The legal age of being an adult is 18 years old, but 18 is way too young to really feel like an adult. Some people are still in high school about to graduate at the age of 18. You can go into the gas station to buy your Swisher Sweets and scratch-off's to try and get back the $5 dollar bill you turned this way and that way to get the machine to eat it and then spit out a piece of thick paper. You can also go and get a tattoo whenever you want and if you run into legal trouble you won't just get a hand slap anymore. When you turn 18 you feel like you made it into the world and now everyone will respect you as the super adult you now are, but that's far from true.

I am turning the big 2-1 this upcoming weekend and it's finally hitting me what that age indicates. Turning 21 signals a big change in responsibility, mainly with consuming alcohol. Most people below the age of 21 have already had some sort of alcohol in their systems by the time this milestone birthday rolls around, even if it was just tasting what wine their mom was having with dinner. However, even those who have consumed alcohol before the legal age don't have the same responsibility as an actual 21-year-old simply because people view underage drinkers as just children trying out what they like.

A 21-year-old who has never drank before could get totally wasted on their birthday, but if they go out to a bar to do so with their friends, they could be viewed as sloppy or even as someone who doesn't know when to stop to other people when they have no idea he/she is drinking for their first time. Turning 21 mainly changes the responsibility of your own image, even to people who don't know you, and that is very scary to me, especially since turning 21 and being able to drink should be a fun and exciting step in the world, like how turning 18 made me feel like I was the queen of the world.

Do I think I will have any issues drinking when I turn 21? No, because I believe I will have the self control to stop drinking when I feel myself losing reality too much. I never want to black out in any form while drinking and I certainly don't want the drunken photos my friends thought would be hilarious to post plastered all over my various social feeds. I surround myself with wonderful people, so I know they understand and respect this, but it's still threatening knowing that one photo of you intoxicated or one misdirection while consuming alcohol can ruin your professional image before you even enter the professional world.

This piece isn't to say that I think someone turning 21 shouldn't drink on their 21st birthday or that the millions of young adults in the world who do go out for drinks are all ruining themselves doing so, I just have gained a new insight into how I view hitting the real adult age and the actions and possible consequences I will be putting myself into.

I am so excited to turn 21 because I simply love birthdays, but also because I am ready to see how adding a new level of responsibility to myself and others who will be celebrating this milestone soon, or already have, makes me appreciate having a decent head on my shoulders. Before I let that realization really sink in, I'm going to strap on my birthday girl ribbon and celebrate being a kind-of adult for just one more night. Cheers!