Entry #10: Turning 21: The Pressure to Grow Up Fast, the Hype Around Adulthood, and Why I Don’t Feel Any Different

       

  Turning 21 is supposed to be this big, life-changing milestone that everyone hypes up. People make it sound like once you hit that age, everything about you is supposed to shift, your mindset, your maturity, your lifestyle, even your personality. That’s what I kept hearing from people around me: “How do you feel now that you’re 21?” or “Finally! You’re an adult now!” But when my birthday came, I honestly didn’t feel any different. I didn’t suddenly wake up wiser, more mature, or more put-together. I still felt like me, the same Chioma, the last-born, the girl with the soft personality who still wants to grow at her own pace. And that made me realize something: maybe 21 is only a big deal because people make it a big deal. I see a lot young people get excited to finally be 21, to me it’s the opposite, I get emotional about it cause why not? 

 

Growing up in an African household taught me that adulthood isn’t a race. Back home, turning 21 doesn’t mean you have to move out, “have everything figured out,” or suddenly become fully independent. You can live with your parents until you graduate, start working, and get your life in order. There’s no shame in taking your time or leaning on family while you grow. But here, in America, respectfully it feels like the moment you say you’re 21, people expect you to flip a switch and act like a “real adult.” You’re expected to know certain things, take on certain responsibilities, and show some kind of magical maturity overnight. And honestly, that kind of pressure is overwhelming. It makes you feel like you’re behind when really, you’re just human. When I tell people my age, they don’t believe me instead they say I don’t act my age or I don’t look it. I don’t know what perception they have about how People are supposed to act when they turn 21. At this point I hesitate before saying my age because I don’t want to be judged or looked at in a certain way.

 

The truth is, I’m not ready to rush myself into adulthood just because society expects it. I’m still learning, still figuring myself out, and still trying to understand the version of “adulting” that works for me. Yes, I’m 21 now, but that doesn’t erase my personality, the playful part of me, the soft part of me, the part of me that still feels young. And that’s okay. Being 21 doesn’t mean I have to perform adulthood or pretend that I’m suddenly too grown to ask for help, lean on people, or feel unsure. I want to grow naturally, not forcefully. I want to go at my own pace, not the pace that social media, society, or anyone else sets for me. So maybe the hype around 21 isn’t about the age, it’s about the expectations. And maybe I’m finally learning that it’s okay not to live up to an expectation that was never mine to begin with. I wish I could always be a child, being an adult scares me.

 

Entry #9 : Media Synthesize

    As we have been studying the power of media in class comma i've noticed changes in the way i pay attention to things around me. Media used to feel like background noise just entertainment, trends, and updates but now I catch myself analyzing the purpose behind what I'm seeing. I think more about who created the message, who benefits from it and how it's trying to influence people. Whether I'm scrolling through TikTok, Instagram, or even watching the news, I find myself connecting what we discuss in class to real life situations. I now notice behaviors in people, including myself, and how much of it comes from something we saw online. Research shows that people’s thoughts, moods, and behaviors are strongly shaped by social media exposure, which explains why I see these patterns so clearly now (American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2022/social-media-children-teens )

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One of the biggest changes is how I interpret trends and online conversations. Before, I would just consume content without thinking too deeply, but now I see the strategies behind it. When a video goes viral, I mediately think the hashtag power and how quickly information spreads.

I have also become more critical of news and celebrity content. I catch myself asking is this real? Is this edited? Was the intention behind this? Even in my own life, I pay attention to how media shapes the way people talk dress react emotionally or even form opinions.

Understanding media influence gives me a sense of awareness that I didn't have before. It also makes me want to be more reasonable with what I share and how I engage online. Learning to think critically, question messages, analyze presentation, and understand persuasion is a major part of media literacy. This class has helped me develop a stronger voice, and at the same time, giving me the tools to separate truths from performance.

Entry #8: A cultural Bridal Moments

     

    Recently, I had the opportunity to take part in a staged “Igbo” traditional wedding, where I was presented the bride. Although it was not a real marriage, the experience allowed me to step inside the cultural practice that carries deep meaning, beauty, and history. In this blog post, I want to walk you through the tradition behind videos I'll be sharing. The Igbo (pronounced Ee-bo) are One of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria Primarily located in the southeastern of the country.

The traditional wedding called “Igba Nkwu Nwayi” Is one of the most important cultural events in Igbo society. It is not just a celebration between two people, but a joining of families, histories, and communities. 

1.        Iku Aka- “Knocking on the Door”

          In Igbo culture, the first step of any traditional wedding is called Iku-Aka, which simply

          means knocking. This is when the groom’s family comes to the bride’s family home to formally announce their intention. It's like saying:

          “We are here, respectfully. Our son has seen a flower in your compound, and we want to make our intentions known.” 

After that the bride is called upon and asked to speak about the groom to make sure she knows who he is and if she accepts him to be her husband.

