I am 19 years old, yet I feel like I should be 60. I have more interest in listening to artists like Frank Sinatra and The Smiths over Ariana Grande or The Chainsmokers. I don't relate to the people my age who like getting blacked out every weekend. My favorite movie is "Goodfellas," but most of my friends haven't even heard of the classic mobster movie. I've read classic books that many people my age deem "boring." It might come off pretentious, but I don't mean to sound that way. I love having different types of friends with different interests, however, I find myself often times feeling like I don't belong. I feel more comfortable and would sometimes prefer talking to adults rather than people my age. I'm not sure if I was born this way, or my parents' influence on me really opened my mind up to the wonders of the past.

I loved my childhood and I didn't miss out on anything. I still love things like Disney and Harry Potter and miss the innocence of being young. However, when I hit the age of 13, I felt more mature than everyone else around me. When my friends were obsessing over Justin Bieber, I was obsessing over Pearl Jam. I was obsessed with learning about the Grunge period, which led me to learning about 80s alternative, and so on. Meanwhile, my friends' favorite station was Top 40 and they thought good music artists were Selena Gomez and Katy Perry. Now, don't get wrong, I love present day music artists and movies. I have guilty pleasures and have a love for many things that began during my generation. I just don't identify fully with my generation. I had about 3 close friends in high school and often found myself feeling a bit like a loner. When I was invited to groups and events with a big group of girls, I was always liked, yet it was obvious I wasn't like the rest of them. This doesn't mean that I walked around wearing all black or dressing like a hipster, but I could feel the differences take place in my mind, heart and soul.

I've felt this way since I was a child, and numerous family members and friends have agreed; I am an old soul. I am thoughtful and introspective. I think about everything and often reflect on my actions and the actions of others around me. I see the bigger picture of life always. When a problem comes my way, I think about every aspect of it and understand the issue will go away soon. I'm always excited about the future in ways that most young adults aren't. I classify myself as an introvert with extrovert tendencies. Yes, I love to be with my friends, but, at the end of the day, I like my space and look forward to being alone with my thoughts and a book. I have to force myself to be social some days, which may seem odd to some people. Yet to me, it's just life. If you identify as an old soul, you are not alone. There's something special about having an old soul and when you find someone else who looks at life they way you do, you won't feel so alone.