Last week, I was planning out my birthday weekend and I realized something. This birthday would be the first in my life that I wouldn’t be spending with my mom. For most college-aged people, birthdays usually involve parties, friends, and nights that won’t be remembered, but that’s not what I wanted to do. I sometimes joke that I’m not a “good” college kid, because I don’t enjoy the party scene and would much rather be the designated driver for my group of friends. My upcoming birthday and the desire to spend it with my mom made me realize that growing up really isn’t everything I imagined it would be.

Growing up as a kid, I couldn’t wait to grow up, drive, go to college, get married, etc. I didn’t realize then that I was wishing precious time away. I look back now and realize all the things that I took for granted because I didn’t realize how much everything changes as you get older. I’d give anything to go back to the days of riding the bus to school and spending the entire summer at the swimming pool.

If my time in college has taught me anything, it’s that growing up kind of sucks. No longer do I have the luxury of my mom’s home cooked meals or the freedom of not having homework every night. Instead, I have to go to the grocery store, do my own laundry, and spend more time learning about x-rays than sleeping. (Paying for my own Netflix subscription is pretty rough, too.) Even with only a year with independence completed, I can already say that college and this whole “growing up” ordeal isn’t as glamorous as I thought it would be.

I’ll be starting my junior year of classes in August, and the thought of only having 2 more years before adult-hood begins is absolutely terrifying. This summer was the first time that I’ve ever had to live by myself and oh, what a learning and growing experience it has been! At first I hated being alone, but now with only 2 weeks left of summer semester, I actually feel content during my quiet evenings doing homework or watching Grey’s Anatomy by myself. Of course, I love it when my roommates do come to visit or I have classmates over to study, but it’s crazy to me how much “growing up” I’ve done this summer.

My time in college has made me realize that time never stops moving, and it seems to go by even faster the older that you get. So embrace the little things in life and do anything and everything while you can. Go to that concert. Eat that ice cream cone. Travel the world. You’re never going to stop growing up, so you might as well embrace it! Never forget to tell your mom that you love her, and remember to visit her whenever you can. I promise she’s just as sad as you are about this “growing up” thing.