I recently turned 19 years old, and while my friends and family celebrated and actually looked forward to my birthday, I was the only one dreading it. So, why is it that I even forgot about my birthday as a whole and had to be constantly reminded by family and friends? When I turned 18, I was a senior in high school and, in that moment, I knew that it would be the turning point in my life. After that, everything just got harder and harder: this is what almost being an adult feels like.

1. Constant panic.

When in high school, the panic first came in while studying for the SATs and ACTs. Then, it was the process of deciding on what to major in, which college to attend and what exactly you wanted to do for the rest of your life. Now in college, it's trying to keep up with the huge workload of work, while maintaining a social life and getting sleep and good grades as well.

2. Responsibility.

In high school, being independent looked like it had many advantages, but the truth is, that's not the case. Young people aren't always known for making the best decisions. Responsibility in adult life is huge because suddenly everything is resting on your shoulders and you have to make real decisions. In college you have to decide whether to have a safe and easy college life or a fun and social college life. Maturity becomes a huge deal because this is when you start to prioritize many things in your life.

3. Being constantly broke.

Being broke in college is inevitable because if you don't have a job, you have to rely on your savings. This really just leads you to become paranoid and cautious with what you're going to spend your money on. If you do have a job, you're still broke because chances are you have bills to pay: phone bills; insurance if you drive; food; etc.

4. Always being hungry.

In my first semester of college, I realized how much I had under appreciated my mom's cooking. Your mom's cooking will always be A1, and campus food will never compare to it. Not only is mom's cooking healthier, but it's also made and served with love. In college, I was sometimes cheated on the foods I bought. I would have to pay almost 10 bucks for half servings. Sometimes the food was cold, raw, or undercooked. It was tragic.

5. Getting older and feeling older.

Before, I was able to wake up around noon without an issue; now I'm lucky if I actually sleep in. I constantly wake up between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. -- which is torture, especially if you want to sleep longer and your body doesn't allow it. There's that occasional waking up with a backache and you start to get more dark shadows under your eyes, showing your exhaustion to the world

6. Being stressed out.

There's not one day that goes by without me being constantly drained from stress. Stressed about grades, stressed about finding a job in the future, stressed about whether your major suits what you want to be in the future, stressed about the stress your friends are going through, etc. You're constantly finding yourself being stressed out, occasionally (or more often than usual), to the point where you get that constant appearance of pimples, showing the whole world your stress levels.

7. Being scared of the future.

There's not one day that I don't second guess my major, but I think that's normal. I think I find myself doing that because all I can think about are my student loans - I have to worry about having a job that will not only pay them off, but also ensure that I can live comfortably. Also, I don't want to wake up on day in my senior year where I suddenly think to myself 'this is not what I want to do for the rest of my life' and end up working in a job I hate. Being afraid and stressed is normal. At least it is for this age because this is the time of your life where you'll encounter the most change. But you shouldn't let fear or worry prevent you from continuing to live.

The faster you get accustomed to change, the better it is for moving on, so here's one last reason -- a good one, though -- for why being an adult isn't so bad: learning from experience.

At this point in life, you're bound to make mistakes but what's important is to learn from them. As J. Cole says,

"Fool me one time shame on you. Fool me twice, can't put the blame on you. Fool me three times, f**k the peace signs. Load the chopper, let it rain on you."

Also, if you have a goal, go for it. If you fail once, try again. Never sell yourself short and never doubt and underestimate yourself. Always try to accomplish what you put your mind to. Just remember the motto:

"Don't let your dreams be dreams."