Turning 21 is no doubt the most monumental birthday we experience as young adults since we took that oh-so-drastic leap from age twelve to enter our elusive “teenage years.” Despite its implications, it’s no secret that almost everyone approaching their 21st birthday has been making a mockery of the legal drinking age since their high school days when they frequented their parents liquor cabinet before escaping to their friend's--whose parents were out of town--for the weekend. As a result, the 21st birthday has taken on a completely new significance that doesn’t involve a person’s first encounter with an alcoholic beverage.In fact, as I approach my 21st birthday, an overwhelming sense of sadness overcomes me when I think of bidding adieu to my underage recklessness. What about my fake ID? So many good times were had posing as some random blonde from Florida, and I might even experience separation anxiety once she’s out of my life for good.

I can honestly say that I feel the same way about my upcoming legal presence downtown as I will a few years down the road when my friends actually start trying to get pregnant: I’m so old. Because the 21st birthday now represents the turning point from our years spent drinking on our parent’s dime, free of responsibilities, to our entrance into the adult world, the 21st birthday sign is of extreme importance. It serves as a physical memento you’ll be able to look back on when you’re older to reminisce upon the “glory days.”  It must be cute in appearance, but highly inappropriate in content. No one wants a dilapidated birthday sign that their lackluster friends put together an hour before the pregame. It takes thought, time, and effort, and absolutely must stand out from the run of the mill sign. Unfortunately, because the 21st birthday sign has become a staple over the years, many feature the same mundane tasks as everyone else’s, including:“Collecting 21 dollars”:  this is both boring and pointless, especially on a night when the birthday girl is guaranteed to be getting free drinks all night anyway. “Text the 21 contact in your phone”: there is simply nothing special about this. In fact, chances are she already did this last Wednesday after a round or two of 32 oz. wells at drink specials. 
“Take a picture getting ID’d at the bar”: absolutely no one should be sober enough to operate any type of machinery, including the camera on your iPhone.
So spice it up a bit--the more outrageous, the better. She’ll be grateful for the time and effort you put into making her birthday so special the next morning when she wakes up with her head in the toilet, feeling accomplished. 

Remember: friends don’t let friends have ordinary birthdays.