I Guess I’m a Real Adult Now?

I graduated from college a year ago. So I’ve been reflecting on the last year and all that’s been going on in my life. And I’ve come to a conclusion.

I’m a real adult now.

And, yes, that should be a fairly obvious conclusion. I’m now 23 years old, so I’m legally an adult. I’ve gotten a degree, moved out of my parents’ house, bought a car, started paying bills, and generally take care of my self.

So I’ve considered myself an adult for a while.

But considering yourself an adult and really feeling like one are two different things, I’ve discovered. And while I’ve been a real adult for a while, there have been a few moments that really stand out in my memory of time that I really felt like an adult.

For example, I was applying for (and eventually starting) real, full-time jobs. I bought a car. I moved into an apartment all by myself, in a city hours away from family (or anyone I knew).

Recently I’ve had another one of those moments and I am so excited to share it with you!

As you may know, I attended Taylor University for college. I went there almost entirely for the Professional Writing program, which may be small but it’s pretty incredible. A few years ago, one of our professors started to make an effort to get the students to writers’ conferences. She felt they were a great way for students to make connections and get involved in the publishing industry before graduation.

For a few years, the professor took students to nearby writers conferences (I went, they were interesting), but she wasn’t quite happy with the conferences she was taking us to. So she and the head of the department decided to start their own writing conference. This year was the first year the conference happened and it went really well. It happened in August and had about 100 attendees.

Well guess who just got invited to be on faculty at the conference next year?

That’s right! ME!

Reading that email, inviting me to come to the conference, was definitely one of those “Wow, I’m really an adult/professional now” moments. I had this thought of “How am I qualified to give advice and teach these people?” But obviously my former teacher thinks I am, and I do know a lot about children’s publishing from my internships and current job.

So if any of you writers are going to be in Indiana in August next year, check out the Taylor University’s Professional Writing Conference. It looks like it’s going to be epic!

Until next time, word nerds!