issue 11// vol 46 Stop calling yourself old at 25 » You still have so many years ahead of you Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief hey say youre only as old as you feel. With the number of young, twenty- something adults who lament about turning another year older, I’m concerned some people are feeling older than they actually are. Many people become depressed about getting older. To some, getting closer to the 308 is a big cause for anxiety because they may feel they should have your life figured out by then. Yet, you have years ahead of you to worry about getting older. Let’s be honest, no one has their lives completely figured out by age 30, or by any specific age. Being in your 20s is hardly old at all to most standards, unless we lived in the Middle Ages where 30 was the average life expectancy—thankfully we are past that point of history. If you think about it, being in your mid to late twenties is not old at all. The average life expectancy in Canada is 82 years old. For the purpose of this argument, let’s say that everyone lives to this age. By 25 you still have more than 50 years ahead of you. That’s like turning 25 again twice plus five more years. Putting this in perspective, your mid-twenties don’t seem so old, does they? Mid-twenties may seem old to some people, but that’s only because the teenage years are not far behind. It may sound ab 6C It’s not you that’s old, it’s your mindset. depressing to think back on these days and realize that they're all past you now, but instead of being sad about leaving the past, we should look toward the future. Some people might see getting older as the end of their youth, but one should look at it as the beginning of middle age— and being middle-aged has its perks. You'll most likely be further in your career path than you are now, you may be getting out of school (or going back into it, depending on what you plan to do), you could be getting a house or apartment soon, getting married or having kids, or at least planning to do so. It also means you'll have more responsibility, you'll be wiser, have more opinions // no. 15 experience, and possibly more power. Doesn't that sound like fun? By calling yourself old at such a young age, it implies you're ready to settle with life. It’s not you that’s old, it’s your mindset. It suggests that being old isn’t fun or not something to look forward to, but it should be. Why not be excited to see where life will take you in five, ten, or even twenty years? We should all look forward to getting older and seeing where our lives take us. Complaining and worrying about getting older is not productive. I think some people have the notion that the older you get the more boring you become, but this is hardly the case. I also think that people feel the older they get the more they should have figured out. The responsibility they assume they need to have adds to their age anxiety, but these things take time. You can still be fun and childish when you're older and you can still fuck up and make mistakes. Your 20s are not the only time in your life to learn valuable lessons and make mistakes, so don't worry about getting older and feeling you need to be more responsible. Stop complaining about being old— you have so many more fulfilling years ahead. Just think about when you're 40 wishing you could be in your 20s again. Appreciate and have fun with being a young adult while you can—because you aren't getting any younger. Friends dont let friends ask friends to practice driving with them » Only certified instructors should help new and developing drivers Jacey Gibb Distribution Manager Pint: are the best. They stick by us through thick and thin, celebrate our victories, and pick us up when we're down. They help when we're feeling self-conscious or tell us when we're being jerkfaces. Friends are confidants, wing-people, partners-in-crime, and support systems. One role a friend should never fill, though, is the role of driving instructor. I get it. Driving lessons cost upwards of $90 an hour, and everything in this stupidly beautiful province is stupidly- expensive, but asking a friend to help you practice driving is problematic for everyone involved. For starters, if you're still in the early stages of getting behind the wheel, then you likely don’t own a vehicle yourself. You're probably reaching out to a someone who does, but what happens if you get into an accident, and that vehicle is how your friend makes their livelihood, or how they get to school everyday? Transit in Metro Vancouver is decent—excuse the current transit strike—but 15-minute commutes by car can suddenly morph into hour-long transit rides. Some people also use their vehicle directly for their jobs, when they work at multiple job sites or for delivery purposes. In this sense, all of the risk is being placed on your friend who relies on their vehicle. You should also consider the legal implications. Previously, if a person got in an accident while driving someone else’s vehicle, the vehicle owner’s insurance would be affected, meaning they'd end up paying more each month. In 2019, ICBC changed their policies so drivers themselves are at fault, rather than the vehicle owner. However, this relies on the owner going to an insurance broker and changing their policy ahead of time, and listing someone as a driver. ICBC’s website states that “If an unlisted driver causes a crash in your car, you could face a financial consequence,’ which rightfully sounds ominous. Regular vehicles can also be a risky option when learning to drive. If you enroll for driving lessons, most vehicles provided have safety devices installed, such as a secondary brake on the passenger side for the instructor. This minor detail could really make a difference in serious situations, and I doubt your friend’s car comes equipped with the same features. Your friend, ICBC, and everyone else on the road aside, asking someone to help you practice driving also shortchanges yourself. Just because a person’s a good driver and they've been driving for a long time doesn’t mean they're good at teaching someone to drive. Driving a vehicle is a complicated balancing act, where you're simultaneously doing a dozen things at once. A lot of these habits become autonomous after a while, and they're not something you'd necessarily think to teach a new driver. Actual instructors know how to introduce these nuances in a step-by- step manner so that nothing important is left out. If you truly believe someone would be willing to go through the hoops of helping you to drive, and you've taken lessons and have a confidence behind the wheel, that still doesn’t greenlight you to ask. Instead, drop hints that you could use more practice, and leave it up to your friend to offer. If they do, then the best of luck to you; otherwise, leave it to the professionals.