Being 17 at Uni kind of sucks. I’ve only been here a month and have so far missed out on the Psyche pub crawl (as well as their weekly drinks), Beachball, and the 90s dance party (which I actually turned up to, dressed in my high school uniform... it was a picture of true sadness). So now that I'm finally about to turn 18, I'm just enjoying the last little dregs of being a kid. Twelve hours left!
My teenage life has been pretty regular, I guess, but I really wanted to flaunt my age in this post and now that that’s worn off, I just thought I’d fill you in on the rest of my life. And nothing is random compared to Tim’s sandstone chats, so toddle off and read that first for a bit of perspective. Here’s what thrilled me and what I discovered each year of my teen life.
When I turned 13, I got excited by the fact that I was a finally teenager. Also, I discovered that the little wavy things you sometimes see floating around the atmosphere and which move suddenly when you change your view are actually particles of dust on your eyeball (and by “discovered” I mean I guessed and I’m pretty sure I’m right. All you science nerds out there who reckon it’s something else... tell me).
When I turned 14, I was completely engrossed with glittery pens, and this was the year I discovered that my grandfather was not in fact 72, which is what I believed his age was for the past six years.
When I turned 15, the desire to get into MA movies had completely died, because we were finally allowed in. Plus, I discovered that the cons far outweighed the pros of being this age in that forgetting your concession card meant having to pay full fare for everything.
When I turned 16, things became legal to me that I wasn’t particularily interested in (don’t get your dirty minds rolling, I meant knives). This year, I discovered The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy
When I turned 17 there were pretty much no benefits, except being the age that I had always idealised from when I was younger as the year that epitomised being a teenager. Furthermore, I wished I was back in year 7 with nothing but a measley geography assignment and maths quiz to worry about (though they weren’t so measley back then). On Friday, I discovered that the Ferric Chloride I had accidentally spilt on my friend in year 11 chemistry has been eating through his jeans.
Right now I feel like there are infinite benefits of being 18, but I’m sure this conviction will wear off pretty soon. Meanwhile, I'm just feeling sorry for those winter babies who are still staying strong on 17.
Comments
Asako, I, like you, was 17 when I began uni. Unfortunately, my coming-of-age didn't come until the 28th of May.
One whole semester, down the drain.
Like Janis Ian sang, at 17 I learned the truth. The truth is that people who say "Being 18 is overrated" and "You don't need to go out and drink to have fun" are generally 17 themselves, and prove themselves wrong in the following years.
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Lauren | April 4, 2006 11:41 AM
Thanks Lauren! You probably went a lot better than most in first semester, as you had no legal way to fully screw yourself up except I suppose procrastinating which you seem to be Queen of...
Posted by: Asako | April 4, 2006 06:57 PM
"I discovered that my grandfather was not in fact 72, which is what I believed his age was for the past six years."
Funny that. I experienced the same thing - thinking my granddad was 64, for about 8 years in fact.
Posted by: Stephanie Rahardja | June 21, 2006 09:45 PM