My 21st birthday was yesterday. Through all the cheers and presents, I couldn’t help get my mind off the idea I am now an "adult."
I woke up yesterday, the sun seeping into my room, my eyes red and crusty from staying up late the night before and thought to myself, do I feel any different? I was expecting to feel older, a more put together feeling, however, you describe that, but I felt just the same.
It didn’t really hit me until dinner later that night when the waiter asked what everyone would like to drink and I said: “I’ll have Merlot.” But, that got me thinking that age doesn’t really mean anything. I mean, of course, it does. It can tell you if you’re allowed to get your license or to vote or to drink legally. But, you aren’t going to change magically overnight and become ready for whatever privileges your age allows you, it’s a gradual process, and I think turning 21, I have finally realized that.
The hardest thing about turning 21 is, I hate to say it, but growing up. When you’re a kid at heart, like me, it’s mind boggling to think that in a few years you’ll be done with college and BOOM, your life is an open book! You have to begin to fill in the pages.
It is exciting, but I can’t help the nostalgia of my childhood and teen years trail behind me. So, guess what I did. Probably one of the biggest “blow out the candles wishes” you could make.
For my 21st, I wished I could stay a kid at heart. There are so many perks about being a kid. You don’t have as much responsibility, you can rely on your parents for money, you can sit around and do nothing without feeling unaccomplished.
Of course, being 21 you are gifted with what seems like an unlimited amount of freedom and a road of endless possibilities. But, when you grow up you start to lose the imagination and insightfulness children have. I made the wish that I would get to keep that.
So, after my chic birthday-bash, I returned back with my roommate and lounged on my bed doing homework. It was under the twinkling lights strung across my room I decided then that I would write 21 outrageous childish but cool things I want to do in the future, and here they are!