Lost at First, Learning Forever: Eunice on Adulting

“Adulting has nothing to do with age; it has everything to do with the maturing of the mind.”

Meet Eunice, a fresh graduate still trying to figure out what adulthood is all about. Her story gives us a different perspective—one you probably haven’t heard before—where adulthood is all about mindset. So, stick, stay, and definitely learn something. Enjoy!

Eunice: Hello, my name is Akesse-Quarshie Eunice, and I’ve been tasked with decoding what adulthood is all about. Honestly, I’m still confused about what adulting means, but I pray that by the end of this session, the Holy Spirit will enlighten us about what it truly means.

Adwoa: Alright Eunice, in one word, summarize how adulthood has been so far.

Eunice: Hmm, I’ll choose the word “learn.” I feel like it has been a learning journey, because every single day you discover something new and learn something different. Personally, I believe adulthood is reaching a stage where you understand what goes on around you, make better decisions, and become a better version of yourself. It involves changing your perception and perspective about life. You come to the realization that “some things are no longer the way they used to be, so I have to do something different to get a better result.” That’s why I say adulthood is a learning journey. It’s when you realize you can’t keep doing certain things and must stop. It’s basically about building your mindset, which entails a lot. Adulting has nothing to do with age—it has everything to do with the maturing of the mind.

Adwoa: At what point in your life did it dawn on you that you’re an adult?

Eunice: This question is really interesting, because most of us just go with our age. We keep growing and celebrating birthdays until we realize, “Oh, I’m actually growing,” but something about us hasn’t changed. For me, it was around age 21, approaching my 22nd birthday. That’s when it hit me: “Eii, I’m growing oo,” yet my mind still felt so little, like that of a child. I told myself I couldn’t face future difficulties with that mindset—something had to change. If I kept doing things the way I did as a kid, I’d keep getting the same results, and those results wouldn’t help me survive the challenges ahead. That’s when I realized I had truly grown.

Adwoa: Growing up, what did you imagine adulting would be like?

Eunice: Oh my God, this question makes it so interesting. I always thought adults were automatically mature. I believed that as I grew, my brain would mature and my mindset would change. I thought I’d figure everything out and stop making naive decisions. I imagined adulthood as the point where you no longer think or behave like a child. But when I got older, I realized my mindset was still the same, and I still had those childish habits. Growing up, we saw our parents make wise and informed decisions, and I thought, “Wow, when I grow up, I’ll be that person who knows everything.” But I was fooling myself. I had to come out of that mentality. That’s why many people are old yet not mature—they never recognized what was wrong and never tried to become better versions of themselves. They lacked the growth mindset of changing daily and striving to be better.

Adwoa: What’s your earliest memory of realizing independence wasn’t just freedom, but responsibility?

Eunice: Wow, this is deep. Let me say level 100, second semester. That’s when I started realizing, “Asantewaa, you can’t keep being this person—you need to take responsibility for your life.” I had to be intentional about how I spent my time and went about my day. But I think it fully sank in around level 300. The ideas started in level 100, living alone far from home, knowing my parents trusted me enough to let me go. By level 300, I embraced the growth mindset and decided to actually change, to work on myself.

Adwoa: What two values or habits are mandatory in adulthood?

Eunice: Discipline and being teachable. When you’re teachable, you embrace change and are willing to correct anything pointed out as wrong. Don’t let ego stop you from becoming better. And when you recognize flaws, be disciplined enough to change them—otherwise, it’s just another discovery you never acted on. Building good character and being humble are also very important.

Adwoa: Did you ever think adults had it all figured out? How has reality challenged that?

Eunice: I used to believe adulthood meant knowing everything and having life figured out. But I reached a stage where I didn’t even know what I wanted to do. Even when I discovered something about myself, I had no idea how to go about the change I desired. That’s when I realized adulthood is difficult. But I also learned you don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to be willing to learn at every stage. When you’re open to knowledge and growth, success will follow.

Adwoa: What role does your faith play in adulthood?

Eunice: First of all, I’m a Christian—not just any Christian, but one who has accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal Savior. I’m proud to say this. Honestly, the reason I keep moving forward as an adult isn’t because I’m strategic or wise, but because I have the Holy Spirit. He draws things to my attention and teaches me about adulthood. Living without Him would be sad—and scary—because this journey isn’t easy. Major decisions like career, relationships, marriage, and family can’t be made with mere human understanding. The Bible says human wisdom is foolishness, so I can’t depend on my small brain. My faith keeps me going. If you want to succeed in adulting, build a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. Growing up is full of mysteries, but with the One who understands all mysteries guiding you, you can succeed 100 percent.

Adwoa: What’s one daily routine that helps you stay sane as an adult?

Eunice: Prayer. Anytime I spend time praying in the Spirit, I feel confident, refreshed, and at peace. Believe me, prayer works.

Eunice’s story shows that adulthood is all about mindset. With discipline and teachability, you can make it work. And above all, the number one thing that sustains you is prayer.

What mindset shift has defined your adulthood? Share your story in the comments—and stay tuned.