What piece of advice would those of you who are mature adults offer to a young adult? Can be about anything - education, employment, finances, faith, marriage - anything.
Marsha
I assume you're a young woman so my advice is one I would/have offered to my own daughter who is a young woman and that is never feel the need that you HAVE to have a man no matter what, don't ever just settle for the simple fact that you NEED to be with someone.
Also, on relationships, always look for selflessness in your potential mate. I believe that is the biggest flaw in this younger generation and why they can't seem to have long ,lasting and permanent relationship/marriage. Most are so damn selfish and tied up into the world and what they want or entitled to. Love is about sacrifice, it's about having more concern for someone other than your self, that is what being a husband,wife, mother and father are all about.
As for faith, I'm going to break ranks here and not advise you only date/marry "catholic", that is not a necessity in my opinion. First all, ninety percent of the "catholics" I know don't attend Mass, don't believe/agree with many of the doctrines/dogmas of the Church to begin with, they basically have nothing to do with religion and live out there life no different than any other prot, pagan, atheist or Jєω out there on a daily basis. They're only "catholic" because their families are or were, whatever the case. Second, if you are truly devout, then you could have a postive effect on converting a non-Catholic into the True Faith. There are many out there that curious and even interested in true Catholicism and not the the quasi-prot, New Age clownshow passing itself off as the "Church" these days.
And finances, my best advice is to STAY OUT OF DEBT. Especially the high compound interest notoriously employed by usurious Jєωs and non-Catholics which is strictly forbidden by the Church. Debt is slavery, this is a biblical principle, nothing has changed, your life will always be miserable trying to pay of these parasites and their ridiculous interested rates that are compounded.
Also, I forgot to mention, try and find a spouse that is ethnically/racially/culturally as close to you as possible, while this rule is not an absolute, it will make things easier and more compatible for both of you, your families and your children. Many parents and grandparents would at least like their children or grandchildren to at least look,act or speak a little like themselves.