As a 21-year-old, I often find myself standing on the precarious tightrope between adolescence and adulthood, caught in the paradoxical dance of being both immature and mature.

Some people tell me to just live up my life as a college kid, embrace the uncertainty, and relish the freedom. Others tell me to have more responsibility and act like an adult.

Interestingly, my life consists of both aspects. Let's consider some examples.

Sometimes, I get indulged by the allure of binge drinking, which clearly reveals my childishness. Or I get lost in an unstoppable love life and struggle to work things out. On the mature side, I have an internship with heavy responsibilities that require professional skills. I buy things that I want with the money I've earned. I even contemplate marriage and having kids. From a political perspective, I can vote in an election, and I can even be sentenced for criminal acts. The list goes on and on.

Who knew that 21 could be this confusing? At least, I didn't know. Regardless of whether it is fun or not, I have been experiencing the dichotomy between youthful exuberance and the weight of adulting. This transitional phase is akin to a labyrinth where the boundaries of responsibility and freedom blur, creating a tapestry of confusion and self-discovery.

Maybe you never get to a destination, which means that you never fully become an adult, even as you age. Because what I have been learning from this so-called adulthood is that it is not a destination but a continuous, ever-evolving process.

So hey, let's embrace the confusion, dance on the tightrope, and revel in the paradox of being 21.