LegallyUnbound

It’s been almost three months since I turned 30. And I guess leaving your 20s behind is really tough for so many reasons. It’s like saying goodbye to a decade filled with youth, chaos, possibilities, and dreams; some fulfilled, some half-lived, and some that never even took shape.

But here’s the truth: your 20s don’t always go the way you plan. They aren’t always “the best years of your life.” Sometimes they’re confusing, unpredictable, and filled with silent battles no one talks about.

For me, the last two years of my 20s felt like life had pressed the reset button. At 30, I often feel like I’m starting everything from scratch, from day one again. Which isn’t entirely true, because now I have experience, perspective, and confidence.

But I also carry the memory of watching my dreams come alive… and then fall apart, one by one.

Fight for Freedom

In my early years—my childhood and teens—I didn’t have much freedom. I often felt my life was different from that of my friends or the people I knew around. So, I made a quiet promise to myself: I would study hard, work hard, and build a life where I could make my own choices.

When my 20s began, I was pursuing my undergraduate degree in Philosophy. But somewhere during that time, it struck me: I wanted to study law and become a lawyer.

At that point, it wasn’t about justice or courtroom debates. It was about freedom, about having a voice, independence, and control over my own life.

Of course, I had no idea how hard it would actually be to start. But for then, I had one goal: to crack the entrance exam and get into a good law school.

The Dream and the Drop Year Anxiety

In India, among the best 3-year programs, the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, is one of the most respected. That was my plan.

In my first attempt, I didn’t make it. So, I took admission in a Master’s program, but my heart wasn’t in it. The same subjects I once loved stopped making sense to me. It felt like my brain had shut down.

So, I decided to take a drop year and prepare again. Ironically, the one thing I had always run away from—sitting at home—I ended up doing for a year straight, just to make that dream happen. Sitting at home is never easy, especially in a restrictive household where every decision is questioned.

But I did it. I studied hard, even with the constant panic and anxiety of not knowing what would happen if I failed again.

Thankfully, I cleared the exam the next year—and got into my dream college. It felt surreal. Like all those years of struggle had finally paid off.

And Then, Life Happened

Just six months later, everything changed. I fell seriously ill—with a life-threatening disease.

The next three years became a blur of hospitals, blood tests, MRIs, and endless recoveries. Those were some of the hardest years of my life.

But the pain and uncertainty didn’t stop me. I kept studying, showing up, and pushing through—because despite everything, I was finally doing what I had always wanted.

That phase, which I once thought was my downfall, actually shaped me. It taught me discipline and resilience. Where I once ignored my physical health, I now protect it fiercely. Even if the world falls apart, even if plans don’t work out, even if dreams challenge me—I’ve learned that nothing matters more than taking care of myself.

 Three Hard-Won Lessons From the Twenties

After my law graduation—it’s been five years now—I’ve lived many versions of life. Sometimes I worked, sometimes I didn’t. Sometimes I had 12-hour days, and sometimes, months of unemployment.

Earlier, I used to label these phases as good or bad. Now, I’ve learned that phases are just phases. Even the worst ones teach you the most important lessons.

For me, everything I’ve learned in my 20s can be summed up in three truths:

• No matter what, be happy—and romanticize your life even in the worst moments. Find the beauty in the small, mundane things.
• Always, always put your health first. It is the foundation upon which all your dreams are built.
• Time changes—in either direction—so keep praying and stay grateful. The tough times end, and the good times require appreciation

Turning 30: Choosing Happiness

The feeling of starting over at 30 is both uncomfortable and liberating.

Last year, on my 29th birthday, I remember feeling so low that I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I spent the day crying, hiding in my room.

But this year, it was different. Nobody made it special for me—I did. Just by choosing to be happy, I made it better. Sometimes, all it takes is that; choosing happiness, choosing yourself.

I don’t know what my 30s will bring, and maybe that’s the best part. I no longer feel the rush to prove anything or the fear of being behind.

Turning 30 hasn’t changed my life overnight, but it has changed how I see myself. This time, I just want to live—to be happy, to laugh, and to be kind to myself.

Because becoming 30 isn’t about starting over— it’s about starting differently.

What do you think? If you’ve also transitioned into a new decade after a period of struggle, share your experience in the comments below!