I WAS IN A HURRY TO GROW UP - By Eloisa Marie Rodriguez

Written By: Eloisa Marie Rodriguez

Category: PERSONAL ESSAY

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Eloisa Marie Rodriguez invites us into a reflective journey with her personal essay "I WAS IN A HURRY TO GROW UP," a submission to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. In this poignant work, she explores the often nostalgic and complex emotions tied to the transition from youth to adulthood. Through her insightful narrative, Rodriguez captures the essence of the youthful urge to grow up and the unexpected wisdom found in looking back.

About the Work

The essay delves into the themes of nostalgia and self-discovery, capturing the excitement, confusion, and reality of youth. Eloisa Marie Rodriguez shares her personal experiences, painting vivid imagery of high school friendships, heartbreaks, and the bittersweet process of growing up. Her candid reflections resonate with anyone who has ever longed for adulthood, only to find that it brings its own set of challenges and responsibilities.

I WAS IN A HURRY TO GROW UP

Original Submission by Eloisa Marie Rodriguez

I WAS IN A HURRY TO GROW UP

“Don’t grow up too fast, too soon. Save some time for dreaming.” - Unknown.

There are different seasons we go through in life. Older people often say that youth is the best part of it and that high school is the most unforgettable chapter. Growing up, I never really understood why they kept saying that. I thought they were only looking at the past through rose-colored glasses. Now I’m twenty-five. I’m still considered part of the youth…right? I’m honestly not that sure anymore.

Looking back, I think I finally understand what they meant. Youth is probably the most comfortable, the most exciting, and at the same time, the most confusing season of life. It’s where we experience everything for the first time. Our first dreams, our first disappointments, our first heartbreaks, and the friendships that we believe will last forever. We don’t know much about life yet, but maybe that’s exactly what makes those years so beautiful.

People always say high school is where your heart flutters for the first time. It’s where you meet the people who will shape you, discover the dreams you want to chase, and slowly figure out the kind of person you want to become. It’s also where you realize that not every story ends the way you hope it will. Some people become lifelong friends, while others become lessons you’ll carry with you long after graduation.

For me, the first half of high school wasn’t something I enjoyed. Most of my junior high memories are filled with awkward moments and heartbreak rather than happy ones. I didn’t experience the kind of romantic love people usually talk about, but I experienced heartbreak in other ways. Back then, I thought the hardest thing was trying to fit in. I spend so much time chasing the people I wanted to be friends with because I thought they would become the friendships that would last forever. I wanted so badly to belong that I kept trying, hoping that one day they’d see me the way I saw them. Life had other plans. Those were the people I eventually lost. Some simply drifted away, while others made me realize that maybe I was never as important to them as they were to me. Looking back now, I don’t blame them anymore. Sometimes people just come into our lives for a reason, and maybe that’s okay.

What surprises me the most is that the people I thought I would eventually lose were the ones who stayed. Even now, we all have different lives. We rarely see each other, and I’m honesty not the kind of friend who constantly reaches out. Sometimes weeks or even months pass without us talking but whenever we meet again, nothing really changes. The bond is still there. Somehow, they never forgot about me. I think that’s kind of friendship everyone hopes to have. I’m grateful for them because they stayed, even when I wasn’t always the best friend. They remained part of my life without asking me to prove that I deserved a place in theirs.

As for the people I’ve lost, I’m still thankful that they became part of my story. They gave me memories, taught me lessons, and left me with a few regrets. If I could go back, I don’t think I’d spend so much time chasing after them again. Instead, I’d spend more time appreciating the people who were quietly staying beside me all along.

Senior high was different. Maybe changing schools gave me fresh start I didn’t know I needed. The environment felt lighter, and everyone knew how to enjoy each other’s company. Instead of constantly competing with one another, they competed together as a class. I liked that. For the first time, school didn’t feel like somewhere I needed to escape from.

Back then, I couldn’t wait to graduate. I couldn’t wait to grow up. I thought adulthood meant freedom. I thought once I finally became an adult, I could do whatever I wanted and live the life I had always imagined. But what does growing up really mean? When can someone honestly say “I’m finally an adult”? Even now, I don’t think I have the answer.

At twenty-five, I don’t feel like I’ve grown up. I’ve only learned a little more, experienced a little more, and made a few more mistakes. Deep inside, I still feel like a kid trying to figure life out, only now in a grown-up body. Maybe that’s what adulthood really is. Not having everything figured out, but learning to keep moving forward even when you don’t.

Looking back now, I realize youth wasn’t unforgettable because everything was perfect. It wasn’t. I had heartbreaks, I had regrets, I embarrassed myself more times than I’d like to admit. But it was unforgettable because everything was real. The laughter was real. The friendships were real. Even the pain was real. Those moments became part of who I am.

Adulthood is different. It gives us responsibility we never asked for. It replaces school problems with real-life problems. Some days it feels like life is trying its best to knock us down, only so we can learn how to stand back up. And honestly, there are days when I don’t want to be an adult. There are days I wish I could go back - not because everything was perfect then, but because life felt lighter. I miss the days when my biggest problem was finishing my homework or worrying about an exam. I miss believing that growing up would solve everything. It didn’t. if anything, it only gave me different problems.

Maybe that’s why older people always tell us not to grow up too fast. They’re not saying childhood or high school is perfect, they’re saying that one day, you’ll miss the ordinary moments you barely noticed while living them. The conversation after class, the laughter that echoed through the hallway, walking home with friends, the people who waited for you every morning. Those moments seemed so ordinary back then. Now, they’re the ones I miss the most.

So, if you’re still young, don’t be in such a hurry to grow up. Take your time. Spend another afternoon laughing with your friends. Tell the people who matter that you’re grateful for them. Appreciate the ones who choose to stay, because they’re often the ones we overlook while chasing people who never meant to stay in the first place. The days we lose will never come back, the only become memories we quietly revisit whenever life feels a little too heavy. Maybe that’s what youth really is. Not the best years of our lives because they were perfect, but because we didn’t know we were living the days we’d spend the rest of our lives missing.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, celebrates the art of storytelling and poetry. This esteemed platform brings together writers from around the world, allowing them to share their unique voices and perspectives. The competition is a testament to the power of words in connecting individuals across cultures and experiences.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Eloisa Marie Rodriguez for her thoughtful submission, "I WAS IN A HURRY TO GROW UP," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her essay offers a touching exploration of the journey from youth to adulthood, reminding us of the beauty in every stage of life.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.