If you are older than 20 and reading this, chances are you're probably thinking: Chill, turning 20 is not that big a deal. You wake up the same way you have for the past 20 years.
But that's the problem. I expect a lot more from my twenties. I expect to be more proactive and to somewhat get my life together. That's a lot of pressure.
Here's why turning 20 scares me:
1. I'm getting old, and so are my parents.
Imagining a world without your literal day ones is kind of scary. I’m not saying that I still expect my mom to nurse me back to health every time I catch a cold. But I really do appreciate calling my parents occasionally when I need someone to talk to. After all, parents will not hold back when you need an honest perspective on things. I’m sure many of us still call our parents when we need help figuring out simple tasks such as balancing a check or, for many college freshmen, doing laundry. Watching our parents grow older and slower is a gruesome process. Even more so, realizing that our everyday heroes aren't as invincible as we once thought they were. It’s an unsettling thought.
2. Chances are, I'm probably going to get married and start a family in my late twenties.
In the United States, the average age at which a woman marries is 27, and for men, 29. Okay to be fair, this number is rising due to many factors, such as, nowadays more and more people are putting their education and career first before actually starting a family. Not to mention, women are now more educated, and are no longer expected to possess the role of a 1950's housewife. Nevertheless, on average, people are still getting married in their twenties. And for an almost 20-year-old college student that barely just finished her third semester of college, the thought of getting married and starting a family is a bit too soon. Admittedly, I still go to bed at crazy hours of the night, and sometimes I even forget to feed myself (I still consider cereal to be a reasonable dinner). I'm clearly not ready for this.
3. Taxes?
Let’s face it. Most of us simply do not know how to adult. In school, we aren’t taught how to rock a job interview, how to pay a bill when to do our taxes, what taxes are, paying a mortgage, what a lease is, how to buy a car or house or even how to change a spare tire. These are a few things we will most definitely experience in our lifetime and, for the most part, will experience for the first time in our twenties. Going through FAFSA alone is enough to send me into a whirlwind of confusion. Which leads me to ask, what are these things? Can I Google this?
4. SO much denial.
Right now, as a college student, my main job is to study. That being said, homework, studying and essays preoccupy most of my time. At some point I am bound to feel overwhelmed (aren't we all?). While most functional people would accept this challenge and try to knock out as many tasks as soon as possible to ease the stress a bit, I on the other hand, will sometimes decide to curl up into a blanket burrito and avoid all work (hey! I’m sure you do this too).
5. I'm two decades old.
Twenty years ago the last episode of "Fresh Prince" was aired, Tupac Shakur passed away, Bill Clinton was re-elected as President of the United States, "Space Jam" came out, the Nintendo 64 console was released, the world experienced its first Pokémon game, and the Spice Girls released their hit song “Wannabe” (yes, I know 20 years have passed, but contrary to the lyrics, if you want to be my lover, please don’t get with my friends), Feel old now?
6. People on my Facebook are starting to get engaged, some even have kids.
I’m at this weird point in my life where a few of my Facebook friends are either pregnant, already have had a child, are married, or engaged. But then again, most of my Facebook friends, are still in college, and regularly attend events such as “paint your own pet rock” and are willing to stand in line for hours just to grab free breakfast. So I guess it’s an even balance. This still doesn’t stop the incoming cringe-worthy questions such as “So, do you have a boyfriend yet?” or “What are your plans after college?” from nosey relatives.
7. I have 10 years of my prime left.
My twenties are guaranteed to be a time in my life when I will be the most physically and mentally alert. Not to be totally pessimistic, but who knows how long that will last... I’m sure I’ll still be somewhat alert in my 30s, but it will all probably start to deteriorate around then. How do I squish everything I ever wanted to do into 10 years? I mean, I don't want to climb a mountain right now. But what if I turn 50 and I want to climb a mountain but I'm too old and physically incapable? Maybe I should go climb a mountain now? Then again, George Bush, Sr. did commemorate his 90th birthday by skydiving. Maybe age really is just a number. Or is that just another excuse older people use to hold onto their youth?
8. If finish my undergrad by 22...
That leaves me with eight more years to travel. But travelling costs money. I need a job… Then again, minimum wage probably isn’t enough to cover travel expenses, not unless I work a copious amount of hours. My best bet is to attend grad school, get a well-paying job and then travel. How long is grad school anyway, two to five years? That means I’ll land a job in my late 20s. And by then it's time to get married and have kids. That biological clock is ticking. So when do I travel?
9. I'm not a teenager anymore.
Being an angsty teen in your twenties does not exist. Storming out of the room when you are confronted with a problem or listening to “Panic at the Disco” on repeat because no one understands you isn’t an acceptable excuse anymore. At this point, you're just being immature. It’s time to learn how to deal with our own problems. No more slamming your bedroom door in the face of conflict. Start looking for constructive solutions.
10. It's make it or break it time.
Because, let's be real, most of our life-changing decisions are made in our twenties: whether or not we attend grad school, our first official job, who we marry. Crazy, huh? But don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll figure it out. Or at least, I hope we do. Good luck!
