I'm 19 years old as of last week and now am considered a "legal adult" in the state of Alabama. However, I feel far from adulthood. I want to do so many things that an "adult" seems to be able to do, but I'm stuck in this in-between phase of college, studying, and basically just trying to get my life together for the future. I'm technically an adult, but I have no career, no substantial amount of money that is my own, and I'm still dependent on my parents to do a lot for me. I still feel very much like a child when I'm supposed to be an adult.

Then there are people that tell you this in between phase is the best time of your life and that you should enjoy it now. I've heard it said that this is the time when I will have the most freedom and least amount of responsibility and that might be true, but people also told me high school would be the best years of my life. Let's just say I really hope they were wrong. But, still here I am with all my freedom and little responsibility, but it doesn't quite feel that way. As I try to figure out and prepare for a future career that I'm supposed to do for the rest of my life it doesn't feel like responsibility levels are low. In fact, it feels like they're at an all-time high.

Then there is all this freedom I'm supposed to be enjoying and that some of my peers definitely take advantage of. But, I recently had a conversation with a friend about the partying lifestyle of college and how it didn't really interest her. She wanted to be done with this part of life because she didn't need this in between phase to have fun, get drunk, and act irresponsibly. She just wanted to study hard and jump into career and family life as soon as she could. So then the question is: If college is still a ton of responsibility and you don't want to enjoy the freedom then what is so great about this in-between phase?

This might sound cliché, but our parents have been telling us not to wish our lives away for ages. There is something to enjoy from every stage of life even if you don't want to do the typical things some college students do. There is so much more to learn and discover in college. It's a time to meet so many new people and cherish so many new friendships. It is a time of self-discovery, and the time to figure out what you want out of life and who you want to be in your life. It is a time to get stronger. It is a time to become the adult you're already supposed to be. It's not easy and it probably won't always be fun. But, I'm learning just like everyone else.