Jill C. Hindman
The 21st birthday is the birthday that is the most memorable and sometimes the hardest to remember. People celebrate their 21st in all different ways. A lot of people rent out buses out and load them up with their friends and hop from bar to bar. Others go out with a small group of friends, mostly because they are one of the first to turn 21, like junior Kate McDonald. “I like how I went out with a small group of people since I am one of the first people to turn 21 and not everyone could go out,” McDonald said.
There are a number of ways to celebrate the big 21. A popular place to go is Atlantic City, N.J. with some friends, rent a room and gamble. Some people get a stripper or go to nightclubs. Most people said that if their birthday lands on a day while they were in school then they tend to go to the bars. In retrospect others said that if their birthday landed on a day that was not during school they would have a big house party so all of their friends could be there to celebrate the occasion. “I would like to go to the bar on my birthday and then have a house party so all of my friends could be there since not all of them are 21 yet,” junior Jenna Marquardt said. Jessica Leahy, a sophomore, already has her day planned out as well. “On the day of my birthday I will go out with my friends from home to the bar. And another night I will get together with friends from school and go to the bar,” Leahy said.
These are only some of the ways our generation either celebrated or plans to celebrate their 21st. Step back into our parents’ generation and think about how they celebrated. “Since I was married at the age of 18 and was pregnant with my first child at 21, I really could not go out and do the whole bar thing. My husband threw me a surprise party and I loved it and do not feel like I missed out on anything,” Marianne Tranchitella said.
Dr. Arthur Young also had a memorable 21st. He actually had four celebrations. “The first night I went to dinner with my family, then I had a party with my friends, then I had a block party and my last party was with my classmates. In south Philly we ate and drank,” Young said.
One of the well-known challenges on the 21st is doing 21 shots. Not many people are very successful as this task. Junior Meg Chipman went to the Bent Elbow at 10 p.m. and lasted until 12:30 a.m. “I did 12 shots and there was no way I could do 21,” Chipman said. There is also the thrill of celebrating for possibly the whole week. “I am definitely going bar hopping and it will definitely be with people from here. I figure I will be celebrating all week,” junior Rose Leahy said.
No matter how people choose to celebrate their 21st it is unanimous. That day is the most memorable and if you can remember the night with a little assistance from a friend the next day you will never for get your 21st.
