Turning 21 is scary. It unlocks the doors to many more opportunities and is a major milestone throughout our lives. It marks a great intersection between the past and the future and is a pivotal moment where adulthood meets the lingering presence of youthfulness. It’s a time for learning and adulting by hurtling through life’s challenging moments. While I’m excited to embrace the new freedoms and responsibilities that come when turning 21, I’m also mindful of the significant journey that has brought me to where I am today.
From the moment I turned 10 years old, I remember screaming to my family “I’m in the double digits now!” I was so eager to turn 10 because that was a time of growing up and it signified a new chapter of my childhood where innocence and curiosity intertwined. I vividly remember getting ready for school with my mom, dancing in my pajamas around the room and wanting to be around her. I was a little girl filled with excitement for what was ahead of me and was ready to spend time with my friends at school, all while learning about the various subjects that school had to offer. Although at the time I didn’t realize how big of a turning point this age was, I had the best time. I created the best of friendships, my interests evolved, and dreams began to take shape. It was a reminder to cherish the simple joys of youth while embracing the many adventures ahead. From anxiously awaiting birthday parties to relishing the joys of childhood games, turning 10 was a celebration of the past, present, and the future.
8 years later I turned 18, the mark of becoming an adult. Like turning 10, I couldn’t wait to turn 18, because I was so excited to become a legal adult and make the transition of adolescence into independence. This age opened the doors to a plethora of new rights, responsibilities, and opportunities. For me, it signified the culmination of years worth of growth, learning, and self-discovery, as well as the beginning of a new chapter filled with both enthusiasm and uncertainty. This new chapter opened up the exciting world of college and left me eager to move to a city hours away from home and gain new understandings. Not only did I start college, but I also got my first ever job, where I gained immense skills filled with responsibilities and challenges. This age taught me how to navigate the complexities of adulthood. From balancing responsibilities of both school and work, to understanding the importance of relationships with those around me, I was able to embark on this beautiful journey of self-discovery, independence, and opportunity.
Here I am, 20 years old turning 21 in a few days, not wanting to be 21. I don’t want to grow up. I miss my childhood and teenage years where I had little to no worries, where I had my parents to lean on through any hardships, where I could play hide and seek with my family at any time, where I was able to dance around the living room with excitement and joy. As much as I want to stay little, I can’t. I have to learn how to embrace my independence throughout the rest of my life.
As I enter this new chapter of my life, I am filled with a sense of gratitude for the experiences that have shaped me into a strong, independent adult filled with determination, passion, and ambition. I wouldn’t have been here without my past encounters and without the help of my parents. To my mom, thank you for guiding me throughout the obstacles of life and providing me with the knowledge and wisdom to navigate the world. To my dad, thank you for teaching me to never give up and to keep on persisting through every challenge ahead of me. To my future self, I am so proud of everything you’ve done, but take it one day at a time. Always remember your childhood; embrace it and hold it dearly to your heart.