In the words of the immortal Blink-182, “What’s my age again?”

I chose to quote the band’s lyrics because today signifies the death of my childhood. 

Late this evening, Blink-182 will finally step off the stage at the Sandstone Amphitheater, and my childhood will leave with them.

There comes a time in all of our lives when we need to grow up. That time comes sooner for some than for others.

I guess you could say I’m a late bloomer in that regard. 

Here I am nearly 25 years old, and up until recently I acted like I was 12.

Don’t get me wrong, acting like you’re 12 is fun. Really fun. But that kind of fun doesn’t serve you well when you enter the real world.

I was actually originally brought to The Chart staff to do just that. Apparently I was really good at acting like a kid, and that tended to upset some people.

Alright, it upset a lot of people. 

Over the summer, though, I got a healthy dose of what it is to be an adult, and I’ve been inspired to make some more permanent changes in my lifestyle and behavior. 

Those changes started with snagging my new job at The Chart.

When people heard I was to be editor-in-chief this year, I’m sure some shuddered. I would have too, if I didn’t know better.

Some of my columns and stories in the past were really more for entertainment than quality journalism. People laughed, people cried, people asked that I be removed from the staff.

My goal for this year, though, isn’t to embarass or anger anyone, but to put out a quality product for the student body to enjoy.

The Chart has a long, rich history of successful college journalists. We put out a good product, and we’re rewarded for it with all kinds of accolades.

I want to continue that tradition.

That’s the first step in my growing up process, I suppose. I need to take these steps quickly because the time for me to finally mature into a well-adjusted adult has jumped upon me sooner than I had imagined.

A little over a month from now, I’ll be married. Scary, right? There’s a woman out there crazy enough to want to deal with me on a daily basis.

I almost feel bad calling her crazy, but there’s really no other word to describe it.

After the wedding, it’s graduation in May. Joining the workforce, having kids, and buying my first home will all likely be upon me in the next year, and I need to be prepared for that.

But as with all things, one can’t truly move on until they’ve let go of what they’re moving from. Tonight, I let go of my childhood, and I’ll do it in a way only an adult can.

You know, by watching the band I’ve loved since I was 12. I guess there’s really no way to hide that inner child without letting him out now and again.

This is the last time, though.  I swear.