As a high school or college student, being the youngest in the class is undeniably frustrating. While all your friends are getting their licenses and going to R-rated movies, you’re stuck dreaming about the days when you’ll be old enough to do either. During your first semester of college, your classmates are of legal age to vote, go to war, buy cigarettes and get into 18+ parties. While you have no desire to be drafted or to smoke cancer sticks, it would be nice to have the option. Until you’re 18th birthday, you can’t even buy certain cough medicines because of the potential overdose scare, and you still need parental approval to do just about anything.
The wait for a 21st birthday is even more torturous. You long for the days that a fake ID is no longer necessary. You crave the moment that you can go out without the fear of getting rejected, or when you can walk into a liquor store and buy your own booze instead of begging your older siblings and friends to do it. At this point, all you really want to do is grab a casual drink with friends or order a glass of wine with dinner. You’ve been drinking for years, but now you’re forced to wait to do it peacefully and legally.
Watching all your friends turn 21 before you is a cruel joke that your late birthday has been waiting to play since the day you were born. By the time your birthday rolls around, there’s a very high chance that the novelty has worn off for everyone else. Your friends have been 21 for months; some may have already turned 22 (jerks). By the time it’s your turn, it’s a possibility that everyone is either 1. Completely over the whole turning legal deal or 2. Assume that you’re already of age. Either way, us youngin’s are getting severely ripped off.
While the wait may seem endless now, being the youngest in your class does have its perks. You may be cursing your late birthday this year, but there will come a day when you’re bragging about being a November-December baby.
Pro #1: You’re the last to hit every milestone birthday.
After 21, milestone birthdays start going downhill. After 20 it’s no longer exciting to turn another decade older, because it means just that: you’re getting old. When all your friends are reaching their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, you can be the smug youngin’ who brags about still being in their 20’s.
Pro #2: Everyone is of age to celebrate.
Imagine being the oldest person in your grade. Who did those people party with on their 21st birthday, since all their friends are yet to be legal? Lucky for late birthday babies, your friends have no such excuse to miss your birthday festivities.
Pro #3: More time to plan.
Since you’re one of the final few to reach 21, your already-legal friends have plenty of time to plan a celebration. Plus, they’ve experienced the probably booze-filled day and can keep you from overdoing it like they definitely did. A late birthday means more time to prepare, shop for the perfect outfit and get yourself completely ready for the special day.
Pro #4: “You look so young!”
Being called “baby,” “youngin’” or “little” may be aggravating now, but you’re going to appreciate that baby face when your peers are wrinkling, going grey and aging incredibly faster than you are down the road.
Pro #5: Higher appreciation of the bar scene.
They say good things come to those who wait. The feeling you have the first time you step into a bar using your real ID will be like nothing you’ve ever experienced. Your peers have had this privilege for months or even years, but you’re just joining this exclusive club, and it’s everything you’d hope it would be. You used multiple fake IDs, waited in parking lots while friends sneak their licenses out, attended frat parties as a senior and paid for overpriced booze at the only liquor store that will serve minors. You’ve suffered through all of this longer than any of your friends, so your eventual entrance into 21 will be oh so sweet.