My roommate and I both had birthdays this previous week. Neither of us turned 21, but it's safe to say these birthdays were different than years past. We both had to balance them amidst syllabus week. Although very easy academically, the work was tedious and classes were mandatory. As well, the conflicting schedules of friends and families around us made it difficult to plan out our special day.

Before college, birthdays were easier to celebrate within the comfort of those around you. Everything changes when you are away from home living life on your own. The people trying to see you on your birthday increase, the tasks you have exponentially rise, and the presents unfortunately diminish. The amount does not only get smaller, but also the gifts change in nature. We didn't get video games, toys, or action figures. There was neither a party at Chuck E. Cheese's nor a hanging piñata in sight. Collectively, we got a George Foreman Grill, a blender, eggs, patties, picture frames, wall hangings for our apartment, and some cigars. If I would have gotten those things when I was 11, I would have cried. We were more than ecstatic about them though. Talk about growing up.

Looking back on the last couple of years of my life, I realized that with growing up comes a lot of responsibilities and things that I would have never imagined as a young child. I learned more my freshman year of college than in all of high school combined. Being on your own is a pivotal step in your life. Birthdays might not be the same, but growing up is to be celebrated. I did not see everyone or accomplish everything I had envisioned, yet I saw my family and close friends. Great company and even greater laughs made this past week rad. Growing up is inevitable. Make the change unique, make it you.