Just a few months ago, I celebrated my 19th birthday in a fairly normal fashion. I grabbed dinner with friends, ate way too many cupcakes and had a necessary "treat yo-self" moment. All in all, it seemed like a comfortably average birthday, with no major lifetime landmarks to be noted.
Everything was fantastic, until I realized what my next birthday would mark. The big two-zero. Double, double digits.
Queue the internal freak out.
I know I can't possibly be the only person freaking out about this, even if people rarely actually discuss turning 20 and more closely focus on the year that follows. I mean, this birthday will mark me officially losing the term "teenager" once-and-for-all. This birthday is the one where people actually expect some real-life adulting to occur.
Queue the escalation of aforementioned internal freak out.
Now, I'm not entirely sure that I'm ready to be "in my twenties" just yet. That thought is terrifying because I've got some life experiences that need to happen first, and I am certainly not the only one.
But listing things helps organize them, right? Yeah, lists help. So here's a list of 20 fairly realistic things that should be done before one's 20th birthday. Take this list and go forth, you fearless 19-year-old.
1. Go on a road trip.
By road trip, I most definitely mean grabbing a few friends with no set destination in mind. I'm talking, 2002 Britney in "Crossroads" style.
2. Get a job.
Sometimes it blows my mind that I have friends that are sophomores in college and yet have never had a job. Whether there is a monetary need or not, scoring that first job is an absolute must before the 20th birthday. It's time.
3. Catch a sunrise from beginning to end.
As in, waking up when it is still dark outside and staying out to watch the whole spectacle. Apparently it's pretty amazing, though I wouldn't know... shout out to my bed.
4. Learn how to be alone.
This is so important. The days of moving in a pack are over, and it's time to do some solo studying at the local coffee shop or grab a meal without an unnecessarily large group accompanying you.
5. Leave the country.
Big surprise, there is an entire world to explore outside of the good 'ole USA. Further, it's probably more than necessary for us millennial Americans to realize that our country isn't the actual center of the universe.
6. Get physical.
Find some physical activity that you enjoy, whether it be yoga or marathon running, and get to it. Apparently we're about to enter the last few years of "good metabolism" before things get rough, so it's probably best to prepare now.
7. Go camping.
Hug some trees, chill with your local raccoons. Bonus points for checking out of social media while you become one with nature.
8. Become a local.
It is way to easy to let four years fly by without actually becoming one with your college town. Finding a favorite Friday-night dinner spot or a cool park to study in is a good way to start.
9. Experiment with your style.
We only have a few years before business casual becomes life. That wild haircut or piercing that you'll probably regret in like, a year is pretty much en vogue right now.
10. Set up a bank account.
Again, how does one go to college without doing this first? Either way, you may be like me and have an account without understanding it... at all. Probably should get on that.
11. Go to a music festival.
There are so many options for festivals nowadays that there is really no excuse for not allowing yourself one lost weekend. Everyone loves some live music.
12. Read the news.
People always say young people are entirely lost in pop culture and I think we can prove them wrong. Also, we're at a point where the news actually affects us. Subscribe to an actual news source (not Twitter) and stay 'woke, my friends.
13. Start a journal.
This one seems cheesy, but I promise it can actually be super interesting. You don't have to keep a sappy diary to remember the cool bits of life -- check into bullet journalling if you're into the more minimalistic side of life.
14. Learn another language.
You know those cool people that just sort of, pull fancy-sounding sentences in some romance language, seemingly out of nowhere? This year you can start being one of those people.
15. Volunteer.
There is a high chance that you won't have the chance to do this later in life, so get to it. Helping others out will help you in the long run.
16. Learn how to cook a meal.
At least one. Learn just one solid, nutritious, not-from-a-box meal and let your mom be comforted that you're not going to starve when living in that first apartment.
17. Eat something exotic.
It might taste totally terrible or it might become your new favorite delicacy. Either way, you went for it and it will be the best story.
18. Vote.
Voting is one of the only ways that we can truly affect our political future, the status of our country, society... heavy stuff. Also, they usually give you a fun sticker when you finish.
19. Have a throwback night.
Watch all of those Disney movies and eat as much popcorn and candy as you can stomach. Pair it with good friends and maybe even a pillow fort, and you'll thank me after.
20. Find solid roommates.
Find the people that will come save you in a crisis and bake you cupcakes when you have an unfortunate middle-of-the-week birthday and can't go home. These people will likely become your people, even if it's only for three more years.
