18.
Time has always been a curious thing; I always knew it would pass quickly, but 18 y.o felt like a distant dream. But here I am, officially an adult.
I was in the library after the classes, in silence. My mind kept going over the memories of my childhood—my first day of school, the fencing classes, the laughter, the tears —all of those moments and the carefree days of being a kid.
As I was there I recalled the days with my family, the laughter around the dinner table, and the simple joy of being together. Being 5 thousand kilometers away, studying at KAIST, was an adventure that I looked forward to, but I never realized how much I was taking my home for granted.
Perhaps it was the most nostalgic day. But I wouldn't say the day was filled with missing and sorrow. I went to the swimming pool and sauna (my favorite extracurricular rn tbh), had a lovely dinner with my friends, and received a gift from KAIST. It was a nice day, nothing to complain about.
Now, I am back to studying for finals. Only 2 weeks to go. Hopefully, I'm gonna nail it). Math and Physics are lovely subjects, they are difficult in their way but I still like something about them. General Chemistry is my biggest concern. But I still have high hopes.
I hope to read this post in the future, perhaps at 23 or 24. I will already be a different, hopefully improved person. It is going to be like opening a math textbook from primary school, and realizing that what seemed tough then has become effortless now. I believe that the obstacles I face in the years to come will one day appear equally conquerable.
I don't see my 18th birthday as a special type of day. But it does a great job of reminding me that time truly flies. It makes me reflect on the past, the 18 years that I have lived.
Oh and by the way, it turns out that in Korea, you are legally considered an adult when you are 19. But hey, I don't want to wait for another year to feel and act like an adult. Because at the end of the day, turning 18 or 19 isn't just about getting a driver's license or being able to vote.
Age is just a number, they say. And perhaps they are right.
@javokhiraliev