I cannot remember a day that I really truly had to do something for myself. Whether it’s been 18, 20 or 22 years since you were brought into this universe, you have pretty much had a constant support system. Your dad likely managed your bank account (I know mine does). Your dad filed for FAFSA because you had no clue what FASFA even stood for. Your mother does your laundry, and she definitely is the only person that can cook you nutritious food. Without all of these “assistants” to help you make it through adulthood, how are you going to do it?

I live like a 5 year old. Most people I know do, too. My diet is one that consists of Chick-fil-A, chai tea, easy mac and drunken burgers at 3 a.m. It also consists of some wine (usually every night) so it’s very easy to say that I do not lead a healthy life. But what young adult really can? We are in this incredibly strange turmoil of going from child to “adult.” But, let’s be real, none of us are doing this “adulting” thing well. How many times do you slug around and lay in bed until 2 p.m.? How often do you avoid doing laundry so that your laziness allows your room to start smelling like the wet towels you’ve used in the shower for the past 3 weeks? I know that I experience these problems far too frequently, and that is simply not what an adult would do.

It sounds absolutely horrid to wake up every single morning, put on those “big kid pants” and make some money. No one wants to wake up every morning at 5 to make their morning commute in time for work. No one wants to sit in an office from 9-5 only to come home, eat dinner and go right to sleep just to repeat it all the next day. Adult life is sucky. Big thumbs down and giant middle finger to the more mature days.

Realistically though, it’s not that scary. It’s hard, but life in general is hard. It’s hard to be out on your own, and supporting all of your wants and needs on your salary and only yours. Most kids are probably used to their parents funding money to feed us, clothe us and to shower us with love. So, it’s really not an exhilarating time when the parent’s duties as “assistant” come to an end. It’s important to avoid looking at growing up that way, though.

Adulthood is a time to give back, and it’s a time to allow yourself to be proud of whom you’ve become. With the money you make, you can send your parents away on a trip as a “thank you” for teaching you so well after all of these years. The reward you will feel when you buy your first MacBook with your own money will be incomparable to any other. Just think about the traveling across the world you can do with your own funds. Think about the credit cards to all of your favorite stores that you can have! Adulthood is good, because it allows you to be independent. Why fear something so much that frees you and gives you your independence? Celebrate making it this far in life and keep on “adulting” to the best of your abilities. It pays off.