As each day passes by, as each second passes, as each piece of paper that needs to be filled out presents itself, one realizes one simple fact of life: life sure is complicated.

While that may present a “no, duh” comment (a well-deserved one), it is just something that I feel like each person realizes at some point in their lives, especially when they are in the thick of life. For me, this manifests as college and preparing all the paperwork that necessitates (financial aid, etc.). While ‘millions of people’ may go to college, this is still significant because instead of me watching someone else from the sidelines, it is me that is attending college and I have to be responsible for everything that means. Is it a feat? Definitely, because there are people who do not go to college—I have earned my place as not only as a first-generation college student but also as a first-generation natural born American. While it may be easy for someone to state that it is not special that one goes to a college, for me it is. I attend a pretty good ranking university, UCSD, while working each day of my life through all the prejudice that comes with being Latino and also navigating my way to college with no one else from my family fully aware of how that process truly works until I went through it. No one can take that away from me; no one can take away what I have earned.

In high school, parents tend to fill out all the paperwork and the like, but for college, while I may get assistance from my parents, I mostly do the paperwork myself. Do most people do their paperwork at some point through? Sure. Is it special? Eh. But it is significant because, as I stated before, you are the one going for it instead of someone else. In many ways, you “become an adult” through this process.

“Adulting” is what many people refer to as they experience college and all that it entails. And “adulting” can be boring, extensive, and lot of work. In my first year of college, I have realized that to a degree, even though I have not taken out a montage or anything similar, I did get faced with the costs of housing and the possibilities and attempting to figure out which option would be the best for me. That’s becoming an adult, I feel like. Getting a job. Paying for stuff. Money management. That’s stuff you have to do as well. At the very least, you have to think about it. While some may still be guided by their parents, one still has to do part of those responsibilities.

This piece was partly inspired by me realizing that it’s that time of year again where my father and I have to go through loan stuff to make sure I will be able to attend my university. I learned last year that everything has to be exact. And if it is not? Then you darn sure messed up and have to communicate your error to a special office. Learning experience! Yay…