The Christmas I Turned 21: A Reflection

2025 was a whirlwind😮‍💨

Seems like each year always has its own package🥲. I turned 21 on the 17th of December and the love I felt all through that day till now has led me to reflect on the past year. I resumed school full time and in that building, I made family away from home and I was happy. 😂 Didn’t know I had a beautiful smile and if I had a thousand naira for how many times I heard that this year, I’d build my dream perfume collection.

Birthdays used to be awkward; I’d wait for wishes to know who was present and who didn’t show up (thinking about that now, that’s such an exhausting thing to do😭). Birthdays are a season of love, just like Christmas, and it’s okay to soak in love and celebrate life.

Somewhere in between the messages, laughter, and quiet moments, I realized I wasn’t just celebrating another year of life - I was acknowledging how much I had lived. The year didn’t pass me by; it shaped me. And once I noticed that, reflection became unavoidable.

The life I lived this year was truly one for the books. It wasn’t perfect, but it was full. Through different experiences, I learned the importance of communication, honesty, consistency, and intentionality - not as concepts, but as things that shape how we relate to people and ourselves. I learned that boundaries matter, and that when they are repeatedly disrespected, it is not love or care being offered.

What sustained me most through the year was God’s mercy. In moments when I didn’t even realize I needed help, He showed up and carried me through. Somewhere along the way, I also began to fall in love with Microbiology - not suddenly, but slowly. Watching my lecturers teach with passion sparked something in me and made learning feel meaningful.

I lived much of this year on 2x speed, barely pausing to breathe, moving from one responsibility to another. Yet in the middle of all that movement, I found home. Home in my family. Home in my friends. Home in my coursemates, my media team, and my roommates. And realizing that filled me with a kind of gratitude so deep it feels like my heart could overflow.

On a lighter note and in reference to my last post where I said I looked forward to building my perfume collection, I am filled with so much joy to say that I started on that and I have 15 bottles and I am soooooo happy because the scent profiles are so me and I love to wear what I feel comfortable in without being overwhelmed. In a world where the heat is unbearable, and there are unpleasant smells, I am happy to stand out 😂.

Being 21 feels amazing, I can’t lie. And moving forward, I want to prioritize balance, value communication, and make space to breathe 😂. Most importantly, I want to love my neighbor as myself— not more, not less.

So I’ll ask you:

What are you carrying into 2026, and what are you leaving behind?

In one word—simple or compound—describe your year.

I’m in the comments 🤭