Top 5 Best Essays on the Twenties

Everyone experiences their twenties – the most beautiful time of life. How did you paint your youth? As for me, I spent my twenties filled with unforgettable memories.

At 20, I poured all my energy into my first love. For the first time, I understood what it meant to love someone, with all the joys, sorrows, and even heartaches.

As a 20-year-old girl, I blindly chased after love, naively thinking it was eternal happiness, that nothing could change that feeling. I loved passionately, only to end up with a broken heart that nearly suffocated me.

The day I received the breakup from that person was also the day I realized that love, like everything else, is just a human feeling, not as significant as I once believed. Love is sweet, but breaking up isn't the end of the world, and I’ve learned there’s no pain we can’t overcome. At 20, I understood many things, but the logic of my heart was still a mystery.

At 20, I realized that failure is the key to moving forward. If everything we did was always successful, how would we ever understand the value of the lesson “failure is the mother of success”? How would we know who would stand by us, giving us strength to continue pursuing our dreams?

At 20, I understood it was time to live responsibly for myself. Every action I take now requires thoughtful consideration—thinking about how it affects others. I couldn’t afford to live recklessly anymore, indulging myself and expecting others to do the same.

At 20, I realized that, to my parents, I’m still their child, and family remains the safest haven in this world. Even though I’ve grown up and live independently, I still get calls from my parents every day asking if I’ve eaten, and reminding me to dress warmly when the cold winds come. I’ll always be their child, the one they worry about, even when I’m grown.

At 20, I discovered that no matter the joys or sorrows of life, I only want to share them with my parents. When I’m exhausted, I wish to return to their embrace, eat the meal my mother cooked, and watch a football match with my father. Those simple moments bring peace and happiness that words cannot describe.

At 20, I can understand many things, but I still can’t grasp the reasoning behind my own heart. Loving someone so deeply, yet always acting distant, hurting them and myself without meaning to, silently causing pain for both of us.

At 20, I’m grateful for the experiences life has given me, for all the lessons that helped me grow. Thank you, 20!

Nguyễn Minh Tuệ

To my 20-year-old self,

Life has been incredibly harsh on you!

At 16, I was always dreaming of things that didn’t exist, believing in places where rainbows were real. At that age, I thought I was grown up, but I was just a child pretending to be an adult in a young mind. I thought life couldn’t get any worse when I kept falling, alone, time and time again. But I’ve always been alone. That year, I felt lost, unsure of how to move forward, how to fight back. Time passed, and it healed everything, or at least wore down the pain. Yet, I was innocent once, and I had moments of being truly myself. If I could, I’d love to relive those moments again. I owe that girl from the past an apology, for not being kinder when she wasn’t ready to grow up.

My 17th year passed in haste, my entire youth filled with nothing but regret. I hate that time, when at 17, it was all mocking laughter from friends, sarcastic remarks from teachers. They didn’t show it, but I could see the scorn in their eyes. I noticed everything. Am I stone? Even if I were, I would still feel pain! I hated that suffocating atmosphere every time I stepped into class, the glances and smirks full of hidden meaning. I knew I was the subject of gossip, the object of their idle talk. I despised the smug look on her face. I hated everything!

I am someone who lives by principles, and one of the most important ones is never to regret what I’ve done. Yet, in just one year, one boy broke that principle. I blamed myself for being foolish enough to fall blindly in love. But when I look back at the moments we shared, they were joyful and genuine. We never crossed any lines or betrayed each other, so why does it now feel so cold and full of hate? I didn’t want to become this person, but after putting up with so much, my 17th year, which should’ve been beautiful like in my dreams, turned out dark, full of mocking laughter. No friends. I was pushed out of my place, without goals. No one wanted to help me, and honestly, I didn’t need help. I became numb. With every fall, every wound, I built a strong wall around me, a layer of thorns, creating a safe shell to protect myself. Alone in my own world, but never more at peace.

