Where were you personally during the first day of the 2010s and where are you at now.

[hitme]

ERA's 10 year challenge I suppose.

You can about your age (range), school/job, personal success/failures, etc.

Just turned 20 a month after 2010 started. I was still in community college, working my first job within the campus. I was slowly losing friends and not making any new ones until I dropped out in 2013 and started working full-time. I was young and care-free.

To now where I found myself a company with unlimited potential after years of working dead-end jobs. Within the last five years I made significant improvements regarding my mental and financial health. My social life is slowly coming back, but now at 30 the future is looking pretty bright.

 

[Kazooie]

On the first second of 2010 I was at home. On the first second of 2020 I will be at home, different home though. 2010 I was ar the university, now I am working at the university, different university though.

 

[Baphomet]

I was in college in PR in 2010 , left that shithole in 2013 and haven't been back since , currently in NY for 2020.

 

[Deleted member 8861]

I was fifth grade in 2010, which means I was going through the worst year of my life.

Well, now it's second worst but this time it's all my fault, so.

 

[Osu 16 Bit]

In 2010 I was a guy still living at home, playing video games all day, and working a going no where job while heading towards an early death of diabetes.

In 2020 I am a woman who has a positive social circle, lives in a nice apartment in their favorite city, working their dream job in the game industry, and has a healthy lifestyle.

 

[UF_C]

I was working for the state teachers union in 2010 and it was by far the worst job I ever had and probably will ever have.

fast forward 10 years and I've transitioned to another company and it's been the best job I've ever had.

It's been an unbelievable upgrade, thankfully.

 

[studyguy]

2010 my father lost his job and I basically had to kill all my savings to help them out pretty heavily.
Was also working for Monsanto and absolutely hating life. Life has improved tremendously since though, couldn't be happier atm.

lmao 2020 will be 10 years with my gf too. We both promised to hold off marriage till she finishes nursing school and she's be extremely close after this coming year so should be exciting.

 

[subpar spatula]

Was 20. I was somewhere dark and musky. Now I am not.

 

[kai3345]

i was sill in high school and now i'm several years into my professional career



fuck

 

[acheron_xl]

Nothing has changed except how I allocate my free time. Both of my cats died during the 2010s, so I have two different cats. I guess that's something.

 

[Deleted member 49319]

2010: Last year in college, about to get my first job offer in three weeks.
2020: last year of PhD funding, need a real job.

 

[YaBish]

I was in eighth grade doing absolutely nothing. Playing football and videogames.

Now I'm out of college looking for full time employment, in therapy (dealing with depression/anxiety/possible ADHD) and working part-time retail to make some money. I don't have any student loan debt, so that's pretty nice at least.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

2010: 23, Single, unemployed (after being laid off from a startup), unsure what the next 10 years would bring.
2020: 33, married to an amazing woman, about to hit 9 years working for the same company in IT. Now just working to pay off debt and save.

 

[Fubar]

2010: Junior in high school/age 16/thought I was going to join the US Army as a CBRN Specialist, had a plan to go through Basic and then get into OCS, go from there.

2020: Married, two kids, have a dog and own a home, in a stable job, great work environment, never joined the military.

Sometimes I regret not joining the Army just because that field in particular interests the hell out of me and I really could have learned a lot and probably had a lot of fun, but I never would have met my wife or gone down the path I am on now, so I hardly ever have second thoughts. My daughters are awesome.

 

[lokiduck]

I was in College and continued to be for most of the decade. Now I'm a part timer massively in debt, so take that with what you will *shrug*.

 

[ToddBonzalez]

I was on winter break during my senior year of high school on the east coast. This New Years Day I'll be flying back to the west coast to continue my game dev job I started a few years ago. Time flies.

 

[MrSaturn99]

First day of 2010? In my senior year of high school and emotionally broken from loneliness, unaware that my brother -- who'd soon die later that year from heroin -- would shortly confess to my parents that he'd been stealing my video games to score drugs.

Now? Working towards my dream of becoming a writer/working in the library I volunteer at, all the while doing my best not to crack under climate change anxiety/Trump's fascist regime. (Back then, I never dreamed I'd pay attention to politics; needlsss to say, 2016 was a cruel -- if not much-needed -- wake-up call. The juxtaposition's unreal to me.)

Life is suffering, I guess. At least I have my gaming backlog to look forward to.

