“

Know how to use every household appliance. This means that you can run a load of laundry, use the vacuum, and assemble the coffee maker without the help of someone else.

“

You have stopped defending yourself constantly. You have stopped making so many excuses and instead, have learned to fess up and apologize when it’s necessary to do. In your friendships, relationships and in your life in general, you have learned to be more humble and to do the right thing no matter how hard it may be.

“

Growing up is in so many ways like running in circles. As soon as you master one thing, there’s something else that needs your attention and as much as you feel like you’re getting somewhere, sometimes you just feel lost.

“

You’ll always be young at heart.

“

You’ll learn these too.

“

The transition into adulthood isn’t formulaic, but I’ve tried my damnedest to prescribe the right steps to get me there, and maybe imparting them to you may save some poor soul who, like me, still hasn’t gotten her sh*t together.

“

For the first time in my whole life I have no direction. As a person very good at doing what I’m told (and not good at much else), this is please-push-me-off-a-cliff-frightening.

“

You don’t play the “I’m so awkward!” or “I’m such a mess, isn’t it cute?” game.

“

You make your friends text you when they get home and genuinely worry if they don’t.

“

I’m an avid believer that being in unfamiliar circumstances and doing things that seem scary can really develop character. I’ve never learned more about myself than times I’ve felt utterly unprepared.