Like many young adults who are approaching their 20s, it has hit me that I have been alive for about two decades. I have been through a pandemic, graduated from Kindergarten through High School and now am in college with a few more years to go before I start dental school. This combination of my future plans and past experiences coming together is making me accept that I am becoming more unc, as I mature. Unc is slang for uncle that refers to people who act older than their age. With those experiences, I have been reflecting on some truths, such as how I have barely touched one-fifth of my lifespan, and figuring out what I am going to do with the other four-fifths outside of school. To do this, I have been spending time revisiting nostalgic shows, books, experiences and interactions with people and organizations that influenced the growth of my character. Doing so has allowed me to delve into habits that I want to keep constant and some that I am starting to introduce. Reviewing the past opened a window to guiding my future plans, which is helpful for all of us to remember as we age beautifully.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, nostalgia is defined as “a sad pleasure experienced in recalling what no longer exists.” This is the emotion that people older than Gen Z display when reminiscing about no longer having a third-space (a place to engage socially with other people outside of school or work), discontinued shows and toy brands or when rent for an apartment was not the cost of a mortgage payment. All of these are examples of a mutual reality that is not as prevalent nowadays. When looking back at things that taught me what it means to be a good person, friend and family member, I tend to look back to the media and books that I consumed growing up. I grew up around a time where many shows and books revolved around uplifting each other, sisterhood between girls, addressing self-doubt and working towards being who or whatever you want to be. These values inspired me to be more confident in myself, kind and willing to be honest with other people. These are characteristics that I plan to carry into my adult life because they allow people to truly connect with others by removing ambiguity and promoting genuine feelings.
Aside from media and books, I have met so many wonderful people through being a student and actively being engaged in communities that I have joined. I plan to always try to learn more about other people and become interested in their interests. Nostalgia plays a part in this by setting the stage for shared experiences, which allows people to forge bonds using shared common interests as a bridge. It helps aid in connecting people because, despite coming from different backgrounds and areas, they have a shared life experience that crosses those borders. This opens the stage for other topics and allows discussions to go toward new directions and allows for an exchange of ideas, cultures and expanded networks. I plan to continue caring about others and using experiences to relate with them to further get to know each other and establish close relationships. This is something that we all do when going off to college because most of us are leaving old friends, making new ones and trying to adjust the best way possible. One of the best ways to do that is just truly getting to know another person and showing interest in someone else’s existence.
Nostalgia has played a huge part in my development. I encourage everyone to look back on their past experiences fondly and try to apply lessons learned as they continue to develop. As I approach the start of my 20s, I have opened my own share of windows while looking at past moments, some embarrassing and some inspiring. I encourage everyone to visit their windows and give them a thorough clean so that what is reflected is the best you that can be perceived. I am continuing to reflect upon my journey to the current me and where I will end up years later. My past experiences and interactions with people have shaped who I am as an individual and the impact that I embody as a person. I want to continue to be a genuine and more experienced person throughout the remaining 80% of my life, even if I do become unc (or aunt) in the process.