My ongoing journey to becoming an adult and creating my own life
By: Laura
When I was ten, I couldn’t wait to grow up. Adulthood looked like a dream: freedom, parties, relationships, staying up as late as I wanted, and never having to ask for permission for anything again. I used to fantasize about it like it was a prize waiting for me just around the corner.
Fast forward ten years later…
*Spoiler alert* I had it all wrong.
If I could trade places with my childhood self, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Back then, my biggest concern was choosing which Barbie to play with or which colour bows to put in my hair. Life was simple, and peace came easily.
A few months ago, I turned twenty and with that milestone came a flood of thoughts I think most people face at some point. They may take different forms, different phrasing, but at their root, they all ask the same question:
What am I doing?!
In my case, I wasn’t prepared for anything. One day, I just woke up and realized I was no longer a teenager. And it felt nice, but also... terrifying.
Growing up, we’re given tools to thrive in math, grammar, and science, but when we leave school, we’re suddenly expected to figure out everything else on our own – most of us could support with things like personal finance, navigating relationships, dealing with rejection, or even filling out college applications. No one actually teaches you how to be an adult. Realizing that has left me questioning… How do I succeed at something I’ve never been taught?
Adulthood doesn’t come with a welcome party. There’s no user manual, no warm-up round. You just… start.
Suddenly, your life belongs to you, and all of your choices (both good and bad) fall entirely on your shoulders. It’s empowering, yes. But also, incredibly overwhelming.
I don’t know how relatable this is to others, but I like to believe this is a universal experience.
After I turned twelve, I started feeling like life belonged to me. And that’s when the real challenges and joys began.
The power of creating my own life…
At seventeen, I decided to move to Canada. The choice of what to study was always clear: Creative Writing.
Leaving behind my home, my family, my country, all to start my life somewhere completely new, was terrifying. But it was also the bravest thing I’ve ever done. Colombia will always be my home. But after moving abroad, I learned that home isn’t always a location; it’s about the people.
I left my biological family behind, but I’ve slowly built a new one. A found family made up of people I met by chance, people without whom I wouldn’t have survived this transition as positively as I did.
Yes, I moved into a house with a nightmare landlord. But I also met five amazing girls who became my support system and closest friends. Every day we just sat at the kitchen table and talked for hours about anything; it didn’t matter how bad of a day I had, they always made it better. Even though we don’t live together anymore, our friendship stays strong.
Then one day, I came across a job posting that would truly change my life; it was for the events team at the SSU. It was my first job ever, and I was terrified. But from the moment I stepped into the room, I felt like I belonged. It felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
The people I used to see every day became less like coworkers and more like siblings. Even my manager felt more like a maternal figure than a boss. Bit by bit, I built a community, a family that gave me the sense of belonging I had been missing.
Even thousands of kilometres away from where I was born, it finally felt like home.
The moral of the story?
I guess the point of all this is that it’s okay not to have everything figured out.
I certainly don’t. I’m just twenty, I’m still learning, still trying, still falling and getting back up again. And honestly? Even if I were twenty-five or thirty, not knowing shouldn’t be something to fear. It should inspire us to keep exploring, to keep becoming who we are meant to be.
I thought I needed to have everything figured out, have a timeline for all of my important life events, but the reality is that life is far more enjoyable when you are not worrying about an imaginary milestone you've got to accomplish before a certain age.
Life doesn’t follow a perfect timeline. There’s no age where you’re suddenly expected to “arrive.”
You are allowed to take your time.
You are allowed to not know.
And you are definitely allowed to still be figuring it all out.
Liked this blog?
Explore more blogs written by our Sheridan student community, from our Creative Corner Artist Talks, to our Staff Q&A’s, you can find something to feel inspired by or to peek into what it is like to work at the SSU.
Curious about what a zine is or looking for a unique way to celebrate your creativity? Dexter, President of the Zine Club, dives into the history, activism, and creative power of zine-making on their blog! Whether you’re an artist or not, discover how zines offer a physical way to express yourself 🖋️✂️🎨