This may be one of the last milestone birthdays in your life: turning 21. You had 16 when you could start driving, you had 18 when you were technically an adult, and now 21 when you can actually go out. However, there's a lot they don't tell you until after your crazy twenty-fun birthday party.
Now you have a horizontal ID and a newfound confidence when going out...until you realize that you're one of the only one of your friends that're 21. When going out, you're really only as old as your youngest friend. If you do make it out, they don't tell you that drinks in the real world aren't actually $2.50. Real world drinks are upwards of $10 -- ain't nobody got time for that.
But seriously, aside from being able to go out, turning 21 almost feels like becoming an adult. Unlike the technical transition into adulthood when you turn 18, this milestone is usually reached in either junior or senior year of college. After the confetti settles, you realize that you are now closer to the end than the beginning of your time in school. You are in all upper-level courses, you are currently in or searching for jobs and internships, and your life is constantly focused on the future.
You start to notice this because you've probably been waiting to turn 21 since your first milestone at 16. You have been counting down the days and years until you could legally drink and go out to clubs and bars. Now that you've finally reached this point, you want it all to slow down. The next significant things to look towards are graduating and finding a job outside of the comfy college bubble.
Since very recently turning 21, I've realized that during the countdown to this day I had already completed the majority of my college years. The remainder of the time spent here will be spent in anticipation of leaving rather than becoming of age. Truthfully, it's going to take more than a birthday to make me actually act like an adult. If anything, it has taught me to stay young as long as they'll let me. So, until the next big milestone is reached, keep avoiding responsibilities with trashy Netflix, eating out every night, and absolutely loving trashy college bars.
