As 2017 quickly comes to a close, it’s a time for self-reflection.
This year mostly consisted of me proving not only to my parents but also to myself that I am an adult, capable of taking care of things on my own.
I am 21, but I don’t feel 21. But what is a 21-year-old really supposed to feel like in 2017?
At the age I am now, my parents were married and preparing to bring new lives into the world. People often say that it was a different world back then, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking that somehow I am behind in life.
For many, our early 20s seem to be the most confusing years. We are expected to be independent, but some of us are still very dependent on our parents. With phrases like “adulting” or “ I can’t adult today” spreading across social media, being an adult seems to be seen as more of an option than a part of growing up.
Being an adult in 2017 is not cheap. The cost of living keeps increasing every year. While our parents were able to move out and support themselves at young ages, it seem next to impossible in the economy we live in now. With the amount of debt I have after finishing school, living with my parents seems like the only option, an option other people in their twenties also choose.
So do I live on my own? No. Do I buy my own groceries? Rarely. I don’t have to worry about bills and doing my own taxes, but does that make me less of an adult? What does make you an adult? Your age or the amount of responsibility and independence you have?
It took some time, but I now realize that I am maturing but at my old pace, and that is okay.