 

[JCX]

I was a senior in college, unsure about what job I could get when I graduate, but planning to move home to take care of my sick isn't l parent. I was pretty obese and still in the closet

Today I'm pursuing my creative dreams in New York, have a day job I love, finally out, got more fit, and have a strong group of friends.

2010 me would be shocked by current me. Though we still have a deep love of Smash im Bros in common

 

[Vaco6121]

2010: 20 years old, single, working at IBM in their Customer Solutions Center, had no real plans for the future, move out of moms (she was the one who moved, I got the old place.)

2020: 30 years old, still single, took a severance package from IBM in the 2012, moved back to my mom's after my stepdad died as his death destroyed my mom, (my real dad had also died years earlier) and I was unemployed, still living with her as she hasn't given me any reason to move back out, got lucky in investing in Cypto-currency, currently working at a local fiber provider as their overnight network monitor for no real reason other than I wanted an overnight job where I didn't have to do anything and they are paying me very well, still have no real plans, but at least I don't have to worry about money anymore.

Its crazy in how much better my life is now vs 10 years ago.

 

[Servbot24]

First day of 2010 I was 20 and was probably at my parents house in Iowa for Christmas break. I would have been a junior in college in Arkansas, majoring in Illustration. I had big dreams about becoming a concept artist. I was antisocial, had very little interest in health, and just drew and played video games for the most part. I was about to enter my first relationship which would be a disaster and the low point of my life due both to the terrible relationship and having an income of about 10k/yr for three years.

Now I am 30 and living in Austin. I did not achieve my dream and am slowly losing hope. Life is still good though, I have a tech job I stumbled into that pays more than I thought I'd ever make (not nearly as fulfilling as art though so hopefully it doesn't last forever), and tomorrow I will spend my day off moving my things into my girlfriend's house. We've been together 1.5 years and it's been fantastic. I still am an introvert but am much more comfortable socially, and also am in good shape (eat very healthy and exercise every day).

This year I am planning visits to several art conventions to hopefully reinvigorate things on that front.

Its crazy in how much better my life is now vs 10 years ago.

Click to shrink...

I used to worry about being 30 but turns out it's awesome.

 

[mahialise]

2010: 21 years old, just graduated from University, dating a guy who wasn't that nice, dreams of being a photographer for a living. Battling an eating disorder and body dysmorphia in sssssecret, hating myself and wondering if anyone would notice.

2020: 31 years old, T H E R A P Y, moving in with a pal, kicking ass at a job that is not photography but it's still art so I'm happy. It's only this year that I started treatment for the ED so I guess it took me a decade to face it, hopefully by 41 I won't hate myself anymore, but we'll see.

This past decade included lost homes, lost loves, bad jobs, multiple failures and a lot of pain. The thing I learned is you can't run from it, you have to face it - and when you do, a dawn breaks and light bleeds through the darkness.

 

[Zen]

Thanks for making me feel old OP

 

[shnurgleton]

In college, probably in Chicago, probably went to bed early because new years sucks

Today, in Boston, with girlfriend, life is better

 

[BasilZero]

Was probably wasting my life away on MMO games with a bunch of no lifers who wanted to play the same damn thing again and again.

Thankfully I am better than that now.

Enjoying my time with my family now.

 

[Brandino]

I was 25 ten years ago. Working part time doing survey's for Gallup in Nebraska. Now I'm married, have a son, and making six figures in Chicago

 

[lt519]

2010: Single, entry-level engineering position (6 months in), had a roommate, lots of student debt, played a lot of sports, weighed 175lbs -- mostly was just dicking off and having fun not caring about anything in the world

2020: Married, two kids, management position, own a condo, free of "bad" debt, relegated to riding a bike due to a bad back, weigh 190lbs -- settled down and enjoying the family life

Couldn't be more different situations lol. In fact I think on this day 10 years ago I was at a NYC warehouse NYE party and tonight I'll probably go to bed before the ball drops.

 

[linkboy]

Stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana.

Now, I'm out of the Air Force, have no job, have severe anxiety/PTSD, and just hate about everything with my life.

The only positives I have in my life are my son and my fiancee.

I'm 37 years old and I'm stuck living at home with parents because I can't afford a place of my own.

At the beginning of this year, I was living in Minneapolis with my fiancee and while money was tight, we we're getting by. Now, I have no idea.

