They say your frontal lobe is fully developed at 25. I wonder if it’s going to feel different—or if I’m going to feel different. Last year, my friends and I had this inside joke: whenever we’d make a silly decision or fail to think something through, we’d laugh and say, “Well, can’t blame us—our frontal lobes aren’t fully developed yet.” I guess I can’t use that excuse anymore.

Age is such a loaded topic because there’s so much weight and so many expectations tied to it. You’re at that age where family members start making those, “When are you getting married?” jokes. And suddenly, you shift from being the kid asking adults questions at family functions to being the adult kids start asking things from. Like kid, I don’t know either—go ask your mom or something!

Oh, and don’t even get me started on Christmas presents. What’s that about? Just because I have a job now doesn’t mean I don’t deserve gifts. I miss the days when my uncles and aunts would hand me a note with R200 in it—that was the good stuff! Honestly, I’d still be thrilled to get that. Like, Uncle, hand it over!

And then there’s the way you start seeing your parents differently. You realise they’re just as much of a kid as you are, and that idealised version of them you had in your head? It dissipates. Suddenly, when they tell you about some wild conspiracy they found on social media, you’re like, Oh no, they don’t know what they’re talking about.

But growing up isn’t all bad. You start asserting yourself more. You stop people-pleasing and avoid doing things you don’t want to do—and that’s honestly my favourite part. Saying no? Incredible! It feels absolutely wrong and terrifying at first, but it’s also so freeing.

What’s a 25-year-old adult even supposed to feel like? Am I suddenly going to want to get married and have kids? Or maybe buy a house? Or do something majorly adult-y like that? Am I going to magically understand stocks, bonds, and retirement annuities? Sounds boring. Are boring things going to start being fun? I mean, I’m already starting to get excited about cutlery and plates—what’s next?!

Hopefully, getting older brings calm and peace. Maybe I’ll stop sweating the small stuff I always magnified in my head. Maybe I’ll start saving more and finally take that trip overseas I’ve been saying I’d do since I was 18.

Whatever happens, I’m excited. It’s all an experience. No matter what comes my way, it’ll be something to learn from, and that’s what life is all about.

- Anonymous