My 18th year passed quietly, without mockery, without criticism. Just me, with loneliness and boredom as my only companions. At 18, was I already an adult? I didn’t have a clear goal and missed the opportunity to get into my dream university, and I was so disappointed. A new life awaited me, just four years, and they would fly by. I thought I’d be fine on my own. I’d hoped, but all I got was disappointment. I had been weak, but had to be strong. I’d cherished the word ‘friend,’ only to be hurt in return. Everyone comes and goes. Alone, I cried late at night. In this dazzling capital city, why did I feel so isolated?

I spent 19 years of my life trying to become strong because I was afraid of being hurt, afraid of people walking out of my life. I always had to watch myself, I was hesitant to open up. They knew a little about me, but no one truly understood. Even if they did, they wouldn’t care. When I met those who cared, time was short. My heart stayed shut until one day, you appeared and stepped into my tiny, crowded world. I’d never welcomed such a feeling, it was beyond love. You, you were my treasure.

There will be moments in life where you’ll have to make choices, or maybe you won’t even have a choice, but those moments will change your life forever. I didn’t know then that my life was about to take a turn so drastic, so unrecognizable. At 19, for the first time, I boarded a plane, not knowing it would mean leaving my family. In that moment of farewell, I suddenly wanted to cry, but I had always been strong, so what was the point of crying? I wiped away the tears that had barely escaped my eyes. It was time to go. As I watched my family disappear behind the foggy glass, soon I would wake up in a completely new place, starting a new life, completely alone. But during that 19th year, you were there. When I stumbled, I could lean on you. Whenever I felt hopeless, you gave me the strength to rise again. No matter how many times I fell, with you by my side, I feared nothing. Because the only thing I feared was losing you.

Now, I’m 20. You’ve left. You… ran away. When I finally dropped all my walls, when I thought I had everything, the world turned its back on me. What do I have left? A barren, withered soul? What do I have, except tears soaked on my face, except the cries of despair and pain? No love, no happiness, no friends, no family, nothing. How can I describe this miserable state? 20 years of life, and in the end, nothing left. Happiness was never meant for me.

In a few years, I’ll probably ask myself how I survived being 20. If I really overcome these losses and wounds, I’m sure nothing will ever stop me again. After all, if I strip away the mask and escape the thorns, I’m just a normal girl, but without the peace that comes with normality. I’m still here, still fumbling through the mess of real life, no one knows what tomorrow holds, and no one teaches me what to do. I still cry, still in pain, watching you live peacefully, while my heart remains in turmoil. Forget it, I won’t think about it anymore. Life isn’t just about love! I fell, but you didn’t see. I must rise again, on my own. I want to cry. Go ahead, let it all out, but tomorrow I must smile again, must put on a smile for the world to see.

Life is indeed cruel. It took you away, it tore my family apart, and now it’s taking my loved ones too. I truly want to ask God, what did I do wrong? Why must I suffer like this? Why isn’t it me lying there instead of them? The one who always listens to others is the one who’s most broken inside. Why did this happen? Why can’t I go back and see Grandma one last time? I never got to hold her in my arms. Why?

Today is so painful, so hard, yet the rain doesn’t come. Where can I hide this sorrow? How much stronger do I need to be now?

June 11, 2020, I’m sorry, for not being able to hug you one last time!

Latte

(Written for my daughter's 20th birthday)

July brings a scorching summer heat that lingers in the air, lingering on the streets, sticking to people's shoulders, and soaking into the trees, leaving beads of sweat on the backs of those working tirelessly. It is the month when people long for a refreshing summer shower to soothe the oppressive heat, offering relief from the relentless pace and noise of daily life.

But despite the hustle of July, my heart feels calm and full of joy, for it was also in this very month, 20 years ago, that I welcomed my precious little princess into this world. You were born on a July day, and remarkably, your birthday shares the same day as mine—on the 11th.

