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Life

Birthdays Are The Life of The Party

Alicia Maxwell
The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SBU chapter.

So, I am soon to be turning 21; and by soon I mean two more months. The thought of actually being a fully fledged-legal to drink adult, scares the crap out of me! 

Every year I age, I become more worried about my future. I mean — what am I going to do career-wise? Where am I going to live? Oh and don’t get me started on: filing taxes (with their various types), social security, retirement fund, mortgage, groceries, phone bill, property bill, water bill, garbage bill (that doesn’t even make sense!!!), credit cards (the devil in disguise), health insurance, car insurance, home insurance, life insurance and even my WILL!!!!

*Hyperventilating*

Anyhow, there is always one good thing that comes with turning a year older to wrinkles and adult stress: birthday presents.

Eight years ago, I had written birthday letters to my future self along with how I hoped to be celebrating. For my 21st birthday, little me wanted to watch a drag show. Welp, that is what I have plans to do.

Since I never did anything other than go out to eat at a buffet, the hope to really celebrate with my family touches the deepest darkest corners of my heart. While some would say birthdays are meant to just be celebrated with those who care about you (or it’s just a number) nothing special — I say sure, but screw that. 

Birthdays are more than who you are with, it’s about doing what you want to do. If you want to celebrate indoors with loved ones, then so be it. But if you want to get wild, while checking a few things off your bucket list, then fuck it!

I want to see a drag show; get crazy and down with the music, the dancing, the celebration of being different and representing those who are unique in every way. 

Euphoria Zendaya Dancing
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I want this year, my coming of age, to be different and special. I want my 21st to mean more than a buffet; I want to fulfill my little self’s wish of seeing a show. 

Moral of this story, we are all getting a year older. Some of us may already be dealing with bills, wrinkles, and adult stress. Yet, birthdays should be hyped and celebrated because next year — we don’t know what’s to come. 

Hello, sunflower! Alicia Maxwell, meaning noble which she tries to live up to! Currently is a senior writer for the Her Campus SBU Chapter, soon to graduate with her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. Being an English Lit, she loves to explore and write a range of topics. She doesn’t believe one should limit their skills or knowledge. However, her favored topics are investigative work (i.e., handling our insecurities and housing crisis). Alongside writing for Her Campus, she recently interned abroad in Ireland for STELLARS magazine. For her, it was an experience and an eye-opener. She had the chance to explore a different side of writing (culturally as well). The one article that stuck with Alicia the most was “Eight Gorgeous Irish Markets To Visit This Summer.” Alicia loves markets! Having the chance to explore a few in another country was a dream come true. Before that year, Alicia also served on the college newspaper as a feature writer. The BonaVenture (what a creative name), published articles she conducted on the campus community. Her favorite piece has to be “Campus Community Reacts To The Death Of Tyre Nichols.” It was also her very first article written for the newspaper. Last, but never not least, she had interned for her college archives performing research on a past Bonna Student, Roi Ottley. Her work was combined onto the college archive's website to update what information they had on him. Aside from her work as a writer and student, she enjoys taking walks with her head in the clouds seeing the world from another perspective. She also loves browsing Netflix, critiquing and analyzing the artwork.