Racing the Clock to 24

Everyone fears ageing. Especially when you were just in college two years ago, and that number 25 is slowly but surely creeping up on you. But as the saying goes, age is just a number. It isn’t a representation of the time that has passed or how much you have grown. I see it as a number full of possibilities. A number that unlocks new memories, experiences, and discovery. Ageing is beautiful and holds so much potential. As I inch closer to the age of 24, I want to try new things, see the world, inspire others, grow in my identity, and discover. So that is the reason for 24 before 24. 

Hi, I am Kayce Vaile, a Public Relations student at Griffith College in Dublin.  I am currently 23 and soon to be 24 in April on the 24th.  I recently moved to Ireland in the pursuit of a professional basketball career, but I have learned more about myself personally during this crazy journey. Although there are two short months before my birthday, I am challenging myself to do 24 things before the day that I turn 24. 

I was inspired to do so by Joey Graziadei, who was a part of the ABC franchise, The Bachelor and Dancing with the Stars. He was turning 30 this past year and created a 30 before I turn 30 list, which had all of his followers intrigued and curious if he would actually complete all 30 items. He was getting close to not completing with about a week until his birthday. Surprise! He did complete the list. 

Early adulthood is a time for growth and exploration of self. Who I was at 18 is nowhere close to who I am today. Yes, I still enjoy the same things, but who I am inside has been able to blossom and explore new parts of my identity. Post-college, some can be lost and feel lonely. Their whole lives have changed, and entered the work force in some form. Research has shown that personalities develop over a lifetime.

While I was in high school, I heard this metaphor used once, and it has stuck with me since. Imagine you are on an American football field. It is 100 yards long and has a marking at each yard. Each of those marks represents a single year in your life. I am close to being only a quarter of the way. There is still so much ahead. When you look back, it feels like so much time has passed, but from a bird’s eye view, there is still so much to go. 

The skill of goal setting is one that many are taught in school. We are told to find something to chase after and then set a plan to get there. These steps are taken to ensure that the goal is reached. This process is crucial to self-confidence. It is found that goal setting is a skill that fosters self-confidence.  Self-confidence is something that I continuously try to work on. My yearly goal is to fall more in love with myself, and my self-confidence plays a role in that. 

Now, I would like to challenge myself to push the box and complete 24 things before my 24th birthday. I thought this was the perfect time because my whole life changed this past year, from moving to Europe alone to chase a dream, as well as it being my anticipated golden birthday. I turn the age of the date that my birthday is on, and ever since I was little, I would always think about how far away it was. I never thought that it would come because 24 at the age of 8 just seemed so far away. But lo and behold, here we are. We have made it, and it is time to make it special. 

My list includes attainable goals, random tastes, sightseeing, and a mixture of fun. It is a range of getting new tattoos to moving countries to running 10 miles; there is just a combination of wild things that I want to achieve before my birthday. I am happy to take you all along for the ride. 

Welcome to 24 Before 24!

Here is my list of 24 goals to achieve:

1. Eat Sashimi 
2. Meditate
3. Visit Cork 
4. New Tattoo
5. New Piercing 
6. Journal for 15 days straight 
7. Try a Flat White 
8. Run 10 miles
9. Cliffs of Moher
10. Kiss the Blarney Stone
11. Move to a new country
12. Sea Swim 
13. Pilates
14. Bake and decorate a cake from scratch 
15. Go to a pop-up market 
16. Catch a flight 
17. Read 24 books 
18. Do a rope course 
19. Compliment a stranger 
20. People watch in St Stephen’s Green
21. Have a picnic 
22. Watch Forest Gump 
23. Get ice cream with a friend 
24. Go to the Cinema