The 20s are an interesting decade. It is the period in one’s life when you completely metamorphosize from a young adult with partial responsibilities to a full-fledged adult with complete independence from your parents.

For someone in her early 20s, the years between 20 and 24 are about transforming from a broke college student to a young adult fresh out of college struggling to “adult" and figure out the real world. You begin to figure out life – you have a blank slate with any number of possibilities to choose.

By the end of your 20s, the people around you often expect you to be a grown-up adult with complete independence. Although you decide your own schedule, make headway into your career, and maybe even pick up a side hustle, you still have a lot to figure out.

Here are 20 realizations you have once you hit your 20s:

1. You’re now in control of your annual medical appointments and regular health exams.

2. The money you make goes toward bills and basic needs of survival.

3. Grocery shopping is a part of your routine and no longer feels like a chore.

4. You establish a love-hate relationship with laundry.

5. Free time is taken up by work, chores, and sleep.

6. An early bedtime sounds kind of nice – not lame.

7. Getting drunk no longer provides an adrenaline rush but sounds unappealing and tiring.

8. Your friends are engaged, married, or having babies.

9. Budget management becomes a daunting task when you realize you have $5 left in your bank account.

10. Society expects you to be an adult when really you just want to be a kid – forever.

11. Living on your own comes with its own perks, like stocking the pantry with your favorite snacks and doing the laundry whenever you want.

12. You become your own person and figure yourself out.

13. Dating is a whole new playing field because you are not limited to meeting people in classes or on campus. You can connect with people the most unexpected places like a coffee shop, workplace, or the gym.

14. You learn who your true friends are.

15. Risk taking is invigorating and refreshing.

16. You realize you can’t compare your life to what you see on social media.

17. Networking is the stepping stone to your career.

18. You might be lost, confused, or unconvinced about your career path.

19. You will face confrontation and then contemplate all your life decisions.

20. Forgiving and apologizing have two separate meanings.

The 20s come with surprises, exciting life events, stress, and fun. By the time you hit your quarter-life crisis, you might have found your true friends, indulged in some passion projects, and set goals for how to live your life. What is one realization you had when you hit your 20s?