I just turned 21 a week ago. Most of my third year friends already were 21 and I felt like the kid who was always holding them back. Now I’m 21, and while it is convenient, it feels a bit anticlimactic. I gathered my favorite TV characters to help explain.
1. Not that much changes
Alcohol is the fuel of the college student — when we’re not drinking coffee, that is. Much like April is doing, I want to thank it for starting a lot of ridiculous stories. But, unless you wait until the legal age to have your first drink (in which case, congratulations), your social calendar probably hasn’t shifted much.
2. Everyone else already had their big celebration
I especially feel this way having a summer birthday. Everyone else got signs with 21 dares, and crowns and went to vineyards and all that. By the time I turned 21 it was like, oh, thank God. Cool stuff.
3. The next day will undoubtedly be awful
That’s just the sign of a good time, right? Feeling like death is imminent.
4. You spend way too much money
Because “Treat Yo Self.” Or something. Bar drinks are expensive. It was way cheaper drinking Keystone at fraternity parties.
5. Handing your ID to the bouncer
In my opinion, this is the best part. Saying, "Yeah, that’s me, I’m 21!"
6. Feeling kind of old
I realized on my birthday that this was my last birthday where I get to do something. At 16, you can drive a car. At 18, you’re an adult. At 21, you’re the legal drinking age. I guess you can rent a car when you’re 25, but that doesn’t really say “milestone” to me.
7. You can brag to your not-legal-yet friends
I endured this. I will certainly be taunting some 20-year-olds in the near future.
8. You can deal with your problems in a legal way
I don’t know about you, but this sounds like a quality Saturday night activity to me.
9. You're always one of the two people in this GIF
When you’re a first year, everyone is Andy: no responsibilities, dancing, carefree. Now, there’s usually at least one Chris of the group who has something important to do the next day. Plus, by 21, you “know your limits.”
10. You think you look like this![]()
You’re mature! You drink whiskey at nice bars wearing suits!
11. ...but you probably look like this
Not that there’s anything wrong with that. We all have got to let loose sometimes, right?
12. And you'll still have some nights like this
Tragic.
13. ...or confess things like this
I texted who?!
14. But everything is okay
At the end of the day, being 21 is pretty dang great. And we’re still young, even if we can’t stomach Four Lokos anymore.
