healthcare, so I owe that much to my patients.
pbbt
7.
Then I found out it’s possible for you to have both.
I’m in a happy, long-distance relationship with a man who wholeheartedly supports my work ambitions and me.
you could have both!
Then I met my wife.
That, and how some people don’t even have a pathway to citizenship.”
flyerboy6
9.
“I used to think it was okay to spank your kids.
I now fully think that it’s wrong and a complete violation of a child’s trust.
I also don’t believe in grounding and other methods of punitive parenting.
Kids are people too.
And usually, they are following their parents' example.
I’ve totally turned into a gentle parent, and it works!”
“As a young adult, I was prodeath penalty.
I thought it was an unambiguous topic people who kill others deserve to die too.
There have been many innocent people exonerated of the murder for which they were imprisoned.
By my former thinking, they would all have been killed despite having done nothing wrong.
Not to mention the problems with the methods of execution.
Honestly, I go back and forth, mainly when it comes to serial killers.
But as I said, the topic itself is ambiguous as hell.”
doofenshmirtzevilinc
11.
As I’ve gotten older, though, I’ve learned that people are multifaceted.
If you want to be one particular thing, it’s possible for you to.
“I was raised in a really privileged, upper-middle-class home.
Well, just as I got my bachelor’s degree, the parent who was paying for me died.
I was living in a bubble.”
“I was anti-abortion until my dearest friend at the time told me that she’d had one.
It clicked to me then that being ‘pro-life’ isn’t loving at all.”
Hannah
14.
“The biggest one is probably about hustle culture.
Grinding so hard at your job only takes you away from the things that matter most in your life.
And lastly, WORK SUCKS.
It’s literally called work.
It’s always the side of our political interests and nothing more.”
Davina The Arena
16.
“I used to think I wanted kids, but I can hardly take care of myself.
Seeing how much energy it takes to take care of a child?
“I used to think that there was nothing more evil than cheating on your partner.
But I realize now that it’s not just black and white.
Because people and relationships themselves are complicated.
Anonymous
18.
“I used to be a staunch Republican.
But now I’m a huge advocate for all types of people and communities.
I’m also the happiest I’ve ever been.”
“I’ve come to realize that trauma does not define you.
You go through it, and though it takes a while, you grow through it.
Then, one day, you wake up and don’t think about what happened.
The next day, same thing.
And the next time you remember it, it hurts a little less.
Time did not heal your pain, but it broke it down into manageable pieces for you to process/heal.
Anonymous, 26, Maryland
20.
“I’m learning that it’s okay to vote for a person, not a party.
But it’s okay the point of having a vote is to use it how you see fit.
Vote for who you like or for whoever you think would be the least horrible, I suppose.”
I struggled to understand what was being taught, but this made me want to understand and learn more.
It’s been a journey, and I’m still growing and learning.”
Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
