Ah, the big 2-0. Chances are, if you are a sophomore in college you or your friends are turning 20 in the near future. This may seem like an underwhelming time, I get that. You're no longer a teenager but are not yet old enough to to big-kid things. You're ready to move on to the next few stages of adulthood, but you're not quite ready to let go of your teen years. Turning 20 surfaces a lot of conflicting emotions and if you're anything like me, you can't tell how you feel about taking this next step into your future.
But I encourage you to move into your Twenty-something years with confidence. These are going to be some of the best years of your life. Turning 20 is the beginning of a decade that will be filled with monumental milestones and unforgettable memories. So wipe the tears off of your face and get your head out of that tub of ice cream because I'm about to tell you why turning 20 is actually a really big deal.
1. You're still young: While you may see yourself as the next best thing to Betty White ... all of your friends who are a few years older than you will consider you to be the Fountain of Youth. So live it up.
2. People will take you seriously: You're young enough to have fun and make dumb mistakes, but you're old enough to be taken seriously when you're asked how old you are. Having to say 19 was just embarrassing.
3. You still have one year to be reckless: See, 21 is the age when you're expected to be reckless responsibly. But you're only 20, so go wild.
4. It's not a mid-life crisis: We all go through it. We all have doubts about who we are and where we're going with our lives. But the good news is, you have an entire decade before these questions actually become a mid-life crisis.
5. People will be more generous on your birthday: "Oh, you're turning 20? That's amazing! I'll shower you with more gifts than ever because you're not floating in those awkward teen years any more."
6. Your 21st birthday sounds more exciting: You're closer to you 21st birthday which makes the idea of it more exciting than it was before. So get to planning!
7. You're parents are still willing to help you out: Sure, you're no longer a teenager. But you're not quite old enough to make life-changing decisions (or scheduledentist appointments) on your own. Luckily, you're parents are most likely willing to help you out in these first few, awkward, years of adulthood.
8. You've reached the "cool-kid" age: Being 20 is all the rage ... for some reason. Today's pop culture scene is aimed towards pleasing an audience of Twenty-somethings. So, congrats on becoming a member of the media's most coveted audience.
9. You have nothing tying you down: Want to travel Europe? Do it. Want to take a skydiving trip? Go for it. You have no full-time job, no spouse and no kids weighing you down. Take a few much needed days off of school to do what makes you happy.
10. Your future is brighter than ever: Congratulations on getting to where you are now. You've worked your way through hundreds of life lessons, mended a few broken hearts and sifted your way through two decades of friendships. Now, its time to enjoy your future. The rest of your life begins now ... so enjoy this next decade because it is about to be filled with the best years of your life.
