Turning 20 in 2020: Noughties reflect on life and growing up in the millennium

The questions were general in nature: how do you feel about turning 20? Do you think differently now than you did at 15?

What event has had the most significant impact on your life so far? What are your expectations for your 20s? Where do you want to be at 30?

Do you feel pressure to achieve life goals?

The replies came from seven males and 10 females from the Hunter across a broad spectrum. Many are at university, but not all.

Fifteen of them will turn 20 years of age this year, the other two are close.

The 17 respondents are Max Suciu Gleeson, Andrew Brassington, Beatrix Hardy, Claudia Medway, Aimee Richards, Kiarni Telfer, Angus Thurgate, Ashley Harrison, Olivia Kemmis, Peter Danks, Finbar Laffan, Ed Mills, Emily Coles, Hannah Coles, Kyrah Priest, Charlie Ekin and Aimee Gilmore.

"The way 2020 is aligned with movies and culture, we're supposed to be driving around in halo cars," says Charlie Ekin. "It is fairly monumental. The 1920s was a Depression. Where we were 100 years ago, it was one of the lowest of the lows. We are doing fairly well in 2020, I think it's going to be a groundbreaking year."

Emily Coles: "Scared to say the least! I feel as if I am still too young to be 20 but with that I am excited with all the opportunities being an adult brings such as travel, new learning opportunities and independence."

Ashley Harrison: "I feel a mixture of nervous and excited. I have so many friends who speak about how their mindsets change when they leave their teenage years behind. It's my view that using my age as an excuse to do this or that will no longer be viable, somewhat there is an expectation of maturity that comes with turning 20, or some set of life skills that you're magically meant to develop, like knowing how to actually pay taxes correctly, understanding how superannuation works, or even something as simple as joining a union or different levels of health care coverage."

Claudia Medway: "Everybody talks about how it's the age where you can take risks and really live to the largest extent whilst working towards your goals so it's a monumental age to get to for me. It's time to take life on a different angle as I've left the teens behind and launch into becoming who I want to be."

Peter Danks: "Now that I'm no longer a teenager, I need to be my own person, make my own decisions, and ultimately take control of my life and decide which direction I intend to head in."

Kyrah Priest: "I feel so thrilled that I'm coming to the age where people will actually start taking me seriously."

Angus Thurgate: "As a 15-year-old I had a dream of playing sport as profession. I'm fulfilling that. It's good I can look at that and see that as a reality."

Hannah Coles: "I think much differently! I remember when I was 15 I would be upset that I didn't have a phone or a girl said something mean (classic high school), but now I realise how lucky I am to have lived the life I have with so many amazing opportunities and not to focus and get caught up on unnecessary things like toxic relationships and mean people."

Claudia Medway: "At 15 I think you're more concerned with things that you eventually realise don't actually matter and that's the beauty of maturity which is perspective."

Max Suciu Gleeson: "I feel like now I have a much greater sense of responsibility than I did at 15, working a job and studying architecture at uni. I would say that my core values haven't changed, but now I am really able to act on them which I find very gratifying."

Aimee Richards: "Ten years ago I received the best present in the world. My dog and best mate, Dash."

Kiarni Telfer: "Undergoing extremely risky major brain surgery at the age of 15 to cure uncontrolled epilepsy has shaped the person I am. Without undergoing this life changing event, I don't believe I would be the driven and persistent individual I am today."

Finbar Laffan: "Without a doubt meeting my fiance, Kyrah [Priest]. We met when we were 13 and began dating at 14, I can't really imagine where I'd be without her."

Hannah Coles: "Moving out has definitely had the most significant impact on my life thus far. Last year I finished school and moved out of my family home in Newcastle where I had lived for 18 years into a tiny terrace house right in the heart of Sydney with seven complete strangers. Before moving I never had to be by myself as for my whole life I was able to rely on my twin sister [Emily] to be there right by my side, so moving to a new environment where no one knew me as a duo or even knew anything about me was truly terrifying and I felt as though I was thrown straight into the deep end."

Beatrix Hardy: "I lived and worked in England as my gap year from February to December of 2018. I worked in a school, meaning I had many responsibilities, including with young people and school kids. I was also working full time, which was something I had never done before. I was living out of home for the first time and had moved somewhere where I knew no one."

Ed Mills: "It's hard to name one thing that has carried the most significance in my life; however, a notable event in recent years would be getting one of my songs on Spotify. It was great to gain some recognition for my music online and to see the amount of people listening to and enjoying my song really exceeded my expectations. The whole experience made me think that pursuing music as a career might be a more feasible option than I had previously thought."

Kyrah Priest: "I think the most significant impact would be my best friend, my Dad, passing away from a sudden and unexpected heart attack at 37 with me by his side. Any loss is sad, but when an 11-year-old girl loses her dad it is utterly devastating, causing such momentous change .... I guess my Dad passing, especially him being such a young age, has given me this 'bigger picture' aspect on life. I realise now how short life truly is and I guess I can credit that to how young I've started trying to tick off accomplishments that most people don't achieve until their late 20s, 30s or even 40s."

