As you get older, birthdays change meaning. I remember being 12 years old and really, really wanting to be 13. The same was true for me going from 15 to 16, and from 17 to 18. I used to think that turning 18 was the big one, because you’re an adult and all, but 18 certainly didn’t affect how “adult” I acted. Each birthday did bring little changes though. Thirteen meant PG-13 movies weren’t off-limits anymore, 18 meant there were things you could do without consulting your parents first and 21 meant that alcohol was finally allowed. The last part made 21 the most special, since it made something that used to be illegal totally okay.
Personally, I have celebrated every birthday the same exact way since I was 16: dinner and a movie with friends. I welcomed 21 the same way, except that I ordered my first alcoholic beverage along with dinner this time. I totally understand the hype that comes with being 21: it’s as your whole life, it’s always been 4:59, but suddenly, it’s 5:00 and anytime can be happy hour. I totally understand that, especially if parties are your scene and alcohol is something you enjoy. But the bitter tang of vodka made me shudder, and the burning sensation from whisky made me feel like I was drinking something I had nabbed from the organic chemistry lab. Still, as everyone around me also hit drinking age, alcohol also made an appearance everywhere I went. For a while, I felt like alcohol was something I should enjoy, since everyone around me also did. I went out and I went to parties, but I eventually realized that it honestly wasn’t for me.
At the time, I felt like this would make me seem boring or weird, since I preferred to hang out at my friends’ places and eat cheesecake instead of heading to Midtown on the weekends. But here’s the truth: it’s just a preference that I have, nothing more. The fact that I don’t drink does not change my personality, nor does it alter my friendships. I enjoy being sober much more than I enjoy drinking, and I personally find parties and birthdays more fun when they don’t all require the presence of alcohol. Don’t get me wrong, I do drink on occasion, and I don’t think badly of anyone who enjoys it more often than I do. I’m completely happy and content being the sober friend, and I have just as much fun as everyone else does at parties regardless of what’s in my cup (sometimes it’s champagne, other times it’s just tea). I love being social, and the fact that I’m not a fan of vodka and rum does not change that.
Moral of the story: being 21 is awesome! Sign nights are awesome, and parties are awesome. It’s also pretty awesome to do things that you are comfortable with, and if drinking isn’t one of them, that’s awesome, too. Collegiettes, life is about doing things your way; once you realize this, everything becomes so much easier. Twenty-one means lots of things, such as being able to go to parties with your friends and being allowed to drink and buy anything you want, but it’s also much more than that. Twenty-one means that you are that much further in your life, that you are that much closer to your goals, and that you have achieved that much to get yourself to this point. Regardless of your tastes in alcohol or your thoughts on getting older, remember to live life to the fullest and do what makes you the happiest, whether that means watching Say Yes to the Dress on the weekends with your friends or heading to Midtown for ladies night. Cheers!