My entire life, as I’m sure many feel yourself, has been a series of different waiting periods. I had to wait until I was 16 to get my driving permit, I had to wait until I was 18 to ‘become an adult’, and have to wait until I’m 21 to drink alcohol. Well, okay, I might have cheated on a couple of these steps, but all the same. As we get older, we are given more and more responsibilities – to drive a five-thousand pound machine at fast speeds, to be able to take on adult responsibilities, or even to willingly intoxicate myself. And now, this gets me thinking about the next part of my life.
With my 21st birthday this week, not only am I planning a wonderful (safe) night out, but I’ve been questioning what the next step in my life holds. Now that am I old enough to do anything and everything I want, what exactly is it that I do?
I suppose for some of us, it’d be to finish college, get into the work force, and settle down. While this may seem rather mundane, even the thought of owning my own house or having a dedicated career downright terrifies me with anxiety. I think about all the responsibilities and hard work it will take to achieve whatever I dreams I have in this life, moving further away from realizing what the ‘next step’ is.
In a way though, I realize that it’s through these goals that I set for myself, which are the next ‘steps’. Now that I am old enough to truly do whatever I want, I have to have learned from my past mistakes to grow into a better person, and set new goals for myself. This can be anything as small from “save up to buy a new car” to “I want to get a PhD”. In creating these goals for ourselves, we are moving onto our next steps in life.
So, to celebrate me turning 21 this July, here is a list of “Things You Can Do Now That you’re 21”.
1. You guessed it – drink alcohol. Start trying out new flavors of different beverages, and learning what kind of alcohol you like (if you’re into that sort of thing).
2. Travel the World – not sure what you want to do in life? If you are financially able to, try travelling. This can mean going backpacking in Europe, or even just a road trip around the country. Traveling is a wonderful way to take in the world and learn about new and different places while learning about yourself on the way.
3. Go Out Dancing – with the help of some “liquid courage”, try going dancing! Go to a club with some close friends and have a blast (while keeping safety in mind). This can be a large step for people who don’t like crowds or certain types of music.
4. Go to Drinking Events – there is a multitude of different drinking events that you can go to. “Paint Nite”, “Night at the Boston Children’s Adult’s Museum of Science”, concerts and college sponsored 21+ events are just a few popular ones to keep in mind.
5. Buy Cigarettes – in certain towns, you have to be 21+ nowadays to buy cigarettes or even lighters. Though I personally do not condone the intake of hundreds of cancer-causing chemicals, you can now do it if you’re 21 or older.
6. Continue your education – for those of us who are lucky enough to start college right out of high school, we’ll be finishing up our undergraduate degrees the time we’re 22. For others, college was never an option. Maybe, now that you’ve reached this milestone in your life, you can make a decision to go to school. Or, better yet, now would be the time to start saving up for graduate school – almost everyone has the ability to get their Master’s degrees (yes, including you).
7. Become a role model – by the time you reach the age of 21, you should typically be a somewhat fully-functioning adult. At this point in your life, it’s time to think about all the younger people in your life, and what you mean to them. Be a role model, and show then what early adulthood is like.
8. Finally, set new goals for yourself. Now is the time to start reevaluating your life thus far. While this may seem rather like a “midlife crisis”, think of it as a way to avoid just that. You are beginning your life as a fully-fledged adult, and now have the time to think about where you want to go in life.
