As we all know, turning 21 comes with a lot of anticipation and excitement. The most notable reason being the ability to legally buy and consume alcohol. I mean people live half of their teenage years waiting for when they turn 21 and no longer have to worry about getting charged for underage drinking, because let's face it, who actually waits until they're 21 to have their first drink? It's just the reality of the society we live in. For me, being one day away from turning 21 is immensely thrilling, and a little bit terrifying.

Turning 21 is a game changer. You are now given more responsibilities and are truly an adult. You can't get away with claiming that you're still a kid if you mess up, and basically, you need to get your sh*t together. So, as exciting as turning 21 can be, it can also be quite anxiety-inducing.

I always felt like 21 meant you needed to have a plan. You need to get your life together and find a real job, instead of spending your summers running food orders up and down from the pool and making milk shakes so often that you master the art of the perfect thickness. For the record, I have yet to master that art though, so maybe I should put off real life until I can make a milk shake that doesn't look like it's just a glass of plain milk. If I can't make a decent milk shake, imagine what other things I can't do. Well, at least I know I should avoid all professions involving milk shakes ... which, I guess, shouldn't be too hard.

With that being said, I still don't have a clue what I want to do after graduation, which is another anxiety brought on by turning 21 because 21 means graduation, which, in return, means you're close to being thrown out into the real world. I spoke to my dad about it recently, though, and I'd have to say he put my fears into perspective better than anyone else has so far. He told me, "Jac, whatever you're doing a year after you graduate doesn't have to be what you do for the rest of your life," and I realized he was totally right. I have options, and I have my whole life ahead of me.

I'm turning 21, it's the beginning of my life, not the end.