I recently turned 20-years-old and have been thinking about what the weight of the new decade ahead means for my life. I didn’t realize how scary it would feel to be an age that doesn’t end in “teen.”
Nothing has actually changed even though I have entered this new era. My age will start with a “two” now, that’s it. Despite this, I still feel like I am on the brink of a major life change.Â
Every birthday is a surreal experience. It’s strange to think of all the time that has passed and reflect on your life. Since my 20th birthday has quickly come and gone, I can say that entering this new decade is a terrifying but gratifying experience.Â
All my friends who have turned 20 already similarly expressed that they were nervous to leave their teenage years behind. It’s a rite of passage to feel emotional on a birthday, but the 20th birthday has affected me more than usual. Â
As irrational as it is, I feel like my youth is slipping away, which is ridiculous considering that 20-years-old is not that old at all. However, I can’t help but feel like time is passing me by.
Even though birthdays should be celebrated, I keep thinking of what I’m leaving behind as I enter my twenties. I tend to romanticize different eras of my life, and it makes me sad to abandon the feeling of being a teenager. Teen years are songs and coming of age movies are written about. The media teaches us to view our teenage years as the most important ones, which makes the loss of them even more devastating.Â
Instead of feeling the loss of no longer being a teenager, I think it is so much more beneficial to think of what you are gaining for each birthday that passes. For example, I am grateful for all that I have and have done, and as I enter my twenties, I know I will have so many new opportunities.Â
Even though I am moving forward to a new era of life, I do not need to lose the feeling of a coming-of-age movie. Wisdom is not defined by a number or an age; I will continue to learn new things throughout my entire life, and this doesn’t stop with a birthday.
One’s twenties are for self-discovery. They are for the big and scary moments like your first apartment, college and starting a job, among many other daunting things. Sure, this may be terrifying, but at the same time, it is amazing that you will experience all of these moments.
Whether or not my life changes drastically after my birthday this year, I know I will be okay no matter what. It may seem wild that I’m closing a chapter of my life, but every moment of those teenage years was incredible, and I cannot wait to make many more memories.Â
Instead of dreading a new chapter of life, learn to embrace how scary it is and enjoy the moment.