…actually, it’s for everyone. Whether you like it or not, you have absolutely no choice. When I was young, I was always so eager to grow up. I started saying things like, “I can’t wait to drive,” or “I’m ready to be able to do what I want.” Oh, but that was just the beginning. As I progressed through high school, it began to sound more like, “I can’t wait to turn 18,” and “I want to live on my own, already.” But little did I know, being a “grown-up” is definitely not all that it’s cracked up to be (or what we, as kids, thought it to be). It’s bills. It’s car notes. It’s responsibilities. It’s working 5 days a week AND going to school, just to make ends meet. It’s learning to love. It’s living on Ramen noodles and checking your bank account, only to find that you have exactly $11.87 to live on until next Friday. It’s learning how scary the world really is. It’s finding out who your friends are. It’s learning the truth about things we saw completely different as kids. It’s realizing that people aren’t who you thought they were. It’s learning that love hurts. And it’s realizing that even though life gets tough, it's a beautiful ride.

Think about it. You graduate high school, you’re just a little baby (who thinks they know anything and everything there is to know about the world), and suddenly, you’re thrown out into this huge world that you never knew existed outside of your little hometown. You’re thinking, “Sweet! Finally, freedom!” Just wait sweetheart. You. Just. Wait. If you’re like me and decide that you’re going to make the executive decision to buy a brand new car with a $400 car note at 18 years old, you’re going to have to balance working as much as possible and taking 5 classes in order to get student loans and make sure that car note gets paid. I went to a school that was pretty close to home, so fortunately, I was able to live at home for about two years and avoid rent and extra bills. Eventually, I moved out and was smacked right in the face with both of those. Along with having to pay the bills, you have to be responsible and make sure they’re paid on time. Adulthood part 2. First a big, unfamiliar world, then responsibilities like never before.

But wait: there’s more. Plenty more.

Friends? What are those? Where do you find them and how do you know you can trust them? It takes time. A college campus is a whole lot bigger than your high school. A college class is a whole lot bigger than your high school class. And a college town is a whole lot bigger than your hometown, meaning that you’re free to do so much more than you were in high school. You’re an adult now, remember? Friends don’t come instantly. Especially, when you’re lost in the crowd of 25,000 (or more) students walking through campus everyday. My advice to you: get involved. Whether it's a sorority or fraternity, a sport, a foundation that interests you, or even a Bible study group, you need to find people that are like-minded. Most people find their life-long friends in college, but it takes time. You’re going to feel lonely and you’re going to find that your favorite place is locked in your bedroom with junk food and your ever-loyal Netflix subscription. It’s normal to feel sad and lost, but those aren’t good feelings, especially when they last longer than they should. Get up, get out, step out of your comfort zone, and get involved. I promise that you’ll feel better when you do.

Another bit of advice, don’t chase people. It’s not worth it. If they make an effort to be a part of your life, then you might be able to rely on them.. but don’t let your guard down too easily. If they only call you when they need help on their biology homework or to ask for a ride home from the bar, they’re probably not worth wasting thoughts or feelings over. One of the sad truths about growing up is learning how people really are. Sometimes you’re going to feel really bummed and other times you’re going to feel really blessed when it comes to your friends.

Next up, focus on you. Focus on your dreams and achieving your goals. No one out there cares about you the way you should care about yourself. Don’t let anyone or anything get in the way of your dreams. The only thing that will truly make you happy is doing what you want to do. I’m not talking about making it to that party every other night of the week. I mean, you can.. I guess, if that’s what you’re into, but I’m talking about making something of yourself. The best feeling in the world is achieving something that you worked hard for. Whether it's an A on your philosophy exam, a new car, or even getting that degree. You’re going to feel so accomplished knowing that no one did it except you and that you can take full responsibility for it.

There is an up-side to growing up, though. It may not sound like much, but you’ll learn to cherish it more and more by the day. I can almost guarantee you that your relationship with your parents is going to get so much better. When you move out and y’all aren’t constantly in each other’s hair, you’re going to start to miss them. You’re going to miss coming home to seeing your dad snoozing in his recliner with a football game on. You’re going to miss having Momma’s signature freshly-cooked meals for dinner every night. Ramen noodles and Totino’s frozen pizzas just don’t compare. Suddenly, you’re going to find yourself calling your mom three times a day for no reason and tagging your dad in ridiculous Facebook posts, just to have an excuse to talk to him. You’re going to miss them and that’s perfectly normal, it’s a good thing. You’ll begin to cherish the time you get to spend with them so much more and it will build your relationship with them and create more of a friendship than ever before.

This is such a small part of what I’ve learned from being in college and being forced to accept responsibilities. But I’ve also learned that it’s so worth it. Your life isn't falling apart, it's falling into place. When you’re working your dream job and married with a few kids (if that’s something you want), you’re going to sit back and look at the struggles you went through in order to be where you are and realize that it was so worth it. You’re going to feel so good about yourself and it’s going to feel amazing to know that you did it. So just remember to keep your head up, because adulthood isn’t for the faint of heart.