 

2.        Ikwu Ugwu Isi- Bride Price Stage

After knocking comes Ikwu Ugwu Isi, a stage where the groom's family formerly shows honor respect to the bright family. Additionally, this includes discussions about the pride prize and agreements between both families, but ours was just vibes and acting.

3.        Igba Nkwu Nwanyi- The Wine Carrying Ceremony

In real Igbo weddings, Igba Nkwu Is the heart of the whole ceremony, the moment everyone waits for. It is the moment when the bride, holding a cup of palm wine given to her by her father in search of her groom among the guests. This traditionally symbolizes recognition, choice, unity, and the public confirmation of the marriage. Jokingly the bride’s father will say:

 Go and look for your husband o!

Look well o! Don’t give another man! 

 This picture shows where I knelt down and gave the groom to drink.

Once the groom drinks from the cup, He publicly acknowledges the bride, sealing the union before the community.

 

4.        Parents Blessings

In Igbo tradition, once the bride offers the palm wine to the ground and he accepts it, the couple is expected to dance back together hand in hand to greet their parents. When they arrived before their parents, the elders or parents extend their hands over the couple to offer prayers and blessings. These blessings usually focus on peaceful home, fruitfulness, good health, protection, and long-lasting successful marriage.

 

5.        Celebration

After the parents' blessings everyone shouts with joy as they unlock the next level of celebration of where both families, friends and the couple dancing. You can also see some family members spraying money all for fun but in real weddings it’s far more than this. A lot of people make good amounts of money on their wedding day; that’s something Igbo people don’t play about. They support their loved ones and friends by spraying them money, getting them gifts and celebrating with them.

Even though this wasn't a real marriage, the experience was beautiful so stop it reminded me how much, joyful and meaningful the Igbo culture is..

The dance floor 

                                                   Pictures with the groom.

          

                                                

                             .                                Picture with friends 

                                               

                                                   A picture of the dancers 

Entry #7: The Power of Hashtags in Today’s Digital World

 Entry #7                                                           

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Hashtags honestly feel like one of those things we underestimate because they look so small, but the impact is huge. After reading the article about  hashtag activism, I started thinking about how hashtags basically turn the whole Internet into one giant conversation. And the crazy part is that you don't even need a big platform to be seen. This article explains hashtag activism is a digital tool that allows people or organizations to spark a widespread discussion through social media, whether they want to fight for or support a cause. Since information spreads fast on social media, many people believe that hashtag activism is an effective form of advocacy. In this blog I’ll be stating the importance of hashtag hashtags.

Creating Awareness                          Image

Take #FreePalestine, for example I have seen accounts with 30 followers post one video, and because they used the hashtag, the video ended up on thousands of people's FYP’s. Hashtags are important in creating awareness and sending out information across the world. Here is an example of how hashtag made small account go viral:

·      Free Palestine TikTok compilation showing small creators spreading awareness:

            https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UmPs1k/

The owner of this account isn’t a celebrity He or she is a regular person who used a hashtag and found a bigger audience than they ever expected. That’s the power hashtags have now.

Hashtags Make Life Easier

    Another thing about hashtag is that they never fully disappear. I can literally search a hashtag from five years ago and all the posts come back like it's fresh. That's why I believe hashtags never grow old. As long as the Internet exists, the hashtag is still there too. There is that saying: “the Internet never forgets,” Even if something stops trending, you can always search the hashtag years later, and everything pops up. So basically, hashtags keep history alive. They hold memories, movements, and moments all in one place until the day someone decides to delete the entire Internet, which probably won't be anytime soon. Something else I appreciate is how hashtags make everything easier to find. For instance, if I want to learn something, I literally type a hashtag:

~#HairTok

~TravelJapen

~MakeupTutorial

~#NigerianFood

 I use hashtags like #travel to see beautiful places around the world. Hashtags aren't just activism they are shortcuts for research, shopping, learning, and discovering new cultures. Instead of scrolling for hours, one hashtag gives you everything in one place. You can learn anything from a hashtag. Tutorials, cultures, news, business ideas and more. You get to see people sharing their real lives in different countries, different traditions, different experiences. It's like traveling without the ticket.

Hashtags in business and marketing

    Small business owners literally built their whole brand using hashtags. Back then, businesses had to pay for ads on TV, radio, or billboards. But now owners can reach their customers just by using hashtags that fit their brand for example, a new tech can post a picture video of her work and use hashtags like: #NailArt, #AcrylicNails, #PressonNails. These hashtags make it easier for people to find her page and see examples of her work. It is honestly like being placed in the right aisle of a store. Hashtags put you exactly where your buyers are already looking. It also boosts trust and credibility. When people see a product under a popular hashtag, they automatically think, “if so many people are using this, it must be good.” That creates curiosity, trust, and even in little fear of missing out, which usually leads to more sales.

Finally, hashtags help business owners keep up with latest trends, cultures, and online communities. This way, they can stay updated and adjust their products to match what customers ctually want.