What Taylor Swift Didn’t Tell Us About Feeling 22

It pains me to say this, but Taylor Swift lied to us. I woke up on my 22nd birthday to Swift-puns, music, and high hopes for the year. Instead, I got a job search, student loans, and a move back into my parents house. Miserable, yes. Magical, not so much. Starting the second year of my twenties sounded so much fun, but living it was a bit different than the pop star laid out for me. I’m here to give you the real low-down on how it really feels to be 22.

When Swift’s song came out, I was still an under-aged college student sneaking into bars. As soon as that song came on, I truly felt like I was 22. I can remember scream-singing the lyrics on stage at a bar, drink in my hand, thinking the age must be this magical time where no deadline mattered and we all just kept dancing. I was so very wrong.

Actually being 22 was much harder than my girl, T. Swift made it seem. Somewhere between the falling in love with strangers and dancing like hipsters, Swift forgot to mention how mentally, physically, and spiritually frustrating it is to be 22 years old. You have to grow up at that age. I’m talking really grow up and make crazy big life decisions that you can’t even try to avoid or you just feel worse. Where was that in your song, Swift?!

Okay, so I have to give her some credit. She did touch of the fact that the big two-two brought a whole bunch of emotions — happy, free, confused, and lonely to be exact. But I would like to know where the real emotions were hiding in that song. What that line should really say is frustrated, semi-free, super confused, hung over OHYAAAA!

Don’t let me scare you, though. Being 22 is still sort of great. You can get into any bar, get to celebrate not being the legal baby anymore, and get to set out into the real world. (That last one is kind of a touchy subject, but for now we’ll keep it as a positive.) However, unlike your last birthday, the hangover will hit harder, no one wants to buy you as many drinks, and there’s no excuse for you throwing up after a night out. Swift’s song is pretty much the only thing great about the year, so thanks but no thanks T.Swift.

I get that our twenties are this fabulous time where we start to figure everything out, but unfortunately dancing our asses off won’t help with that process. So be as crazy and irresponsible as Swift paints the age out to be, but don’t forget that there are other struggles that the age brings.

After that catchy pop song is over, your student loans will still be there. Or you could just put the song on replay and dance forever. The choice is yours.

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