Today something happened that will change me forever.

I was on campus meeting with the supervisor for my Grad Assistant position. It was the first day of Fall classes and the UNCW campus was absolutely packed with t-shirt wearing, skateboarding, overly accessorized males and females… all working extra hard to look casual and non-conforming.

I loved it. The energy. I felt “at home” – like I did on the campus of University of West Florida in my undergrad, up-all-night, homecoming queen days.

Until.

I was at a computer at the Library working with a technician to get my university email to forward to my gmail account. It was a super easy process and I was off within a few minutes. When I got up to leave – the most dreadful thing happened.

I heard a student say to her friend, “that woman just left that computer…” as she pointed in my direction.

The love. The energy. The “at home” feeling… all melted away.

Woman?

WHEN DID IT HAPPEN?

When did I make that transition from GIRL to WOMAN?

I know I’m married. I know I’m almost 30. BUT – I’ve always been referred to as “girl” — so when is it that I turned into this woman creature from being a badass-wannabe-little girl?

I wasn’t even wearing a business suit. I was in shorts and a t-shirt – just like all of THEM.

But, I’m not one of them anymore.

I’m a woman.