Turning 21 is a huge day in your life. As you prepare to embark on life as a real adult, you are both terrified and excited to start a new chapter in your life, even if that moment starts the second you step into a bar at 12:01 a.m. For those that have already reached this monumental age in their lives, you can relate to these 10 facts like the back of your hand. For those that coming close to this day of celebration, these are a few things that you get to look forward to when turning the big 2-1.
1. Everyone will start referring to you as an adult.
Sure there's only a year gap between being 20 and turning 21 when in retrospect, it may feel like a five year gap. The time you spend thinking about turning 21 is equivalent to five years. When the day finally comes, you really do feel a lot older. Your parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, take this as an opportunity to put more pressure on you as you can actually be considered an adult. Your parents will expect more of you now that you are a year older and wiser, because celebrating your 21st birthday has a weird way of sending you straight to adulthood.
2. You realize what it means to be broke.
Sure you've heard your friends that previously turned 21 say that they "spend all their money at the bars." Give it three weeks after your birthday when you are still celebrating and realizing that your bank account is slowly drifting away.
3. You feel pretty cool showing your I.D.
You treasure the memory you have of first showing your I.D. to the bouncer on your first night out as a 21-year-old. All the hype and excitement is confidently shown through your proud prestigious face as you wait for the okay to enter.
4. You'll end up buying a few rounds.
This goes along with being broke. As soon as you are able to legally buy alcohol, you willing buy drinks for everyone. Keep this in the back of your mind- just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
5. Weekdays quickly turn into the weekend.
Half birthdays, forgotten holidays, any excuse you have to go out, you take full advantage of. Before you know it you'll be celebrating your dog's birthday out with your friends. Monday nights turn into Saturday nights and Tuesdays turn into Sunday fun days.
6. Working out no longer is part of your daily routine.
Going out and socializing soon takes the place of going to the gym. Being a 21-year-old means dealing with major time management. For some this means leaving behind your gym bag and grabbing your purse for a night out. Working out requires taking a shower and doing your hair and who has time for that when you're 21.
7. Prioritizing and scheduling becomes your best friend.
Things like eating meals and going to class take a lot more thought and planning than it did when you were 20. Now that you have to fit all of these social events into your schedule, you need to start prioritizing. This means cutting out things you would do in normal day and focusing on the most important tasks.
8. You'll start to feel bad for your friends that are only 20.
Celebrating your 21st is fun until you realize you can't do it with your friends that are babies. For those guinea pigs out there, thanks for checking out the cool places to hang out so by the time the babies are of age, they know where to hang out.
9. You realize all the times you couldn't order a drink, and now do it.
Planes, trains, at brunch, graduation parties, all of these places restricted you from drinking and now that there's nothing holding you back...well except for your wallet of course.
10. You realize you have so much to look forward to.
Enjoy your 21st but don't be sad when it's over. You have the majority of your twenties to do whatever you want. Remember that turning 21 doesn't have to be the peak of your 20s.
