20 Something
NEWSFLASH! Young people don't know everything.
It is vital to have a mentor in your life. If you don't have a reliable adult in your family, I encourage you to seek out someone older than you, whether it be a friend, teacher, coach, coworker, or whoever it is for you! This mentor should be someone who has experienced life a little more than you have.
Being 20 something in today's world is difficult. Career searching, dating, socializing, exercising and trying to remain sane in the midst of it all...it's a lot. Oh, and don't forget to always make time for YOURSELF! #selfcare At least, that's what all the social media influencers say. LOL.
What are we even doing with our lives anyway?
Recently there has been a cleanse in the lives of some celebrities who may not have had the best mentors in their young lives. They needed someone in their corners to look out for them, and give them the best advice possible. Unfortunately, people love to take advantage of others. Young people must be aware of this fact.
When you are entering the real world, it is important to note that naivety comes with the territory. Doubt and confusion are constantly running through your mind. It's vital to know who you can trust when making life decisions.
These celebrities all have stories of a time in their lives when they had no one to mentor them. Some overcame these gaps, others did not.
Elvis Presley
The King was a mere 19-years-old when he got his start at the renowned Sun Records Recording Studio in Memphis, TN in 1954. In 1955, he was approached by the infamous, Colonel Tom Parker, who slowly weaseled his way into Elvis' life, career and mind, controlling every aspect. Elvis was a complete rock and roll sensation by 1956 with his new record deal with RCA and manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Without the knowledge and experience of the recording industry, Elvis was swindled into deals that the Colonel made on his behalf, which led to exhaustion, drug use, depression, and eventually death. I wonder what Elvis' life would have been like had he been mentored by the right person, someone who had his best interests at heart. Maybe he would still be alive today...
Taylor Swift
Country-turned-Pop Princess, Taylor Swift has been through the ringer with the music industry ever since she signed herself to Big Machine Records at the age of 15. Back in 2019, Taylor did not own her music from her first 6 albums that she wrote. It became a very public feud; one that Taylor seems to have come out of victoriously by rerecording all of her old music and finally owning her own masters. At 15-years-old, signing a record deal is life-altering. It's hard not to think that maybe Taylor was not given the best advice by the adults around her.
Britney Spears
"Don't you know that you're toxic?" Britney Spears is no stranger to the pains of fame. She has been in tabloids since she was 16. Her divorce, mental illness and child custody case blew up gossip columns all through her early to mid-20s leading to her conservatorship with her father, Jamie Spears, as conservator/controller of all financial, medical and even some personal decisions in Britney's life. "The conservatorship has power over her finances and career decisions plus major personal matters such as her visits with her teenage sons and whether she can get remarried," according to bbc.com. Yes, Britney went through many rough periods of her life, but she has not been in control of her own life for about a decade. As of 2021, Britney is free from her conservatorship with plans to be married again without needing permission, and will press charges against her father for "conservatorship abuse." I am not entirely sure what to believe in this situation. It is just sad to see a successful young person go through so much without an adult/mentor on their side. #britneyisfree