 

[Doober]

2010: single, working a temp-to-hire contract job, living in a one-bedroom apartment across the street, relatively fit.

2019: divorced, celebrating 10 years at my job, on my second house, and slightly less fit but still better than most guys my age.

 

[Deleted member 1726]

I was in a pretty dead end sales job looking after customer accounts, now I'm a web developer at the district council.

pretty happy with how things have progressed to be fair.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

2010, in college, in the best shape of my life and at my physical prime, finally getting out of a long dark period where I was severely depressed and having a real social life for the first time. I had some shit going on but overall this was one of the best times of my life. Things went downhill a couple of years later, though.

2019, stuck in a rut, worried about my future, no social life to speak of and not exactly happy either. But I've grown a lot and I am definitely glad the person from 2010 no longer exists. I cringe when I think about some of the things I did, and even the way I thought back then. So I'm in a worse place in every way but spiritually, but even then I think it's a fair tradeoff. Here's to a better future.

 

[Dead Guy]

2010: was a young shit head in my first year of high school. Still living with parents and playing video games with my free time. Had never been on a date and wouldn't be for years to come lmao.

2020: Have a Biology degree now and my own 2 bedroom apartment now in a different city. Coming up on 6 months in my first relationship and about 9 months at my current job which isn't too bad all things considered.

 

[electricblue]

2010: Married. I was living in Waikiki in my 20's and mostly miserable

2019: Not Married. I live on the east coast, make about the same money and am much happier

 

[Deleted member 15240]

The first day of 2010 I was 17 and I had just finished the first semester of my post-HS education. I was perhaps a little unhappy and disappointed with where I was at in life but mostly I was still hopeful. I was still muslim, I was lonely but my friendships hadn't fully deteriorated yet, I was fat but still in denial about it.

It is remarkable how little I have accomplished in the decade since. I still do not have my bachelors degree, I still live with my parents, been unemployed for most of it, have made almost no new friends and lost most I had, lost a lot of weight but gained most of it back. I have my drivers license now. I lost my virginity (really late in the decade) and had a short relationship that taught me I don't care that much about that stuff. But also fell in love hard in a way that made understand I can't rule dating out completely. I'm no longer religious.

I think 2010 me would be extremely sad and scared by 2020 me but I'm trying to keep on trucking and focus on how I can make the coming decade better than the last. At least I know myself a lot better than I did back then.

 

[Eblo]

2010 was probably the lowest point of my life. One of my parents disappeared, taking half of my family from me, and the other was try her damnedest to do the same. I was near bottom of the socioeconomic ladder; starvation and homelessness were quickly becoming a palpable future for me. I had no friends, nothing to live for. Happiness just wasn't a thing. I played video games to escape reality. Distraction was my solace.

2019 has been the best year of my life. I reclaimed family that was taken from me. I'm not under somebody's thumb, walking on eggshells. I have my own house, a car, and a job doing what I enjoy. I don't have to worry about money so much now. I'm always fed. I have a place to stay. I have friends, most of whom have been with me for the majority of the decade. I have reasons to live. There's someone I share mutual love with. I have things to be happy about. Video games are now just something I do when I have time.

The damning thing about this is that most of the positive stuff really just happened from the tail end of 2018 to now. 2010 through most of 2018 was shit. I'm grateful my life turned around like it did.

 

[Warszawa]

2010: 21 on a night out with old friends for beers. Or at least thats what I thought before it turned into an Mkat binge for my friends, they ended up stuck in that hole for 3 months before it spiralled out of control and we lost somebody. Still angry about that. Do some searching and you can find the bloody hatchet job in the press they did on my friend around the time the whole Mkat shit in the North of England spiralled out of control.

2019: Own my own place with my SO, finally got a job I don't mind (IT) and in a band I really love. Currently sat faffing around producing our bands E.P as we type this.

Gonna pour one out for all the highs, lows, near misses and missed ones.

Have a great 2020's ERA.

 

[Deleted member 9486]

Then: 31 and in my first year as an assistant professor, in a new city in an apartment and daring my grad school girlfriend.

Now: still in the same job, I put now a few years post tenure and promotion to associate professor, married to a different woman (grad school girlfriend and I broke up summer 2010) and living in the first house I've owned.

it was a good decade and hoping for an even better one starting tomorrow!

