Growing Up Is Weird
Start writing a post
Student Life

Growing Up Is Weird

When I look back at my life exactly one year ago, I can count at least 10 things that have drastically changed

410
Growing Up Is Weird
google

Growing up is weird. Blowing out a candle every year, on the exact day you were born, marking the milestone of being one year older than the last cake that was set on the table just for you. When we are told at a young age to “celebrate life,” they don’t tell you about the litany of fears that come along with it. The changing of environments, friends, habits, passions; none of it is constant. A new year means amazing new things will be entering your life; however, so many things will be exiting it too. When I look back at my life exactly a year ago, I can count at least ten big things that have changed. Ranging from a healthy relationship turned strained, to a healthy relative turned ill, I am grappling with this idea of growing and learning that one day looks nothing like the day before it or after it.

Everyone tells me I’m crazy for feeling like I’m getting old, but I don’t think us 18 year olds get enough credit for how weird it is to transition into our last year of teenage-hood. Yeah, the transition into college life was also a big one, but how about learning to accept that you are no longer an adolescent anymore? The stunts and tricks we pulled a year ago, even five months ago, are slowly disintegrating, and we are growing closer to adulthood. We are getting closer to being viewed as real adults, to making our own livelihood, to starting our own lives, independent from our parents. We are reaching a new stage in life, full of responsibilities and expectations. It may seem trivial to some, but the thought of losing my youth is frightening to me. Not because of the independence and duties that come with it, but the scary things that don’t necessarily come to mind when you first think about it.

Growing up means seeing your parents grow old, and look different than they did 7 years ago. Growing up means job interviews, and more rejections than you anticipated. Growing up means applying to graduate school, and going through college all over again.Growing up means shopping for your own groceries. Growing up is learning how to be alone, and finding comfort in that. While I could go on, dwelling on the numerous daunting and disconcerting things that come with growing up, I decided that there is something really beautiful in aging. Growing up means finding someone you love enough to spend the rest of your life with them. Growing up means discovering new passions of yours that you never knew existed. Growing up means chasing after your dreams. Growing up means taking responsibility for your actions, and being respected for it. Growing up is learning from your mistakes. Growing up is creating a family and extending your love to people you brought into this world. Growing up is accepting that you can’t pause time or do anything in order to slow it down.

For those of you in the same boat as I am, I think you also know what I’m talking about when I say that it feels like time is passing way too fast. The fact that I am turning 19 in one week is surreal, considering I feel like I blew out the candles to my 13th birthday just yesterday. Between you and me, we need to be thankful that we have made it to today. We are constantly being presented new challenges and discovering incredible new findings, and it is important to be excited for whats to come. The future shouldn't be viewed as frightening. No matter how cliche it sounds, "carpe diem” is a concept we all should strive to live by. You should seize every day and make the most of the present, because right now is all we have. I shouldn't spend my time thinking about how fast life is passing, and I instead should be cherishing every moment before it becomes a distant memory. Every morning you wake up is a blessing and an opportunity to become an even better version of yourself than you were the day before. A life without growing older would be a boring one, one lacking any value or meaning. We are not programmed to be one dimensional characters in the world. There is a reason we are given a chance every day to change, grow, and improve. I hope to look back in 40 years and reflect on how much I have evolved into a woman I am proud of. That is what life is about.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

58691
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

37847
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959404
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

194674
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments