When I was younger, I always wanted to grow up too fast. I always wished I was older than I was so that I could do things that the "big kids" were doing. But now that I'm 18, I realize that I wish I could stop growing up. Life as a young adult is hard. There are so many things I now have to worry about. And when I was younger all I had to do was pass my classes in school and go outside and play with my friends.

As a young adult, I wish I could go back in time to when life was easier. No worries, care free, I could go outside and play all day long, and then I could nap and then eat dinner and still have energy to run around to play. Now I have to worry about a job, putting gas in my car, having money to go out with my friends or even my family. (The low-key root to all evil: money).

Don't get me wrong, even at the age I am I wish I was older so that I can do things, but I feel like you're always wanting to be older than you are. Then we reach our parents' age and want to do everything all over.

I was always told from a young age by my parents to stay in my lane, that with time I'll be able to do what I want when the time comes. And I've learned that they were right. I see girls that are between 12 and 14 wearing caked up makeup, with booty shorts and crop tops, like I wear now. But when I was 12, I was wearing this:

(Damn, I was cute!)

Now, there are girls that are between 16 to 18 years old going to the bars and nightclubs In Atlantic City. Dressing grown with tight little dresses, and their everything hanging out.

I feel like if we grow up too fast and do the things we are supposed to do when we are 21 or older at a younger age like 16, what are we going to want to do when we become 21? Won't all that get boring? What will there be for us to do then?

I've learned to enjoy my age. I still have a lot that I have to do at my age, and I can definitely wait to do all the things later in life. I'm in no rush to grow up — though sometimes I do wish to be older — but that just means more responsibility for me, and I'm content where I am in life. I can wait to do all that stuff in 3 years.

So I'm going to enjoy being an 18-year-old girl that goes to the beach with my close friends and works during the summer, instead of wasting my money partying.