Going on a trip without your parents is always exciting because we get to pretend we are adulting in the real world. Although traveling with your best friend is fun there are definitely some downsides of not having your parents be in control. Here are some of the struggles and mistakes I have recently learned by having to travel without my parents.

1. Picking the flight.

Due to lack of parental monetary funding, we inevitably chose the cheapest flight available, which meant our plane boarding time was 5:15 a.m. We see this as an adventure because college has groomed us for all nighters.

2. Packing.

Before every flight with my family my dad would weigh my suitcase with him, subtract his weight to get an accurate read, and tell me I'm about 10 pounds over. Sans dad, means I have to stare at the scale myself and I don’t want to start off a trip with that kind of negativity.

3. Getting to the airport.

The consequence of having such an early flight is no one wanting to drop you off at the airport. Meaning, we had to endure a sober Uber drive to the airport while being suffocated by luggage (because an Uber XL is not in our budget).

4. Checking luggage.

Cue the anxiety as you walk through the airport automated doors as you see the line of people waiting to check their luggage. (By this time we have about 30 minutes until our plane boards and our families would have forced us to get there two hours early).

5. Boarding passes.

Surprise! We didn’t print out our boarding passes so while I pray my luggage is underweight I have to have your tickets printed.

6. H.B.I.C

In every group of friends there is always a designated mom and it is even more important to have someone responsible when traveling who keeps all of the tickets/passes/important paperwork (I am never the mom).

7. Security, oh how we hate thee.

Where we have to witness our nail clippers, new perfume, and contact solution ,we forgot was tucked into our black hole of a purse, get thrown away forever.

8. The airport sprint.

Now, due to our late arrival, comes the movie montage of us running through the airport trying not to hit people, but some casualties may occur.

9. Flying.

After making it onto the plane in time and finding our seats starts the other half of the battle. It is more socially acceptable to be somewhat rowdy on a plane if you are having some quality family time. However, a couple of 22-year-old’s laughing and singing "The Best of the '90s" are considered disrespectful millennials.

10. Bar cart *choir singing.*

Planes are like bars in the sky. You are eagerly anticipating when the flight attendant comes around to ask your drink order, until they give you side-eye and doubtfully ask how old you are. "22-years-old and getting older by the minute; vodka soda with lime."

11. Baggage claim.

My dad and brother usually act as bellhops and get everyone’s bags. Now, I have to claim the embarrassing faux crocodile, neon pink suitcase I still have from middle school. This leads to a graceful and comical sight of me trying to pull a 50 pound rock off a moving conveyor belt, in a sea of 100 other passengers.