It’s almost the big day everyone raves about for me. The Big 2-1! And though I can’t help but to be excited for myself, I want everyone to know that there’s much more to turning 21 than alcohol can satisfy. If anything, I’m more excited to embrace the world for hopefully another 80+ years from now.

I am incredibly thankful that I've reached another year on this beautiful Earth and with that being said, I think when we finally turn 21, that final step of actually becoming an “adult” -- because let’s face it turning 18 was a drag -- it’s time to actually act like just that: an adult. So, this is a vow to myself and those who know me, that for me, being 21 means growing to my absolute fullest potential, while still leaving room for improvement because I’m not perfect.

I have 21 promises. 21 hopes. 21 goals and aspirations for this year; and though I may or may not complete them all in a year’s span, they’ll be a start to the foundation I want to build for this thing called life.

I promise to grow up.

By growing up, I mean I promise to forgive those who have wronged me without having to forget that they were once a major, or minor, part of my life. There is no longer room for grudges. There’s also no longer room to depend on other people for things.

I promise to be more involved with my family.

Since being in college, I’ve come to value my family more than I ever have in my entire adolescence. I know I can always count on someone in my family whether I’m having a bad day, want a home cooked meal, or just simply want to hang out in complete silence. Sometimes, we take these things for granted and I don’t ever want to look back and imagine the times I missed out on with them because I was too hungover, or too tired, or too busy with my friends. If we’re lucky enough, family is the only “forever” we have.

I promise to be less judgmental.

I’ve always considered myself to be one of the least judgmental people I know (but that’s self-proclaimed). I want to make sure everyone I know--or don’t know--feels included when they’re around me. We can’t change the world unless we change ourselves. We need to change the way we treat each other, and with that being said I wish to always radiate positive vibes and hope that people can always feel comfortable in their own skin around me, because I’ve known what its like to not “fit in”.

I promise to be a role model to the young.

There are some things parents just can’t teach their children. I know this because I’ve learned a lot of things from my older siblings and older friends. I want my little sisters, cousins, nieces and nephew to always come to me when they feel like they can’t turn to mom and dad. For my younger friends as well, I also want them too to feel like they can count on me and don’t have to question my intentions for them. There is nothing more inspiring than hopeful youth and I want my behavior, my mannerism and my drive to be something they look up to if they feel my demeanor to be worthy enough.

I promise to be there for my friends.

Who are we without our friends? My answer (in terms of my own friendships): nobody. My friends have helped shape all of my qualities (good and bad) and I am more than thankful that they were a part of my life learning processes. Just know that wherever you are friend, I’ll never be too far behind ready to lend a hand.

I promise to ease up on the things that are not good for me.

Take this as you wish when I say the “things that are not good.” I’m still in college, so you can imagine what I could be inferring. I wish to dedicate more time to the things that are most important and less time to partying. Having a wild social life can be done in moderation.

I promise to take my time.

Life is a sprint, not a marathon. Everything will fall into place in due time. Patience is a virtue and I hope to learn to have more of it. I don’t need to rush things like love, a career, a family, and so on. When it’s time, it will happen. Until then, slow and steady wins the race.

I promise to take care of myself.

By taking care of myself, I mean going to bed earlier, partying less, exercising more and eating healthier. My body is a temple and I should worship it.

I promise to care less about what people think.

Most times, I’m pretty good at not caring what others think, but it’s been a long journey for me to finally get this way. Still periodically, I can get worked up about what others think of me when the reality of it is, I am who I am.

I promise to prioritize my education.

We learn new things every day in and out of a classroom or lecture hall. Life itself is empirical. I want to seize every opportunity I have to learn something because knowledge is power.

I promise to give back more.

For years I have been promising myself to volunteer across the globe. It’s time to put my words into actions.

I promise to measure my wealth in happiness and not in dollars.

I want to be rich in life--not in checking's. Richness is not measured in money but rather in health and happiness. Financial stability is cool and all but every day is lavish when you wake up to another breath.

I promise to love myself.

How revolutionary it is in our society to love yourself. I want to always value every piece of me; the good, the bad, the ugly. Instead of trying to change the little imperfections I think I have, I should embrace them. I want to always love me enough to never settle for the things or people I know don’t deserve me.

I promise to explore more.

Being a full time student is hard. Being a full time student with extracurricular's is even harder. But the people and places the world has to offer, is easy. I hope to make more time to travel and see all that the world has to render.

I promise to wake up earlier.

If you know me, you know I’m a snoozer. Recently however, my classes seem to all be 8 or 10 a.m.s, and although I’ve always despised the morning, I’m slowly but surely starting to enjoy them. It’s time for me to seize the day--literally.

I promise to be more organized.

Lots of people think I have it all together--I don’t. I still always forget my glasses, my wallet, my book -- you get where this is going.

I promise to embrace my creativity.

It took me a lot to finally write and submit my first piece for publishing. I’ve always written mini articles to myself, painted things in turn just throw them away, sang solely to my Photo Booth video. I like to be modest but it doesn’t mean I have to hide the things I’m passionate about.

I promise to vote.

Four words: America already is great--and that is all I am going to say about my political preferences.

I promise to work on my RBF.

I’m typically a lighthearted girl but my permanent facial expression will have you thinking otherwise. I apologize for having chronic bitch face (RBF= resting bitch face). I know, it’s not flattering. Some things are inevitable and I’m working on it.

I promise not to talk ill of others.

Degrading someone else doesn’t solidify my worth; at the end of the day, we’re all human.

Most importantly,

I promise to live life to its fullest(for myself and for those who no longer can).

I know what it's like to lose a friend and family from a tragic demise. I know what it's like to yearn for their presence back on Earth. But what I don’t know is -- what it's like to have your life taken from you before you’ve even lived it. I refuse to dwindle when I know I am so fortunate enough to still be here. I am choosing to live for myself and for those who no longer can. I refuse to make choices that can potentially take these privileges away from me. I promise to glorify life and appreciate all that it has given me. I promise to value the 21 years I have been given with hopes of sets of 21 more.