I'm in the middle of growing up. I never thought in a million years I'd make it to this point, but I'm here as a fully functional adult. While I dreamed of this moment as a little kid, I don't think little Katie quite understood the amount of prep it would take to get my new life underway. Here are a few of the things that I wish I could have told my childhood self about growing up.

1. You do have to get a job.

Guess what? Job interviews are a real privilege, so take them when you get them.

2. You need to get this thing called health insurance.

Mom and Dad won't pay for you to go to the doctor anymore. When you hit high school, you'll be on all kinds of medications for anxiety. You can't go without those. You need health insurance.

3. College is not the place where you'll meet the love of your life.

It's where you'll meet what you want to do for the rest of your life, but the men are slim pickings. Stop dreaming and go read a book.

4. Bills are as daunting as Mom and Dad make them seem.

There is nothing that is more of a buzzkill than looking at your mail and seeing that someone else wants some of that hard earned money. Especially when you have none for yourself.

5. You need to plan. When I say plan, I mean plan down to the hour.

You won't have much free time. Granted, you'll be blissfully happy, but you need to plan.

6. That Mustang you want is incredibly expensive and you won't be able to afford it on your salary.

I still want one but my wallet glares whenever we drive by the dealership.

7. You are going to feel a million emotions at once.

In the past month or so I've felt every single emotion on the human spectrum at least six times. It never stops.

8. Eating cookie dough for dinner sounds like fun, but there's a thing called gaining weight...

...and as you'll learn, you're very susceptible to it. Don't do it.

9. You won't be moving out when you're 18, 19, 20, 21 or even 22.

Which brings me to my next point....

10. You need to learn how to save money!

You love to buy makeup and that's cool, but now you're responsible and owe people money. A lot of money for all that college you attended. Pay them, not Sephora.

11. A legible signature actually impresses people.

Listen in cursive class and make it pretty. You never know who might see it.

12. You will need to dress up sometimes, get over it.

Ugh. Your adult version hates dresses. I know, big surprise.