Help...I'm an adult!

Yesterday, I was seven years old and collecting beanie baby toys from happy meals. Today, I’m 20 years old and collecting copious amount of debt with student finance. Can somebody please explain exactly how this has happened?

I know they say time flies when you’re having fun, but come on. I can’t be the only person to notice that recently time seems to have boarded the Concorde, and is flying faster than ever before. I’m now over half way through my three years at the University of Reading, and to think that there is now less time between now and my graduation than there was between now and moving into halls on the first day of fresher’s week terrifies me to my core. In the space of what feels like a few days, I have had to learn how to cook all my own meals, wash my own clothes, unblock the sink, change a lightbulb, pay utility bills and, worst of all, remove spiders without screaming for my Dad (although I have to admit, the spider issue does still cause all kinds of problems). This might not seem like a massive achievement to a lot of people, but when you find yourself in a situation where you have to make an instant transition from teenager to adult, the little things do come as a bit of a shock. 

Until recently, I was absolutely terrified of using the phone. Since starting university, I’ve had to use the phone for everything from booking taxis to chasing up job applications, which has slowly but surely helped me to overcome my phobia. I’m finally turning into one of those people that can’t bear to let their bedroom get into a complete tip. I’ve learnt how to manage my money, and how to say no to things I can’t afford. I’ve also learnt that when things don’t go your way, you can’t just bury your head in the sand and expect life to just fall neatly fall into place around you, because 99.9% of the time, it won’t – if you really want something, you need to work to make it happen. 

That said, I know I’m still far from being a fully qualified adult. I still don’t know how to stop my towels from going crunchy after they’ve been washed, and I still do stupid things like putting my dinner in the oven and forgetting to switch it on. The other day I managed to leave a 3000 page textbook in the local Co-Op. But the basics are definitely there. And although I’m ever so slightly terrified of leaving uni and entering the real world, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited at the same time - I’m looking forward to starting my career, and eventually moving out into my own place. Which is lucky really, because if the last few years are anything to go by, the next stage in my life will come around quicker than I dare to imagine.