In the movies when people turn 21 everyone raises their glasses in celebration, they go out and party all night, somehow meet the love of their lives at a trashy bar and live happily ever after. At the age of 22 people graduate college, sing Taylor Swift songs and head out into this big bad world. Then at age 23 things get real. They get scary and life throws a lot of curve balls. No one ever talks about age 23. I have decided that it is because it is an age full of change. No longer can you identify yourself as a student but also you are not quite an adult. It’s an in between year. A growing year. A lost year. At first I hated 23. I longed to bask in the carefree pleasures of age 21 or the newness of age 22 but instead I was bombarded with adulthood. Bills to be paid, jobs to be worked and hours not to be slept. I was so busy hating 23 that I didn’t realize I was actually enjoying myself.

For the first time in my life I feel as if I can handle all sorts of situations. At the Laundromat when my washing machine leaks soap everywhere I know not to tell the lady at the desk and instead secretly move my clothing to another machine. When the bottom of my car falls off (may or may not have run over a curb) I know that duck tape really does the trick. When a guy offers to buy me a drink at the bar I know to let him but then act like I have to use the restroom in order to avoid unnecessary dancing. I have learned at age 23 that it is okay to cry to your mom in the middle of the night because “life is hard and I cannot go on.” I also know that it is okay to be lost. Being lost is an important part of life. During this lost year I have grown so much. I have loved deeply. I have gained invaluable friendships. I have overcome hurdles that I never foresaw. I have felt empty and full simultaneously. I have truly learned my own strength. How wonderful is it to know that you can survive? If we skipped over age 23 we would definitely avoid some heartbreak but we would not be as strong. So to all of you 22 years olds out there, brace yourselves for age 23. I am not saying that it will be your favorite year but it will be a year worth living. You will be lost but it will all make sense the day that you are found.