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LUM | Life > Experiences

I Turned 21 Yesterday.

Julianna Pitucco Student Contributor, Loyola University Maryland
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at LUM chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Yesterday was my 21st birthday (but I’m currently writing this on my actual birthday).  As a senior in college, it truly felt like a long time coming since the majority of seniors already are and have been 21 for a while. For some reason, I feel so weird today. I think this has been my first actual realization that I am a senior now and not just a freshman with her whole college experience ahead of her. There is quite literally 7 months between now and entering the real world. 

I started feeling homesick today, even though I’ve been away from home for my last four birthdays, and last year I was halfway across the world abroad. I don’t think the homesickness ever goes away for good; I think it just ebbs and flows depending on the day. I missed being with my parents, brother, and my dog, blowing out my candles in the evening. There’s a sort of nostalgia to that which has stayed with me for years. It’s hitting me that those are small memories that I’ll never get back in the same way. I miss the times when everyone I loved was in the same place for my birthday. Now, the people I love are all across the country and separated. It’s both a blessing and a curse.

When I was young, all I wanted to do was grow up. I wanted to have my own house, my own job, my own independent life. But now, all I want is to go back in time and be a child for one more day. No stress about school, work, or the future. Nothing to do but to live in the now. 

I do feel completely and utterly surrounded by love. All my friends gathered this past weekend to celebrate, and it was so much fun. This solidified that family grows in all sorts of ways and I have met the most amazing people in the past few years. I feel pretty lucky.

So, now I’m 21. I still feel like this is some sort of fluke or something because how am I legal now??? However, as a promise to myself, I am going to commit to living in the moment, enjoying every second, and growing as a person in the next year. Maybe growing up isn’t about leaving your childhood behind. Maybe it’s about carrying the love, memories, and people who made it so special with you as you move forward.

Julianna Pitucco

LUM '27

Julianna (Juls) is currently serving as the Editor in Chief for Loyola's chapter of Her Campus. She is a Senior at Loyola University Maryland. She grew up in Somerville, New Jersey her entire life.

At Loyola, Julianna is pursuing a degree in Communication and Media with a specialization in Advertising and Public Relations and Sociology. Along with HerCampus, she is the Vice President of Professional Development for Loyola's chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, a Copy Editor for The Greyhound newspaper, and the President of Lambda Pi Eta (Communication Honor Society). She studied abroad in Copenhagen during the Fall 2025 semester.

On Julianna's free time, you can find her going to the gym or workout classes, watching romance movies, listening to music and podcasts, or going on long walks with her dog.