As I get closer and closer to finishing my sophomore year of college and starting my junior year, I start thinking that I’m “in the clear” in terms of apprehension about growing up. Recently, the light bulb in my head went off as if to tell me, “LOL Brayden- that’s bullshit.” That light bulb was right. I do believe that as we get older we become more prepared for what the real world has in store for us, but the nervousness stays. We will always question whether or not we’re actually ready for it. Our generation overthinks EVERYTHING. But sometimes, we need to. College is an eye-opening experience and its okay to not be okay all the time. It’s okay to feel inadequate and unprepared. After being in college for two years now, I thought I was one of those people that just never got homesick. As of a few weeks ago, I was proven wrong. I woke up one morning with the random urge to be home with my Mom and Dad. One day I was content with my life and the next I would have done anything to change a few things in it.

When I entered my twenties last year I was stoked to no longer be a teen. But then, as you get farther into this new decade, you start to panic. Is my major good enough? Will I graduate on time? Am I going to get a job? Do I need to start looking for a husband? Will I be financially stable to get my own place in a couple years? Am I ready to be an adult? Do I still need my parents or can I make it on my own?

YIKES.

I know that probably sounds utterly ridiculous to read, but I’m serious. That happens to all of us twenty-year-olds in college about once a month or so. We worry and we worry a lot. But I want to remind us all that it’s our time to be a little selfish. We’ve worked so hard for the last 20 years to be where we are today! We should be celebrating and cheering each other on.

God bless Tumblr:

No matter how much growing up we do, we are the same person at our core. We still value, crave and need the same things. Although we get frustrated with life and scared at times, it isn’t any less rewarding. We’ve all been blessed with incredible opportunities that may simultaneously invigorate and terrify us. Relish in those feelings and take everything one day at a time. You have everything you need to complete the day, and what you don’t have but need for tomorrow will come. Have faith, enjoy every single day and be humble. But most importantly, be hungry for life.