I am the least adult-y adult that I know. I’m 20 so in all legal regards, I’m an adult, even though I don’t really feel or act like it all the time. Adulting is some mysterious, uncharted territory, and there are so many parts of it I have yet to figure out. Here are some of the more difficult parts of being an adult that I probably should have figured out by now, but haven’t.
1. Tax forms
I’m not even exaggerating when I say that I literally had to call my mom today to ask her how to fill out tax forms for a new job. I have so many questions about taxes: what’s an I-9? Am I still considered a dependent, or can I claim myself to pay fewer taxes? Did I even file taxes last year? I know nothing about anything tax related so my apologies to the IRS.
2. Making doctor’s appointments
At least in my case, making doctor’s appointments can be difficult. I live six hours from home, so I have to schedule appointments around school breaks. I’m also getting to the age where, aside from dentists and optometrists, I need to see different doctors for different things, and that adds a whole different layer of complicated. I’d just rather have my parents call and take care of it all for me.
3. Taking care of yourself when you’re sick
Being sick in high school was nice sometimes: you got to hang out at home for the day, watch Ellen and not worry about what you were missing at school because it could be made up pretty easily. If you were lucky enough, your mom was also home to make you soup and bring you anything you needed, but being in college is a whole different story. If I miss one class, I’m automatically like 6000 years behind schedule and I’ll have no idea what’s happening in the next class. It’s tough to balance the obligations of school and activities, as well as keeping yourself healthy on top of all of that is nearly impossible.
4. Going places alone
I’m not opposed to going places alone and I feel like you spend so much time by yourself in college that you just become used to your own company. Even so, I still find it way easier to go places when I know I won’t be by myself. Grocery shopping? I won’t go unless one of my roommates is with me. Studying? I’d rather be with a friend or two to keep me on track. Hopefully by the end of college I’ll break this habit, but I still find it hard to be by myself sometimes. I don’t like feeling lonely.
5. Credit
Okay, literally what is credit. Why is my credit score low just because I haven’t had a credit card for very long? Why does my score go down when I check what it is or when I apply for and get denied a loan? Why are there things that are completely out of my control that still effect my credit score? I honestly don’t even want a credit card; I just know that I should build credit now if I ever want to get a house or do other adult things farther down the road. The whole concept confuses me.
6. Keeping plants alive
One of my roommates has an incredible talent for keeping plants alive. We have dozens of plants throughout our apartment, and she somehow keeps all of them alive and growing beautifully. When I took my own three plants home for the summer they all died within the first month because I just suck at keeping things alive. I can’t even keep my plants alive, so how can I possibly take care of myself?
7. Budgeting
As much as I love being in college, it’s an absolute money pit. Pretty much all of my money from working this summer has gone to tuition, books, food, apartment necessities and dues for clubs that I’m in. I know I need to get better at this and actually budget my money, but that seems way too complicated for my current state of mind.
8. Remembering birthdays
We’re getting to the age where our parents aren’t signing our names at the bottom of every birthday and holiday card anymore. I personally try my best to remember important events, but I find myself calling family a week after a birthday or anniversary, or sending late cards and hoping they don’t notice how late it is.
9. Cooking
Eating out is all too easy when you have no idea how to cook or make a balanced meal. I’ve gotten better at cooking for myself, but I still need to consult Google to properly boil an egg or cook chicken without giving myself salmonella. It’s especially hard to only cook for one person when so many food products are portioned for families because making proper portions just becomes such a task.
10. Having a normal sleep schedule
I have the furthest thing from a normal sleep schedule. I sometimes eat dinner around 10 p.m., after club meetings or study groups, then do homework and get to bed around 1:30 or 2 a.m. Then, after getting up at 8 a.m. the next day, I’m so exhausted that I end up in bed at 10 p.m. I don’t understand how normal, functioning adults live their lives. It’s not unusual for me to go home between classes to take a nap, but real adults can’t do that! That’s so sad!
Hopefully I’m not the only one who struggles with being a functional adult (although if you know how to cook a chicken and fill out your W-4’s, good for you!). It’s weird being in this state of not-quite-childhood and not-quite-adulthood, but maybe one of these days I’ll brave the grocery store alone.