I remember the night you were born, in July so long ago. When I began to feel the first contractions, we couldn't sleep a wink, and at 5 a.m., your father rushed me to the hospital. After a long, exhausting day and night of labor, you were finally born at 4:30 a.m., weighing 3.7 kg, chubby, and beautiful. Your hair was dark and your little eyebrows were full. You were so tiny, but your smile made everything feel brighter, like the sunflowers that blossomed around us. Thank you for coming into my life. You were healthy, and after the early challenges of my pregnancy, the endless nausea, and difficult mornings, I was relieved. Since that moment, we've been together, loving each other unconditionally, and that love will never end.

Every meal, every nap, every step of your growth has been shared with me. When you were only 12 months old, I had to send you to daycare. Even as a toddler, you were so well-behaved. When I took you to school early, and no one else was there, you would eagerly tell me to go, waiting for the teacher. You loved music, dancing, drawing, and helping out at school. You would always proudly show me your 'Good Kid' certificate every weekend. For five years in kindergarten and five years in primary school, we were inseparable. You are the sweetest, most beloved part of my life.

Your childhood memories will always shine brightly, like a sky full of stars. I loved buying you those fancy dresses and watching you run joyfully, with your hair flowing behind you. I loved kissing your cheeks and forehead every night before bed. I loved watching you sleep, your chubby cheeks and long lashes. I loved everything about you!

As if understanding my love, you never failed to live up to my expectations. Your 12 years of schooling were full of beautiful memories, and the results you achieved in your studies and growth have brought immense joy and pride to me, your father, your teachers, and everyone around us. Time flies, and now, my daughter is 20 years old. You're taller, fairer, and more beautiful than I ever was; you're even smarter than me! Everyone says you've inherited the best of both your father and me. I couldn’t be happier!

Now, you are all grown up, a young woman ready to step into the world. You’ve left home for college, learning to live independently. Though we’re no longer together every day, I still watch over you and care for you. I trust that you are wise, smart, and strong enough to face the challenges that life will bring.

I don’t have wealth or treasures to pass on to you, but I’ve spent my youth and the rest of my life loving and caring for you. The greatest inheritance I can give you is my love, kindness, compassion, responsibility, enthusiasm for life, and perseverance to keep moving forward. My dear, I know you can achieve all of this!

At 20, you’re full of energy and dreams. This is the perfect time to learn, to gather knowledge, and to prepare for the future. As people say, 'Youth is the most beautiful movie of one’s life,' so step boldly into life, cherish every moment, and do meaningful things for yourself and for the world around you!

As I journey through life, my love for you will never fade. You are my only treasure. I love you so much!

Đoàn Hạnh

It’s time to bid farewell to the dreamlike world of youth. Goodbye to the carefree moments when we were younger. Goodbye to the days when we didn’t fully understand what it meant to grow up. For me, turning 20 marks a significant milestone. It’s a reminder that the time has come to mature, to learn how to walk on my own, and to prepare myself for the real world. Before this age, I always saw the world in bright, cheerful colors, as I was sheltered in the warmth and protection of my family, safe from the storms of life.

However, when I reached 20, my lens on life began to change, and the world began to show more shades. I realized that life isn’t simply about black and white – there’s also a lot of gray. That gray often appears, because no one is perfect. No one can always wear the purest white or forever be in the shadows of black. A lot of things shape us, and they offer different perspectives on how we change. Good or bad depends entirely on how you look at it.

My twenties taught me valuable lessons about friendship. I’ve learned that it’s often better to let go of friends who don’t serve your well-being than to hold onto them and risk being hurt. As you grow, friendship becomes more precious. Of all the friends I've met, how many have truly been there for me? The true friends are the ones who stay by your side, in both happiness and sadness. They won’t abandon you in tough times, but will be there to help you face challenges. They rejoice in your success, not those who feel jealous of what you have. A true friend will share in your passions, even if they seem crazy to others. They allow you to be yourself, without pretense. I consider myself lucky to have found such friends in my twenties.

In my twenties, I realized how much my family means to me. Only after seeing a loved one hurt, knowing you can do nothing to help, do you truly grasp their importance. I’ve come to value the moments spent with family, choosing them over my own personal interests. I’ve become more interested in cooking, wanting to bring warmth and joy to the family table. I understand now that every family member has their own unique traits, and while they may clash, love makes those differences easy to accept. At 20, I know there’s much I could lose or change, but family is one thing I will never trade.

