Being 23

Aaliyah Abarca | Writer

Everything happens for a reason, right?

Well, that’s what I try to tell myself at least.

I think most of us can agree that the last few years have been a whirlwind, and we might still be in the process of finding an adjusted routine that works for us. For me, that includes going back to school and getting my life “back on track.”

Being 23 feels like an awkward age to be right now. I try to never compare my life to anyone else’s (key word: try), but what can I say? I’m only human.

Being 23 means you moved out of your parents’ house with a steady full-time job that you love with benefits and a 401K. It means you’re comfortable figuring things out on your own and automatically knowing how to file your taxes perfectly. It means not only having a well-balanced diet, but also making time for self-care and going to the gym five days a week.

But that’s not what 23 means to me, and certainly not what it has to mean to you.

Being 23 means you’re allowed to not put so much pressure on yourself. It’s okay to put yourself out there and do something out of character for a change. You can ask for help without feeling ashamed or embarrassed, because you don’t have to be a perfect mold of a human being to be labeled successful.

But what do I know? I’m only 23.