I’m just on the brink of true adulthood, and I realize how much I have changed in the last half-decade. Most of these are changes that I never thought would happen to me, or thought that I’d enjoy. Growing up can really suck, but there are a lot of ways the changes actually become appreciated.

1. Staying in on weekends

I’ve seen this become a lot more popular among older college students, but if you had told me just a couple of years ago that I would be one of them, I would have thought you were crazy. Once you go out many times with the same people, listen to the same music and go through the motions of having an awesome time, it gets old. I wouldn’t trade any of these awesome nights for anything, I just feel that I’ve outgrown them.

Now going out means sitting at a table with one or two drinks and having a conversation. Past me would have said ho hum, but current me thinks this is way more fun than trying to impress strangers with my (not even good) dance moves.

2. Having real conversations

As a kid, I remember listening to the topics discussed at the “adult table” at family get-togethers and wanting to snooze on the spot. Even a few years ago, I don’t think I really knew what a good conversation was until I had one. It’s fun and refreshing to grow up and talk about what’s going on in the world, what your and your friends' ambitions are and what you really thought about that movie you saw. Disagreeing can actually be fun when done among the right people. Gossiping and putting on an act of not caring about anything gets just as old as the club.

3. Trading quantity for quality

Trading the Forever 21 shopping sprees of graphic tees with quotes on them for one really nice shirt/pair of pants/whatever that you will wear over and over again sounds mundane, but it’s so nice. Also, having nice bedding/towels/home goods is so underrated until you do really begin to appreciate those nights in.

4. Not having a ton of friends

It comes with growing up, but time becomes more valuable when our lives aren’t centered around being social anymore. We have bills to pay, dreams to chase and jobs to get. While it can be sad to watch as people that we once saw every day and knew every detail of our lives fade as they begin to do their own thing, it makes the new and few friends we still have mean that much more. It comes with the evaporation of a need for high social status, but a “ton” of friends sort of becomes meaningless as a few good friends becomes essential.

5. Having less of a social life but more of an active one

Going off my last few points, there is a lot of freedom that comes from breaking free of the status quo. Getting older means it's up to you to pursue what you want and what you like. The obligation to go along with the crowd or impress people begins to fade away. Your good friends already think you’re awesome, so there’s no need to impress them, and anyone else isn’t worth your time.

Surprisingly, building a life is a lot less tiresome than maintaining an image. I don’t mean to say that socializing isn’t fun anymore, it’s just a different type of socializing and one that does not dictate how many invitations you get in the future.

6. Realizing how young I used to be

This is such an odd feeling that everyone knows it to some degree, but it just gets more prominent as we age. I always thought when I looked back on being young I would be envious of my past self, so carefree and fun. Knowing who I am now, I like who I am, where I am and what I have ahead.

I like having responsibility and knowing through trial and error what is worth my energy and what is not. I like using that energy to pursue my own interests rather than the interests of my peers, and meeting new people with similar interests. I like where I have been and I like where I am going, and I think that is probably the thing I love most about growing up.