Second to my biggest fear is adulthood, with my first being rats! I know it’s an irrational fear to be scared of such tiny creatures, but rats have scared me to tears, so no judgment, please.
Speaking of fears, adulthood didn’t always scare me. In fact, I eagerly looked forward to it in my early teens—dreaming of a much taller me (though reality struck hard when puberty didn’t include height for me), adult friends, adult conversations, and endless freedom. But the very freedom I once dreamed of turned out to be what makes adulthood so challenging. It’s like a double-edged sword—it can cut both ways, depending on how you use it. Freedom is both a gift and a burden. On one side, endless possibilities and opportunities await me; on the other, the immense pressure of making the right choices for myself weighs me down.
Small moments like these have shaped my expectations about adulthood. “I can’t wait to be older”, says a 12-year-old girl as her mother scolds her for not eating Bhenta (Brinjal/eggplant). Add Bhenta to my list of fears!
As a 20-year-old just stepping into adulthood and feeling the weight of the ‘real world,’ I know it will be tough—and only getting tougher—not to disappoint myself or others. I once heard someone say, ‘If the road you’re walking on has no obstacles, then you’re on the wrong road.’ I’ve come to realize that might be true. Being in uncomfortable situations, making tough decisions, and engaging with people different from yourself helps you grow immensely. Stepping out of your comfort zone to face challenges may be difficult, but it leads to personal growth. Things won’t be as easy as they once were.
As I look back at my early teens, the things I worried about were whether I had arranged my books according to the routine, where my ribbons were, and if Nobita would marry Shizuka in Doraemon! Those worries were so simple, yet now they feel distant—replaced by the complexities of adulthood.
I’m not qualified to advise on navigating adulthood because I’m still learning myself. But one thing I know for sure—I couldn’t do this without the support of others and learning to be there for myself.
Strive to become someone your younger self would be proud of. Although entering adulthood seems scary, tough, and full of difficult choices, it’s the obstacles that shape who we become. Ultimately, adulthood is about making intentional choices for my growth while considering those around me… aaand eating bhenta. I still can’t eat bhenta—I’ve got a long way to go, ha-ha!