During this past week, I turned 21 and I had many mixed emotions to come along with it. On one side of the spectrum, I was happy that I got to celebrate a milestone birthday with people I care about. Especially a birthday that is considered to be one of the last milestone birthdays for young adults. But, on the other hand I am completely terrified for what is coming up for me in the future. You can’t throw a sweet sixteen party anymore because that was so five years ago.You can’t even pretend like you just entered the ‘grown up’ world by turning 18. You’re 21 and responsibilities are coming at you in full force.

I’m in my senior year of college and life could not get any more stressful. Just two years ago, I decided what profession I wanted to go into and now it’s actually becoming a reality. I still haven’t fully comprehended that high school was four years ago and I will soon be going into a profession that I have dreamed about since I was a little girl. Adults start taking you more seriously because they think you are part of their inner circle now (which I am so not ready for). Alcohol is handed to you freely because you are an adult and can make your own decisions for your actions. Your driver’s license is now horizontal and it makes you feel completely professional (at least for me). But, now the pressure of holding up your side of the bargain and becoming a successful adult starts right here.

I remember looking forward to this day from high school and always picturing my life so different than it is today. My friends and I would talk non-stop about all the positive opportunities that come out of being 21, but in reality we had no idea what it would really entail. It entails fear. Fear that you won’t become the successful adult you’ve always dreamed of being or just fear of growing up. There are no more excuses as to why you can’t do certain things in your life because now you are considered an adult. I’m the first child to turn 21 and means I have to become the best role model I can be to my little brother. I’d like to think that I showed him that nothing is easy to earn, especially during those endless nights where I stay up studying or writing a paper to get the highest grade I can possibly get. My parents expect me to make the right decisions because they have given me all the appropriate steps in becoming a successful person. I would want nothing else from this year than to get myself on the right path for adulthood.

As depressing as this may sound for a girl that turned 21 less than a week ago, I am actually very excited. My first chapter of adulthood has officially started and I can’t wait to see what it has in store for me.

Every year after this one only comes with more responsibilities like having a steady and successful profession, moving out of my parent’s house, starting a family, and building my own future.

21 can get extremely overwhelming when you actually take the time to think about the future, but I need to remember that nothing good comes easy. It will take work to build myself that better future, but when it has been completed I will look back at my fear of turning 21 and regret I ever had it.

Cheers to adulthood!