“Ups, Downs, and Broken Mugs — Ewurama's Adulting Journey”

“I always wanted to grow up faster than my peers, but now I realize that if you don’t have systems in place, you’ll mess up your whole life.” – Ewurama

Meet Ewurama, a 22‑year‑old laboratory scientist. She reflects on her experience of adulthood, describing it as a mix of ups and downs, particularly marked by the transition to independence. Do stick and stay and enjoy Ewurama’s juiciest gist.

Ewurama: Hi everyone, my name is Ewura, and I’m going to answer some questions on adulthood.

Adwoa: Thank you, Ewura. In one word, summarize how adulthood has been so far.

Ewurama: Growing up, I always wanted to grow fast and be an adult because I always thought adulthood looked fine — it was fun, it was exciting. I used to see my cousins going out, being able to afford certain things which to me back then was like, eii, they’ve gone to buy a new phone. Yes, to me back then, buying a new phone was a luxury. But deep down, I didn’t know that they were saving for a new phone or that they made plans to buy it.

So, in one word, I’d say it’s been beautiful. If I’m to put it in a phrase, I’d say it’s been a moment of ups and downs.

Adwoa: At what point in your life did it dawn on you that you’re an adult?

Ewurama: I would say when I entered uni, that’s when I realized, okay, I’m an adult. Because my parents were not there. Yes, they weren’t there in SHS, but at least in high school there was a strict system that governed us — fixed times for preps, house duties, and basically all activities. But in uni, the moment my parents helped me settle in my room and they said, “bye bye, we’ll call you,” that’s when I realized, okay, at this point my parents are not here to monitor me, to see what I’m doing, to tell me, “Ewurama, don’t you have to wake up, don’t you have to do this, don’t you have to do that.”

That’s when it dawned on me that, though my parents are still alive and present in my life, they’ve taken the back seat. Now I’m at the battlefront. I have to make sure I’m eating healthy; I have to make sure I’m doing things right, not missing appointments. If there are errands, I have to run them. If I don’t, it will be my fault. Like making sure I’m going for my optometrist appointment every two years and all that. I came to understand that there are some things I should be able to do for myself.

Adwoa: Growing up, what did you imagine adulthood would be like?

Ewurama: I think I mentioned it earlier — I always thought it was fun and exciting. One thing I always told people, and they would always be like, “this girl, what is wrong with her?” is that I always wanted to grow up faster than the usual pace. I was so happy to turn 18 and 20. Then all of a sudden, I’m like, eish, wow, so in a few years to come, I’ll be what, 25. That’s when it dawned on me that life was getting serious.

The people I used to see as big human beings, right now are also growing old. And when they see me, they’re like, eii, don’t you remember me? I’m your daddy’s friend. All these things made me understand that I was growing. Even children refer to me as Auntie now. I mean, I always wanted to grow up faster than my peers, but now I realize that if you don’t have systems in place, you’ll mess up your whole life. That’s the thing.

Adwoa: Interesting. What’s the earliest memory of realizing independence wasn’t just freedom, but responsibility?

Ewurama: Ooh yes, when my parents left me in uni. Was it a Friday? I think it was in the middle of the week. That day I had to cook rice. I think I had stew. That day too, when I was packing my things, I broke a mug. Eii, my mummy wasn’t there to scold me for breaking the mug. But I realized I was on my own and I had to be careful, because I’d have to replace that mug with my money.

That experience taught me that, see Ewura, it’s your responsibility to take very good care of everything that belongs to you, otherwise you’ll be found wanting. I learnt that I could not allow myself to be swayed into making silly decisions as well. As much as I’m young, free, and vibrant, it’s not everywhere I have to be, and it’s not everything I have to do to show that I’m Gen Z, I’m young and all of that. No — we have to weigh the pros and cons of every decision.

Adwoa: What two values or habits are mandatory in the world of adulthood?

Ewurama: Ooh, get a schedule. I like to set alarms and write a lot. I remember I was very strict with my schedule in my final year. My wake‑up time was 7 a.m., devotion for 30 minutes. By 8 a.m. I would take my shower. At 8:20 or 8:15, I’d take breakfast, and I would have started learning by 9:30. I’d give myself sometime within the day to watch a movie, call my mummy, spend some time on social media, stretch, and basically rest. But when it was time to learn, I stuck to time. That’s just a snippet of what my schedule looked like. Was I following this to a T? I’d say 80 percent. It really helped me.

I usually write down important things I have to do. On some days, I prefer to jot them down on WhatsApp and pin my chat. It’s not every day you can carry pen and paper — that’s why we have smartphones now.

Another habit that has helped me is keeping track of my progress. For example, if I have a bad habit I want to stop, I track the number of times I resisted it and sometimes reward myself for doing so. I think that’s a good way to get rid of bad habits, especially by being soft on yourself.

I know you said two but let me add a last one. Keep good friends — people who will motivate you and check up on you. Life is already hard, and everyone is going through their own phase. If you take a moment in a day to text someone just to say “hi” and talk for a few minutes, it lessens the toughness of life. Everybody needs somebody.

Adwoa: Did you ever think adults had it all figured out? How has reality challenged that?

Ewurama: Yes, I thought adults had life figured out, but now I realize that enyɛ bɛtɛɛ saa wai. You have to, like I said, create systems. Everyone has a unique system. For me, my unique system is to plan and prepare ahead of time — especially in my work and my finances. I’m also trying to perfect multitasking, like listening to a podcast and doing something else, like reading a book or eating.

Adwoa: What role does your faith play in your life as an adult?

Ewurama: My Christian faith has taught me a lot. It has taught me that I can’t have everything figured out, and that’s fine. And “no” is also an answer. I’ve come to understand that not everything will go as planned or rosy as I think it should be, because I’ve decided to leave life in the hands of God. He’s always got my back. Why should I be worried or scared?

Of course, there are moments when I’ll be sad and have mixed emotions, especially when things don’t go according to plan. It’s okay to cry, but after doing all that, I go back to the drawing board and pray and believe that God knows best, and His plans are better than mine.

When I was in school, there was an opportunity to work professionally alongside schooling. I was part of a few others who were considered. We wrote an aptitude test and we all passed. It was now time for the interview. Mind you, that was a big‑time company you wouldn’t want to miss. It was a South African company. My interview was okay. Unfortunately, I wasn’t picked in the end. I remember crying and questioning why I wasn’t picked. Later on, I asked one of the people who were chosen how it was going, and he complained that it was too demanding and inconvenient and he wasn’t able to learn as much as he thought he would. So, I asked myself, is this what I was crying about? Maybe it was God’s plan for me. In all things, let’s remember 1 Peter 5:7.

Adwoa: What’s one daily routine that helps you stay sane as an adult?

Ewurama: I like to journal a lot, even though I don’t do it every day. It helps to clear my mind. Another is to listen to music sometimes to block the noise in my head.

Ewurama: You know what, enjoy life wai. Life is short. Don't forget to make your life less tough for yourself, because no one will make your life better like you.

You've read it all - create systems that are unique to you, speak to somebody and most importantly, know your God.

Hit the comment section, or chat with me if you also want to share your story. Until the next post, enjoy your adulting journey.