I’m 18

It’s my 18th birthday tomorrow, and I feel like I should post something to mark the occasion, as it’s also Symphonic’s 1 year birthday. It’s odd thinking back to last year, how I lay in bed and cried when I woke up because I didn’t want to be 17. Now I can’t wait to be 18 – I don’t think being 17 sucked all that much, I’m just ready to officially be an adult.

So, in a completely predictable way, here’s a look back on all the things I learned over the past year, and how I learned them. Interestingly, I think I learned a lot of important life lessons.

• There are people out there who will try and bring you down, if only to make things easier for them. You have to fight for what you want. I think I used to be very naive… well, I probably still am, but this year I realised that a lot of people just don’t care about you. Filling out my UCAS form has been really stressful recently, and a lot of people tried to oppose some of my choices. In the end I had to take a step back, and think “this is my future, and I am going to do what I want with it.” It turned out that when I asserted myself and told them to stick it, a lot of people sat up and stopped hassling me.
• At the same time, standing up for who you are and what you believe in will earn you a lot of respect and admiration, even if it’s not obvious. I’ve had arguments with teachers, and I’ve said controversial stuff. However each time when I take a stand for what I really believe is right I’ve had someone come up to me afterwards and thank me. It’s so worth it.
• Don’t be scared to do something big. You can do it, and you can probably do it better than most people. As my singing teacher says, “you’ve got to walk out there and mentally give the audience the fingers”. I’ve got my concert on Wednesday – I’ll be putting this into practice then. I’m so glad my teacher made me do this, because I’ve got so much confidence and I know I’m going to LOVE IT!
• Enjoy yourself in everything you do. If you’re not enjoying yourself, it’s not worth your time. I can’t stress enough – just do what you enjoy. I realised that the course I was originally going to apply for just wasn’t my favourite thing in the world, and why would you not want to spend the rest of your life doing something you enjoy?
• You are your number 1 priority. You have to worry about yourself first before you worry about anyone else. If you don’t, then you’re letting yourself down.
• People don’t change. Trying to make them change is a waste of time. I think I wasted my time a bit this year for the past three years.
• The people who matter like you for who you are. Particularly, even if the sluttily dressed girls get all the attention for a while, people will remember you and like you.
• Grades, interviews and Oxbridge isn’t the end-all-be all, no matter what school people might say and think.
• And finally – I AM AWESOME. I am, aren’t I?!

So, here’s to adulthood. May it be filled with giggles¹.

1. my first present from Vicky was a mug with Little Miss Giggles on it. So typical of our Music lessons [↩]

Tags: adult, awesome, birthday, friends, future, life, me, this year