Twenty-three is my Favorite Age

Do you guys know those old beachballs with hand written questions all over it you used in college leadership groups and other get-to-know-you group settings? Well, if you've never seen one, I encourage you to imagine it-- or look it up. 

The other afterschool facilitator and I have been slowly but surely adding questions to this orb in hopes that the students will begin having some more meaningful discussions and share about themselves without feeling like they're diving head first into vulnerability. We've been adding "easy" questions like "What's your favorite color?" and "What's your favorite season and why?" to ease them into talking about themselves. Then one of our students asked to add the following question:

What was/is your favorite age and why?

Some of the students' responses were vulnerable and I'm not sure they even realized it. One of them said when they were 9 because it was before they started having to take responsibility of themselves. Another students said ages 1 to 3 because that was when he lived in Mexico and life was just so much easier than it is now. I think those are very telling responses, I'm not sure if they recognized the same vulnerability, but I was grateful for their courage. 

This question also got me thinking. What was my favorite age and why? Let me indulge you in my response. 

Twenty-three is my favorite age. I am not trying to tell you that I am ridiculously happy right now...because honestly, these past many weeks have been some of the most trying times I've ever gone through, and I'm not happy. 

BUT, this question got me really thinking about what my favorite age is...despite this stretch of trudging my last few months. Here is why 23 is my favorite age:

• I completed a year of service for my country (Shout out to all FEMA Corps Class 20A)
• I moved to a brand new city knowing no one but the people I came with
• I went from having no home and no income in Denver and within two weeks, I had both a room over my head AND a job
• I am expanding my experiences and interests by juggling 4 jobs in 4 completely different categories of work (youth development, coffee, musical education, administrative work)
• I'm slowly overcoming my fear and hatred of networking
• I put my whole heart into making a long distance relationship work for nearly my entire 23rd year
• I ran 75+ miles in the National Mall/Washington, DC when I lived there
• I was givin a glowing letter of recommendation from the Director of Operations at FEMA Headquarters in Washington, DC
• I wrote (the first draft of) a novel
• I made friends in Denver and re-connected with old ones
• I fell in love with working with high school youth...perhaps shaping the path of a future career

There is no denying that life is hard right now. But 23, man. Look at all the cool stuff I did when I was 23! And I mean, those are only the things that were super duper cool that stick out to me. I still know there's even more than that. I completely flipped my life up-side-down when I was 23 and I'm still managing to keep my head above water (even if it's just long enough to breathe).

I turn twenty-four in 18 short days. Any suggestions on how I can end this already badass year with an unforgettable bang? Let me know--after you check out the pictures from my 23rd year below, of course. 

New Friends and Old Friends on St. Patrick's Day 2015.

The wonderful group of women I work with at Mi Casa Neighborhood Center
 at North Campus.

One of the many gorgeous views of the monuments in the National Mall.

The first night in our house. No furniture and hardly enough utensils to cook.

On our way to Denver, CO.

My life-changing AmeriCorps Team, Bayou 6, at our Awards Banquet.

Thanks to all who made 23 the most memorable, challenging, and exciting year of my life. I plan to grow and challenge myself and cry just as much when I'm 24. I hope you'll be a part of it.