Well, the time has finally hit where I'm not a teenager anymore.
Entering my twenties has me nervous, excited, scared, all of the above! But now that I'm entering this next decade in my life there are a lot of things that I've learned and taken away from my teenage years. Things that have helped make me the woman I am today.
Age 13-15: The years it all started, the year of finally feeling like a teenager. I was no longer just 12 but in the teens. Not being a little kid anymore ready to conquer the world one sassy remark at a time. Well was I pitched a curveball or what?! Going through that awkward phase that seemed to last forever. Having Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber posters all over my bedroom walls. And trying to fit in with everyone else because that's what I thought I had to do instead of being who I really was. You could say I was the epitome of every young teenage girl. These years definitely taught me that trying to fit in with everyone else is not the way to live your life. Because if everyone was the same the world would be one boring, boring place. Embrace who you are; every weird, funny quirk you have.
Age 16: Now this was the year. The year I would finally get my teenage freedom. Once I got that drivers license I was gone, never planned on being home, driving anywhere and everywhere I could. Little did I know not having my own car, the only driving I would be doing was to the grocery store to pick up things for my parents for dinner. And to pick up my little brother from his friend's house. Freedom = failure. This year taught me that while being granted some freedom comes a lot of responsibility. One of the most important lessons I could learn.
Age 18: Ahhh the time when the world now considers me an adult. Voting and being able to buy cigarettes I could feel my adulthood setting in. Maybe it was now that I was an actual adult, the world was starting to test me. This year, in particular, taught me a lot. I learned who my true friends were; the ones that were going to stand by my side in tough situations, and push me to be the best I could be. It was definitely hard to lose the friends I did, but I wouldn't change it for anything.
This was also the year I started college. A big step into adulthood. Being away from home 9 out of 12 months wasn't easy; there were times when I didn't know if I could make it on my own, but with being on my own I really learned who I am as a person, and learned more about myself than I thought imaginable. And having a strong family at home pushing me, and great new friends at school I knew this was where I needed to be.
Age 20: Finally! Starting this new decade I'm looking at it almost as a clean slate. I can leave my young adolescent days behind and really look forward to the future and what it holds for me, even while it's a decade that scares me more than it should. These are the years I'll graduate college, get a real full-time job, and hopefully, buy my own house, buy a car, get married and maybe even have kids. While I know they'll treat me nicely, the thought of all the grown up things I'll conquer in my twenties is very daunting.
But if it wasn't for my teenage years, that have taught me everything I know, I'd be more lost than ever. So as much as I'm glad to not be a teenager anymore I will always cherish the life lessons and memories my teenage years brought.