Turning 20 has also matured my thoughts and actions. I now think more about my future, considering various paths I could take. I’ve challenged myself to step into unfamiliar territories, to face the fears I’ve always avoided. And I’ve come to realize that these fears were never as frightening as I imagined.

Being 20 has brought me new experiences, mistakes that have shaped me, joys and happiness that I’ll never forget, and lessons that have added value to my life. But, as with everything, good times come to an end, and every encounter comes with an inevitable goodbye. My twenties will come and go, leaving behind memories that time cannot erase. Thank you, and farewell, my TWENTIES!

- Sarah -

In your twenties, you begin to feel a sense of longing for the years of youth. The age where people joke, "youth is past, but old age hasn't arrived,” marks a pivotal transition in life. This transition makes you, at 20, feel a little uneasy about the world.

Writing about your twenties is filled with both beauty and dreams, yet it also holds an abundance of bitter and harsh realities.

At twenty, life feels new, truly your own. The first hesitant steps into adulthood are no longer uncertain, and the independence of life becomes familiar. You are completely free with new relationships and concerns. But, the trips home become fewer, and the distance between you and home seems to grow longer each day. When you miss home or feel down, you can no longer rush into your mother's arms and cry immediately.

In your twenties, life offers you the joy of victory, gives you the motivation to move forward, but also teaches you the depths of despair after failures and how to rise again after each fall. All these lessons make you more mature.

At twenty, you are unlike any other girl...

At twenty, you're still bright and full of life. Just yesterday, you were still demanding gifts, pouting like a child, but today you’re different. You're stronger, wiser, but not yet truly “grown.” You’ve learned to stay quiet amidst the hustle and bustle, to smile while stepping over pain, and to accept life’s harshness.

In your twenties, you fall in love passionately, but you're also strong enough to let go when it’s time. You experience a naïve and fiery love, with dreams of a home and children, but also face the hurt and tears after endless arguments. Then one day, you part ways. You’re not weak, you don’t beg for them to stay, and you don’t cry for a month. You realize that love cannot be forced, so letting go is the best thing for both.

After a love lost in your twenties, you learn to value yourself more, no longer allowing yourself to suffer. You’ve learned to think before acting to avoid hurting others, just as you’ve been hurt before. You also learn to cherish your family, knowing that no one else loves you unconditionally like they do. And one day, when the whole world turns its back on you, they’ll still open their arms and say, “Come home, dear.”

Your twenties are the years of freedom, the years of passion and youth. Proof of this is the first journeys on the endless adventure of life, perhaps the most beautiful and brightest travels of youth, journeys unburdened by the worries of future responsibilities. Your twenties mark the beginning of your “backpack and go” journey, walking freely to fulfill your dreams, refusing to waste youth in a room or a corner of a street. You walk, leaving your mark on every land you step on, every sky you cross, and pour your youthful passion into every place. And when you look back on those days, you’ll say, “Did I really have such beautiful youth?” And you’re ready for more adventures like this.

Your twenties are also the years of defiance. You are stubborn, unreasonable, rebellious, determined to do what you want. You don’t fear mistakes; you fear not having the courage to make them. Then you stumble, but you allow yourself to get up and continue. Because “youth is about making mistakes, and there’s plenty of time ahead.”

Your twenties are carefree, when you don’t worry about things like hunger or responsibilities. Today you eat pho, tomorrow it’s noodles. Today you drink bubble tea, and at the end of the month, it’s just water. Today, you don’t feel like working, and tomorrow, you’ll find something else to do.

Your twenties are filled with days of wild laughter, and days of tears like a fool.

Some days you’re full of fiery passion, while others are clouded with confusion...

And there are things you can’t understand, things you can’t explain: “Why is it this way?”

Maybe it’s just “because you’re 20.”

Author: Mưa Hạ