““Would you rather be young and turnt or have experiences and opportunities?” The words echo in my head, following in the quiet moments before decisions. They were raw and real, simply put. I can still hear my mentor asking it, clear as day. As a young woman in college balancing my social, academic, personal, and professional life, those words have become a constant voice in my head. The answer has always been clear to me, but the question forces me to prove it with my actions. Over time, I realized this mantra wasn’t about avoiding fun or isolating myself from my peers, it was about understanding timing. Every time I was tempted to say yes to something that didn’t align with my goals, I would hear those words again. I learned that every “yes” carries a cost, and sometimes that cost is missed opportunities, unfinished work, or delayed growth.”