I recently read an article on Refinery29 on the reboot of Degrassi, a Canadian teen-drama whose 14 seasons help shape my adolescence, and how television show reboots are no longer aimed at my age group. Excuse me?
As a loud and proud millennial, because let’s face it we are simply the best generation, I read and reread the article, wondering who the writer thought they were to tell me that I might no longer be able to relate to Degrassi.
My first thought: that is simply not possible. For one, I don’t feel old as I still giggle at inappropriate jokes and secondly, I can handle my alcohol – preferably tequila – the same way I did in my early 20s. But after sitting at my desk contemplating my entire existence, I came to the sad conclusion that in a way I am getting “old.”
Now I use parentheses around “old” because I believe growing older is a privilege, one that is unfortunately not granted to everyone equally, but my occasional back pain and peeking gray hair are proof that the years are accumulating a lot faster than I imagined- or would have liked for that matter.
The reminders of my age pop up in the most unexpected ways.
While talking to my baby sister, who is six years younger and a gen z’er, about the popular HBO show “Euphoria,” I am reminded that high school is entirely different than it was when I graduated in 2010.
“This is what really is happening in schools right now?” I ask her, terrified for my future children and contemplating homeschooling as the only viable option.
“Honestly yeah, it is nothing like it was before,” she assures me.
Kids these days, I find myself thinking. Then I cringe at the fact that the phrase even crossed my mind. But the reality is always there, right in front of you, staring back at you in the mirror, reminding you to moisturize twice a day because skin care is your new best friend.
But I got to grow up off screen, with no social media to influence my adolescent decisions. Sure, we had MySpace and then Facebook but I thank God that Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok, while my now favorite social media platforms, were non existing during my formative years. Kids these days don’t get that luxury.
Millennials, we are the lucky ones in this case, getting the best of two worlds, knowing that our stupid adolescent mistakes were not captured on camera and uploaded to TikTok to go viral.
Then, my sister, who has always been my best friend, invites me to her parties and I find myself amongst young 20-somethings – a 180 from the times when she was the “tag-along.”
I hear about their boy problems and friend group drama and I just want to assure them that it gets better, that boys their age are stupid but they will learn to navigate dating without compromising who they are, that time heals everything.
But then I remember how I was at their age. How I ignored my mother’s advice – she is a Boomer after all – and I realize that there are going to be moments where the only thing I can do is be there to help pick her back up after the fall. Some lessons you need to learn for yourself. As my Mexican mother always says, the devil is wiser because he is old, not because he’s the devil. Sorry, it sounds better in Spanish.
So maybe we are getting older. Maybe we are starting to trade in our wild 2 a.m. crowded dance parties for game nights and charcuterie boards but why does that make us so nervous? Why does that reality make us want to hold on to the remainder of our youths? To be honest, I am not totally sure but I know it isn’t all bad.
There is a calmness in knowing who you are as a person – something that only comes with age – in realizing that you are ready to settle down and that means no more having to swipe left or horrible first dates, in establishing daily routines that help you feel your best, in healing your trauma and realizing that there are still so many firsts you have yet to experience.
As I text my sister for new music for my playlist, which I know I’ll probably delete later because as much as I try I cannot get into Lil Nas X, I think about how I was at her age and I hope she has as much fun as I did and makes better choices. So yes, I am getting older but I believe the best is yet to come, partially because I didn’t peak in high school.
And to the people I called old when I was 18 – I’m sorry, I get it now.
Amaris E. Rodriguez is a staff writer for The Northeast Georgian. Reach her at 706-778-4215 or arodriguez@cninewspapers.com.