A lot of young adults and teenagers may want to be all grown up, but don’t realize the full responsibility of being all grown up. When I turned eighteen I had a rude awakening. From car payments to making my own dinner (and by dinner I mean ramen noodles), it was all a huge change. As I have gotten older however, I've learned that we learn to be all grown up as time goes on.

Many teens have said “I cannot wait until I turn eighteen, then I can do whatever I want!” Don’t I wish that were true, but I hate to break it to you, if your parents were anything like my Momma, you still had to abide by a curfew. There were rules before you were eighteen and there are rules after as well. They may suck completely, but our parents are giving us rules to make us better adults.

Boy did I underestimate how much I cost my Momma. Car insurance, phone bill, food, gas money, tithes for church, car repairs, make up, personal items, gifts for others, clothes, shoes, hair cuts, etc. It all added up so fast and it was so unexpected. So first thing I did was thank my Momma. I had no idea how much I money I would spend when it was just my Momma’s credit card. I learned to budget and save money quickly.

To pay for bills you have to have money, which requires a job. I never really had a real job until my junior year of high school, and that was just so I could pay my phone bill and have spending money for when I hung out with friends. Even so, working was something I did not have to do until I had a bill to be paid. I don’t know about you, but I did not enjoy working. I prefer to be on the beach during the summer, and wrapped up in a blanket by the fire place in the winter.

Some of us, though, are ready for that step in life; that cross over from teenager to adult. Once I got the hang of paying for my own things and all that other adult stuff, I started to notice myself grow. I am more responsible and respectful of others' belongings because I know how much something actually costs now. I learned how to pack a lunch instead of always spending money on food; I could go on about how much I think I grew. The important thing here is I did grow up a little, I learned how to be more of an adult, but I am very sure there is much more to learn.

Once I reached this level of adulthood, I started to realize I want my future. This upcoming fall I will be a full time junior in college. I stay out of trouble. I keep myself focused on what I want for my future. People my age have told me it is odd or shocking that I am ready for the future. Some even call me the mom of the group. Even though some friends think it's crazy I know I am ready for marriage, work, children, a home, etc.

In a way I feel all grown up, but at the same time I don’t. I still want to have fun and make mistakes. I still want to have a great college experience, and do as many things on my bucket list as I can. I have no idea what to do with a car besides put gas in it, drive it, and oil changes. I have no idea how a mortgage payment works, or how to raise a child. I do know how to learn though, and that’s what I plan to do. Learn as time goes on so I can be all grown up.