I am 20. Most people would call me young. I'm not of legal age, I'm still in college, I live with my parents, and I rely on them for the majority of my money, food, and shelter. So no, I am not a full-aged adult living on my own and earning all of my own money in order to pay for bills, gas, and food.
But I'm not stupid.
I'm 20. I've lived on this earth for 20 years and while I still have so much to experience, I've been through a lot. I know who I am and what I want from life, and I'm not afraid to go after what I want. I'm fully aware of the fact that the future is unpredictable, and that no matter how much you plan for something, or build something up in your mind, nothing in life is guaranteed.
But does that mean I should look at everything with a negative perspective?
I'm in love. I plan on staying with the person I'm with for the rest of my life. He is my best friend and we talk about our future quite frequently. Some people think this is bizarre and pointless. I, however, think it's normal and actually quite mature. Is that crazy? Absolutely not.
I'm 20. I have dreams, and I pursue them, but I understand the difference between fantasy and reality. I understand that I probably won't be a successful performing singer-songwriter straight out of college. I understand that I'll probably be living in a cheap apartment, working at a job that I don't love for a while. But I also know that I'll have the drive to continue pursuing the career I want.
Being young should not be looked down upon, or an excuse that we can't make rational decisions. We have goals, we're driven, and some of us are lucky enough to have already found someone that we want to spend the rest of our lives with. I'm aware that I will meet many people in my life, for the next two years and when I'm out of college. But that won't make me love my partner any less. I am committed and that's not a bad thing.
It's incredibly exciting, because we have similar goals and dreams for our futures, but still have our own paths to take. He's hiking for at least six months after he graduates in May. I'll still be in Boston, finishing college and deciding what to do when I graduate. And from there, we'll go down a path together.
Just because I am young doesn't mean I'm naive. I'm aware that things don't always go according to plan, but that doesn't mean I'll stop planning. I'm excited for my future, whatever it may be, and know that things always seem to fall into place.
