At 18 year’s old, people say you are an adult but you never fully feel it until you are 21. This is a birthday you will always remember because you are finally legal. It’s a time for drinking your first legal drink and can order alcohol at restaurants and not have to X’s on your hands wherever you go.

Most importantly… it is an important stepping stone to your life as an adult. Right now, you are getting to the end of your college and soon will be out in the world. The stress is hitting you but you know you’ll be fine because you are on your way to the career you want. This is an important birthday because now you have become the independent woman that the child version of you would look up to. You are looking for internships, potential jobs and are paying bills and buying groceries. You may have been an adult technically but now you really are one. Don’t panic… you are already doing great at it.

How do I know?

You’ve made it this far! You are independent and strong and although you enjoy company, you don’t NEED it because you got this. You are getting closer to graduating from college with a major you are confident in. You have a job and although it’s a struggle, you are paying your dues.

Now you live a successful life. You work hard and play hard. Now that you are 21 you can get drinks with the girls on weekend nights but work hard at both your job and college. As an independent woman, you are learning how to successfully manage your time and you are becoming good at it. They say this age is your prime and trust me you are killing it.

I’m not saying the year of 21 will be all glam, of course they’ll be barriers and hard times but again you made it this far. You already know you can handle stress and heartbreak through the years you have conquered. Always remember it’s okay to cry but always pick yourself back up because yourself and your future means more than heartbreak.

At times, you may feel insecure about yourself or your future…but you are beautiful and have already accomplished so much in your lifetime and have many more accomplishments ahead of you. Those future accomplishments, will mean a lot more than any of your failures. Anytime something happens think to yourself… I made it this far. I made it through middle school drama, high school drama and already a couple years of college, I got this. Most importantly, know your loved ones are very proud of the woman you have become.

So, on this birthday… have fun. Celebrate your 21^st with style because you are going to be great at whatever you do.

Happy Birthday.