It's official: adulthood is quickly creeping up on me.
I know I've talked about this before, but 18 just doesn't seem like the proper age to consider someone to be an adult. In the first article I wrote about adulthood, I gave my two little sisters advice to follow before they turn 20. That was a few months ago, and now my 20th birthday is a short three days away. I don't know if I'm excited to turn 20. I mean, there's not much to do at only 20 years old. I can already vote, I still can't drink, and I'm three years past being the Dancing Queen. I think I'd be more excited by the idea of growing up if I knew what I wanted to do. I mean, sure I've got a Grand Plan™ for the future, but in classic Anna Fashion, I haven't actually planned out the steps to get there. So it would be kind of pointless to offer my future self advice, but maybe I can start focusing on the steps to completing my Grand Plan™.
So here are 20 things, in no particular order, that I want to accomplish in my twenties.
1. Get my license
Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm three days away from 20, and I still don't have my driver's license. Yes, laugh, I know it's pathetic.
2. Become fluent in Arabic
I've been working on this language for a few years now, and I still forget how to ask where the bathroom is.
3. Get on the dean's list
I don't think y'all understand how close I was last semester to making the dean's list. If it doesn't happen this semester, I might actually cry.
4. Travel on my own
My best friend went backpacking through London after graduating high school, and I long to travel on my own like that.
5. Actually finish a sewing project
I'm really good at starting projects... not so good at finishing them. I have half-made dresses, skirts, and aprons ungracefully shoved in the corner of my closet that I really want to finish.
6. Buy a sewing machine
I'd like to think that part of why I never finish any sewing project is due to the fact that I have to hand stitch everything, and I have absolutely zero patience.
7. Become an expert cake decorator
I can bake a cake like nobody's business, but decorating it? That's a whole other story. Why do I have such trouble with the crumb coat? I couldn't tell you.
8. Improve my time management skills
As I get older, my time management skills have gotten better... but at the same time I'm writing this article the day it's due so...
9. Get an internship
There are so many internships I'm applying to for this summer, and I'm excited but also terrified to see what becomes of them.
10. Get my master's degree
There's a program at my university where I could graduate in five years with my master's in Political Science. It sounds like the coolest opportunity.
11. Kiss someone on New Year's Eve
(Hint, hint, darling boyfriend of mine.)
12. Become a better cook
Sure, I can cook to keep myself alive, but I want to get to the point where people go, "Oh my God, you're the greatest cook ever!" It's all about the bragging rights.
13. Climb a mountain
Am I in the physical shape to do such a thing? Nope. Could my weak asthmatic lungs potentially kill me if I tried? Most definitely. Am I going to do it? You bet.
14. Actually go out and dance
I have gone out exactly two times in my college career. Both times I stood awkwardly to the side and refused to dance. I'm not the best, but I love to dance, so this will be the decade that I learn to dance and not care if anyone is watching.
15. Write more short stories
In high school, I was constantly writing fiction pieces, but recently I just haven't had the time. I'd like to find some way to continue that passion in my twenties.
16. Publish more poetry
Not to brag (yeah, I'm totally bragging here), but I've had various poems of mine published online or in anthologies. Just like the short stories, poetry has always been one of my favorite styles of writing, and I'd love to get back to it. Getting a few pieces published wouldn't hurt either!
17. Get my asthma under control
I have heard that children can grow out of asthma, and let me tell you right now that did not happen to me. I don't think I'll grow out of it anytime soon, but my goal is to limit my emergency room visits to once a year rather than my usual three.
18. Have an alpaca farm
Okay, realistically this one probably won't happen within the next 10 years, but a girl can dream! And I might as well start on this one now, because an alpaca farm is 100% a part of my Grand Plan™.
19. Learn to send timely emails
This goes along with time management, but out of all my flaws, not being able to send/reply to emails on time is by far my greatest flaw.
20. Learn to take life as it comes
Sometimes, life throws a curveball and all plans get forgotten. I don't always make plans, but when I do, I like to stick to them, and it freaks me out when things don't go my way. I need to learn to let things go sometimes, go with the flow, and take some deep breaths.
I'm normally very good at setting up goals that I never accomplish, so creating a public list like this is a bit daunting for me. But hey, I've got an entire decade to accomplish all of this and more. Chances are I'll do all of this and more, and I won't even notice as time passes. I suppose the point of a bucket list like this is to remind me that I'm growing up. I've got to learn to be responsible for myself and be an adult, basically. I have my entire life to figure out the whole "adulting" thing, and that clock starts ticking soon.
Here's to hoping my 20s are a success and the Starbucks line is short this Saturday.
The minimum wage is not a living wage.
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