I may not be a med student, but adult-itis is definitely a real illness, and I'm afraid I may be developing symptoms. Curious if you are, too? Here are a few symptoms I have personally started experiencing.
1. I ordered mixing bowls online, and actually squealed out loud when they arrived.
It was the same squeal that happens when you find out you're going to Disneyland, or when you wake up Christmas morning to a new bike next to the tree. But instead, mixing bowls. I never thought I'd see the day I get this excited over bakeware.
2. I turned down a hang out because it was past my bed time.
I'm not even joking. Someone invited me to hang out (it was around 10 p.m. at the time) and I literally said, "Maybe another time, it's already past my bed time." What am I, 50 years old?
3. I grocery shop for real food.
Every college student knows what I mean by real food. They cringe at the thought, because real food is not only healthy, but expensive. Gone are the days of Swiss Rolls and ice cream for dinner (this example sums up my freshman year); now it's spinach and vegetables and chicken. My bank account hates me.
4. I decided to start paying off my student loans.
Financial responsibility is one of the main symptoms of adult-itis. If you are an adult reading this, you may be thinking, "Wow, how smart of you to do this." However, those of you still thriving in your college-years are silently feeling sorry for me because making a student loan payment every month means no extra money to pay for crazy college shenanigans.
5. I've turned down travel for school.
The last time I was invited on a cruise last minute, I immediately handed them my credit card and called out of work for a week. Last week, I was invited to go on a European cruise, but it would have meant missing school, so I declined. Plus, who can afford a cruise now that I'm buying spinach and paying student loans?
6. I've started decorating my house.
I miss the days when I didn't care what kind of condition my apartment was in because you could just cover the walls with posters and that solves all your problems. A few days ago I was sitting in my living room and, looking at my dining room table, thought, "Hmm, a tablecloth would really make the room come together." And I got up. Drove to the store. And bought a tablecloth. Well, at least it matches the curtains.
7. All your friends are getting married and having babies, and this doesn't scare you.
I have six high school friends getting married this summer alone. When they all got engaged a year ago, this freaked me out because I was in some kind of trance that made me think we were all still 18 years old. But it's not fear that plagues me anymore. Could this be *gasp* envy I'm feeling? Yep, this is full-blown adult-itis.
