There comes a time in every young adult’s life that most of them look forward to. I am of course talking about the infamous 21st birthday and as I write this, I am just a few short days away from mine. Soon I can legally buy alcohol and finally hit the bars. But with this newfound freedom comes some certain responsibilities and some complaints.

Now, although society doesn’t want to admit it, most young people engage in underage drinking, sometimes with dangerous consequences. It seems like every day there is another news story about a drunk driving accident or alcohol poisoning, usually involving underage people. Where are they getting all this alcohol? It’s either bought by someone else and given to them or, the more risky option, bought using a fake ID. The risk of getting caught is sometimes more enthralling than actually getting booze in the first place. When one actually turns 21, the thrill goes away and it becomes less of a problem. Personally, I never tried the whole fake ID thing since I thought waiting to buy it myself was more exciting.

I realize I may sound like an old man reprimanding a younger generation but this brings me to my next point; just because someone can legally drink doesn’t mean she is "old." I can’t even recall how many times I’ve heard someone complain, "Oh, I’m so old," "old" being the early 20s. Quite frankly, it’s very annoying since I believe someone is as old as they feel. Just look at the stories about people in their 70s and 80s climbing mountains, jumping out of planes and other extreme activities. It amazes me when someone who can’t even rent a car yet truly thinks he’s lived. I for one by no means consider myself old and am just getting started on this crazy adventure called life.

Unfortunately for me, my birthday falls on a Sunday this year which kind of limits the amount of fun I can have to celebrate. Soon enough though, I can grab a drink with friends at a bar or buy my own to drink at home. I don’t get carried away though since I know my limit, a skill that more college students need to develop. It’s always entertaining seeing the drunken antics that go on around campus on the weekend and sometimes even during the week. From having someone walk into my room mistakenly multiple times to discovering that the elevator was trashed with cans and garbage, there is never a dull moment when it comes to drunken idiots. People also apparently like vandalizing things when affected by alcohol since I’ve found exit signs destroyed and even one of those R.A. boards ripped off the wall. But isn’t that what you’re supposed to do when you turn 21, you ask? No actually, that’s all supposed to stop but never does.

Lets recap; if you learn anything from reading this, remember that being able to buy alcohol at 21 is a privilege, realize what being "old" means and don’t drink too much or risk becoming the next joke of Youtube. Enjoy your youth and turning 21.

I know I will.