 

[It’s Time To Go]

I was.... 16 then? And I think I was sitting in Liverpool airport cos the snow had cancelled all the flights.
Now I'm 26 and I'm sitting at home writing a university essay.

 

[Deleted member 1478]

I was 24, unemployed, overweight and unhappy.

I am now 34, employed, overweight and generally unhappy.

.....woo!

 

[VileZero]

Then: I was 23. Was just a few weeks from a nasty breakup with a girlfriend, and had quit my first job out of general frustration with my life. I had no idea what was in store for me. I traveled to upstate New York and brought the New Year in with my best friends. Even with the general sadness I was feeling, it was an incredible time. I felt hope.

Now: I'm 33. I'm going to spend the holiday with my wife and our puppy in our first house that we bought last year. Personal life has had a lot of victories since that low moment in 2010. Professional life has been more choppy. Had a wonderful job that I lost when the company went out of business. Been floating around from job to job since then. Hoping it levels out.

 

[Deleted member 49611]

i can't remember what i was doing on 1st January 2010.

2009 me: 18 years old, just out of school, no job, but had friends and a girlfriend. was going out regularly and travelling. my plan at the time was to just relax after leaving school and enjoy myself. i was quite happy.

2019 me. 28 years old. working. no friends. no girlfriend. haven't left my city in 3 years. alcoholic. depressed and suicidal. i almost killed myself half way through 2019 and still think about it every day.

2029 me: a pile of bones or ashes.

 

[AgentLampshade]

18 and on the verge of suicide. No job, no future prospects, some friends I didn't appreciate enough. Didn't think much about the future since I didn't see myself in it.

28 and doing far better mentally. Got a job, got good hobbies, got enough free time to balance the two and my social life, which I like to think I'm doing much better with. A bit down on what to do with my life, but content enough at the moment. A lot of my friends are moving on (marriage and moving away mostly) and I feel like I'm 10 years too late to the party.

 

[Kevers]

I was a fat 24 year old with no job and no prospects for the future.

I'm a much thinner 34 year old with a shitty retail job that barely pays above minimum wage and no prospects for the future.

 

[L176]

2010 I was 19 and head over heals to a girl who ended up becoming my wife. However I do not remember where I was when the year changed. Probably on the main bridge in my home town watching the city fireworks. I was doing my compulsory civil service in a Museum.

2020 I am 29 and at my friends place just hanging. My wife is hanging out with her friends in another room and my 14 month old son is sleeping in another (we have a travel bed with us). Doing my master's degree in uni.

 

[mbpm]

I was anticipating college in 2010

I'm...anticipating college now in 2020 on my first semester as a returning student

Huh

 

[Lil Peanut Brotha]

I'm also 30 now. At 20 this time, I was in college in Cincinnati in a cold winter, working my second internship for Procter and Gamble, learning how to do some 3D simulation very very slowly. I was trying to learn everything I could at the time, not sure of where I would be physically or career wise within motion graphics. Had never lived out of Ohio. Was single.

I've been in LA for almost 8 years now, and I somehow work in gaming, on a game I was playing 10 years prior in an open beta somehow! It's been a wild ride and I'm pretty thankful overall I ended up with a rare staff motion graphics opportunity in the gaming industry. Now I'm living in a warm(but expensive AF) place with someone I love, so definitely a big upward this decade overall.
There were of course challenges along the way, but things worked out well.

 

[Doomsayer]

Was 21 at the time in a fun but ultimately superfluous job in while being in a failed relationship where we were both just going through the motions because we were comfortable.

Now I have a great job with a lot of room for growth and I'm engaged to the love of my life. We got a place back in July and things are going fantastic.

I believe this is what the kids call a "glow up."

 

[Darryl M R]

2010s: High school student, getting ready for college life. No social capital.

Now: Getting ready for grad school. Married. Two pets. Great career. A lot of social capital.

 

[RavFiveFour]

2010 10th grade
2019 Work

 

[Mahonay]

2010...I was in NYC, I believe living Ridgewood, Queens. 23 years old. Work in video post production. A lot of it is a blur due to my drinking and extreme anxiety issues that I did not address until this year.

My life is very different now. I'm at least more confident and comfortable with myself than I was then.

 

[Temp_User]

2010 . . . . middle of my 2nd job. It was a toxic work environment. Personal life was non-existent.
2020 . . . . much better in both counts.