I was born on 2nd November, 2003 so technically, I am 19. I use the word “technically” when talking about this because I do not associate myself with that number as much as I should. I’m still treated like a 19 year old by my family and relatives, but not by my friends. However, the truth is I only just started my adult life and every once in a while, I feel burdened by the responsibilities that are put upon me.

I have been working part-time jobs ever since I joined Pratt Institute as a 16 year old. I attended the first semester of Pratt online because of the pandemic and flew across the world when I was 17. I still remember what it felt like after my dad dropped me off at my dorm the first day of college. I did not have any roommates even though I was in a 4-person dorm room. That was my first day as an RA for students and I remember feeling so out of place because I did not know how to navigate through a work environment yet.

Over the last three years, I've picked up multiple jobs and internships along with my coursework and am now at the point where I should be looking for full-time jobs, but even the thought of that scares me.