I think the 20s are the hardest years of adulthood. While it's no doubt also tough for the elderly with all the pressures of coping up with the stress of declining years, I think the burden in your early 20s comes from you being expected to behave like a grown-up, earn your own living, be successful, yet probably still think and feel like a teenager. The agony is figuring out who I am and what do I want to be? Sometimes having all these thoughts weigh so heavily on my mind, I can't sleep. I have absolutely no idea what the future has in store for me, but I know that the choices I make in my 20s are the hinges upon which the rest of my life will swing.

When I first came to China, I knew I was on a trajectory of figuring it all out, as I set out to pursue my master's degree in a career that I am passionate about. I thought to myself wow! This is awesome. Now, anyone who has been to China will have had the opportunity to observe the fast-paced lifestyle and large crowds of people at the subway stations queueing and interchanging at regular stops. If you were like me, then you probably attributed this to the fact that it's the country that has the world's largest population. The latter is true, but that's not all there is to it.

The fast-paced lifestyle in Beijing, the precise work spectrum, is set to the clock. Every second counts as you clock in and out at a specific time and not a minute earlier. Every cent is earned. Many companies pay by the hour or day. So every second wasted is an opportunity lost to make money. It's no wonder why the Chinese economy is developing at such a furious pace, which creates an environment that facilitates growth and presents numerous opportunities.

Over the past couple of weeks, I got the opportunity to intern with a prestigious media institution (StarTimes). This meant having a 360-degree transition from my normal somewhat relaxed routine to a more professionally scheduled routine of early mornings, a fixed work schedule, and enduring daily commute. I must say it was a rather difficult transition, given the number of times I had to silence the little voice in my head which kept saying, "Why do you need to be up this early" at the sound of every alarm.

The first week was probably the hardest. I wondered about the pressure that I had placed on my shoulders. However, after a few weeks into juggling between my studies and the internship, it all started making sense. Adjusting to a new daily routine came as quite a shock to me. The pressures are high, and I have to manage my time because the slightest diversion could conflict the two. This meant adopting a fast-paced and positive attitude to keep my sanity intact, which is contrary to the slow-paced life I was used to in the developing world.

In retrospect of what our elders and the people we admire have achieved, I realize that it's an inevitable process that we all have to go through. As I fumble my way through each day, I gain the conviction that this is simply a basis for something great, still invisible yet meaningful. I'm constantly reminding myself that every choice I make today can change the direction of my life. The people I admire so much did not get to where they are on a bed of roses, they worked their way to the top by getting out of their comfort zones.

As a famous saying goes, "There are many ways to look at a situation, and rather than automatically searching for flaws, open your mind and seek out the positive aspect or another perspective."

The writer is from South Sudan studying in Beijing