Growing up is not at all what I thought it would be. Actually, it's the complete opposite. When I was ten years old, I thought grown-ups had it all. They had jobs, they could drive, they didn't have to listen to what their mommy or daddy told them to do, and my personal favorite, they didn't have a bedtime. Boy, did I think growing up was the coolest thing ever, and oh how I just could not wait until I could do all of those things. Now that I am actually beginning to approach adulthood, I have realized that my life has all been a lie.

There are three things I have found about growing up: it is the biggest trap you will ever fall into, way too many sacrifices are made and the responsibilities double in the blink of an eye. Let’s be honest, who actually finds enjoyment in trying to balance everything from school to work to extra-curricular activities plus a social life without having a panic attack and remaining completely sane? I sure know I don’t. (If anyone does stumble upon the golden child who can balance all of their activities without going insane, please send them my way because a sister could really use the help.) Being the perfectionist I am, I struggle with trying to be the best at everything and having all of the answers right then and there. I would also like to add that life does a complete 180 on you when you graduate college, and you go out to find a job that sucks the life out of you. Again, growing up is a trap so do everything in your power to stay young forever.

I cannot even begin to count all of the sacrifices I have had to make as I embark on this “lovely” journey into adulthood. Like I mentioned earlier, I still have yet to find this golden child who doesn’t have to make any sacrifices. There are these “experts” who have this theory that there are three components of a college students’ life, but that you can only pick two: good grades, sleep or a social life. Of course, I believed I could defy the odds and have a perfect balance between all three. About a semester into my college career, I was proven wrong, once again. I have learned the hard way that you cannot do everything and that you have to learn to say no. The worst part is that the small sacrifices that I have made in college are just the beginning.

Remember how I said that you have to say no? Well, I am still trying to learn this technique. Because I cannot say no, my responsibilities tend to exceed a normal capacity. Don’t get me wrong, I have gotten better since I first began college; however, this is one area I will always struggle with. You think that taking a burden off of someone else will make their life easier and make you a superhero when it really creates more stress and pressure on you. The faster you learn your limits and how to say no, the happier you will be. Responsibilities are inevitable, but not impossible.

Growing up is not all that it is cracked up to be. If I can go back in time and tell my ten-year-old self one piece of advice, I would tell her to stay young for as long as possible. Cherish the last days you have in your youth and do not stress about anything because you have the rest of your life to do that. Growing up does have its perks, but nothing will ever beat a carefree childhood.