Aimee Gilmore: "The event that has had the most significant impact on my life so far has been starting uni. As I have come from a small school with only 10 people in my year it has been a big change. I have formed many great friendships through one of the Christian groups at uni that will last for life."

Olivia Kemmis: "At this present time the event that has had the largest impact on my life is being blessed with the freedom of travel. These experiences have positively impacted my life in many ways. Travel has also offered a variety of educational experiences, lifestyle changes and cultural understanding."

Charlie Ekin: "In 2019 we visited my family in Bosnia. My Mum's side came from a small town, it was affected by the 1990s civil war. I was observing different towns, the way people act. They have a real sense of friendship and collaboration, even after the tough times. It really opened my eyes, how appreciative they are of what they have. They spoke a different language, the only communication was eye contact and body language. And they were so proud to share the little things."

Max Suciu Gleeson: "I would say that the HSC has been the most important event for me personally. Though I have my problems with it I think in general it does a pretty fantastic job of setting you up for tertiary education, and really teaches you the value of hard work. In my experience I think I really came out the other end a better person."

Angus Thurgate: "Probably making my professional football debut. It reinforced it was what I wanted to do. I moved out of home at 16, away from family. I learned a lot about myself, have responsibilities, maintain an apartment, learned to cook. It probably bettered me as a person."

Ashley Harrison: "The most transformative was probably my first independent trip overseas. I had never really travelled before this point, but when I was 14 my Mum and Dad put me on a plane, fully solo, and sent me to spend a week with my extended family in Singapore. Needless to say I was completely scared lifeless, but it formed the foundation of my independent skills now."

Emily Coles: "Graduating high school. I've experienced some pretty tough events that have equally impacted me however it wasn't until I graduated high school that I felt the greatest change. It wasn't until I graduated school that my perfect little bubble was popped. No one cares about your past grades, that one thing you organised in year 12, what you wore to formal or how well you got on with your teachers when you get into the real world. Being at the same school since kindergarten and stepping into the real world was a big shock."

Olivia Kemmis: "I have so far achieved my goal of a university degree, Bachelor of Business majoring in Tourism Management. I have also achieved the goal of travel. The dream of travel for me, was and is life changing, educational and exciting."

Aimee Richards: "Last year I gained a job at Landcare. I enjoyed working outdoors and seeing new places. It also gave me the money to travel the world, including Europe, the US and Mauritius. I recently completed a hospitality course at TAFE and loved it. My next goal will be to complete a screen and media course. I want to keep learning."

Peter Danks: "My expectations for my 20s were pretty conventional. Finish uni, save money, get a steady job etc. However, all of these expectations soon went out the window. University really wasn't doing anything for me, so two-and-a-half years in I decided to quit my degree, start a business and focus on pursuing a career in filmmaking - my biggest passion. So far I heaven't looked back and think it's the right decision."

Ashley Harrison: "I am really hoping to get the most out of the 'roaring '20s'. It's both an extraordinary decade and a very scary one. I mean, we are either on the brink of World War 3, or we are going to see some of humanity's greatest achievements and advancements across all sectors."

Aimee Gilmore: "My expectations for my 20s is to graduate primary teaching at uni, possibly buy a house and become independent. I also want to continue to support people around me and put others first."

Beatrix Hardy: "I expect my 20s to be a really great decade of my life. It will definitely be a period of great change, moving from uni into the workplace, as well as likely forming meaningful adult friendships and relationships. I think early 20s will be a time where I am having fun studying . . . and my late 20s will be my entrance into the workplace and living a more adult lifestyle."

Claudia Medway: "Honestly, the first word that comes to mind is successful. At 30, I will be doing right by myself and my values by following through with my goals of being career focused and creating a better place for this world, wherever I find myself."

Andrew Brassington: "I can't imagine what kind of job or car or life I'll have and lead. I'll probably be having an early mid-life crisis by buying expensive muscle cars from the '70s, but I've got to have a good job to be able to afford them in the first place!"

Max Suciu Gleeson: "I want to design buildings that nurture the environment just as they nurture those who live and work inside them."

Finbar Laffan: "It's really hard for me to see exactly where I'll be in 10 years but all I really want is a stable job and family."

Kiarni Telfer: "I would also dream to become a Specsavers retail partner. This will allow me to run my own Specsavers branch."

Ashley Harrison: "Mostly what I want for 30 is to be successful, whatever that means. With so many more opportunities than other generations I sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed and directionless, but I really hope that by 30 I will have found my path and pursued my passions (which I am sure are likely to change a lot between now and 30) and have been successful in whatever form that takes. Being on a beach somewhere though to celebrate another new decade as well wouldn't go too far astray either."

Emily Coles: "I would love to be married, travelled and possibly a mother. It is so weird to think about, I can hardly imagine myself in a position to be ready for those types of things, but I am also excited that I may get to experience those joys of life."

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