As I'm writing this, it's my 20th birthday. Being 20 is bittersweet because you're not a teenager anymore, but you're not quite an adult either. Turning 19 and 20 are kind of like the half-way points to turning 21. Eighteen was sort of a big deal because you were technically an adult, and then the next big one is 21. You can't do anything you couldn't do when you turned 18 or 19, so...

The sweet part about turning 20 is that it feels good to not be a teenager anymore, and to finally be in my twenties, which are by far, the greatest, hardest, and most memorable time of our lives. You can still be young and reckless. I still get to do the things I love, and I have very little stress. You still get to make your birthday a big deal and celebrate as much as you want, but really you're just one year closer to twenty-one. I never really think of my birthday as a huge deal, and it's usually just like every other day, and today is one of those days, but I also have a new feeling in my head and my heart. Every year my parents always ask if I feel different, my response is always no. But this year, I do feel different. I feel like I'm liberated, in some way. I feel like it's a new beginning and it's going to be the best one yet, and I'm so looking forward to it.

The bitter part about turning 20, though, is that you're now taking on more responsibilities and those responsibilities and times that you need to work and be serious and grind becoming more and more. Turning twenty means responsibilities and you're becoming more of an adult, but you still can't drink alcohol, rent a hotel room, or rent a car. So you're still kind of treated like a kid, which I hate. And if you're like me, most of the people you know are already 20, and have been for quite awhile, so you're kind of left in the dust for your birthday. You've also lived about a quarter of your life by now, and to me, I feel like I could've done so much more. I feel a little disappointed in myself that I didn't do certain things or take risks because I was too scared. I felt like I should've talked to more people and hadn't been so shy. Nonetheless, I still feel very empowered at this moment.

Your twenties are a new era. You graduate from school, you find your soul mate, and find yourself. It's a time when you can still be care-free but your responsibilities still linger in the back of your mind. Although your 20 birthday may not seem like a big deal, it is. So here's to turning 20.