Does anyone have it together?

This weekend, I'll be back in my home state and I'll likely see a lot of people I haven't seen in years. I moved states right after graduating high school, and while I've kept in touch with friends, see some once a year or so and others on social media, I feel very distanced from the town I grew up in. I'm very intentionally traveling down South to see some of my closest friends, but it dawned on me the other day that I might feel like I'm back in high school due to the sheer number of people I might see. Many people see friends from their high school all the time, but since I moved, anything beyond an online interaction is amazing.

I recently watched an episode of Jane the Virgin (great show, if you're curious) that involved a five-year high school reunion. The main character, Jane, stressed over if she was successful enough in her post-high-school life to see everyone again. I'm four years out of high school and and a recent college graduate on the hunt for a full-time job. I know people my age that are still in college (whether undergraduate or graduate), employed at their dream jobs, engaged, married, parents and more. The mid-20's are a strange time for everyone, I've learned. There's an immense pressure to come off like I've got it all together, but this is alleviated a bit when I realize that nobody's really got it figured out.

In high school, I always thought that my life would fall into place when I got to college. I figured I would find myself, improve every facet of my life, have spare money all the time and would graduate with my dream job lined up. I had no idea about budgeting, hard college classes, changes in perspective and goals or the general pitfalls of adulthood. Similarly, I didn't have any idea how many opportunities for growth I would experience. The person I am today isn't at all who I thought I'd be four years ago, but I'm sure the same could be said for many.

I'm excited to see old friends from high school. I'm excited to see how people are doing and how to hear what their plans are now that we've all had a taste for adulthood (or something like it). But still, I know that even if this was our official five, ten or fifteen year reunion, people still wouldn't really have it figured out. The more I'm considered an adult, the more I realize most people are still figuring things out. Coming off like you've got your life in order is just a mix of confidence and having a plan.

There are some old friends from high school that are exactly where they thought they'd be right now — people who had a clear vision for what they wanted to do with their lives. That's amazing, and I'm thrilled to see these people chasing their goals one step at a time. But there's nothing wrong with changing your mind and rerouting your life. We can't predict what's next, we can just keep looking forward.

As I'm starting to pack my bag for the weekend, I can't help but to get excited to see what's changed. People grow and change, and the result is frequently something truly amazing. I'm looking forward to seeing how life post-high school has worked its magic.