Be Young. Be Dope. Be American. What 22 Feels Like.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m feelin’ 22.”

The wise words of country-turned-pop star Taylor Swift couldn’t say it better. I don’t care what anyone says, no age is more rad than a ripe 22 years old, and no 22-year-old can deny the power these lyrics have on the 22-year-old brain. The fact that this anthem, “22,” came out this very year, the same year that all of my friends and I turned the same age, is no coincidence.

It can only be fate, something beyond human control, that this song idea was zapped into Swift’s brain while she was most likely out perusing an antique store, drinking Earl Grey tea out of a metal canteen, trying her hardest to be edgy and unique. Being that Swift is most likely an extraterrestrial species, we 22-year-olds find the lyrics in “22” to be the only relation we all have to her. Not that any of us were trying to relate to her in the first place. This statement of course excludes my friend Hunter Odom, who allegedly had a run-in with Swift a few years back—but no need to get into the details of that.

“22,” “The Double Deuces,” “Deuce Squared,” “Deuce to the Second Power,” “2xs the Peace Signs”—however one may address this age, nothing feels better than throwing the deuces up. Whether it may be the Jay-Z-style deuces or the Spice Girls-style peaces, ages 55, 44, 33, and the overrated 11 don’t look nearly as dope displayed symbolically on two hands.

Being 22, a full year after 21, brings just as much stoke as it did the year before when asked to present your I.D. Yup, we still look younger than twenty-one, yet possess so much more experience and wisdom than we did the year before: a college degree and one foot on the career ladder. This brings a particular sense of pride that only 22-year-olds can understand. We twenty-two year olds will go down in history just for picking the best year to be 22, all thanks to whatever producer discovered Taylor Swift. The best part is that we’re still young, man. We’re in our early twenties for a whole ‘nother three years—think about it—the same time-span that we were actually learning things in high school.

To get a portrait of what feelin’ 22 really feels like, I interviewed a few friends who have taken the opportunity to grab the Red Bull of life by the horns—especially during this golden era.

“I’ve got some of the empowerment and responsibilities adulthood brings to feel actual, real stress, but I’m also old enough to buy myself a tall bottle of red, red wine to make it better.” -Leigh Ann Town, part owner of 926-Muff

“Year 22 has been a pretty sweet ride having graduated college right after my birthday. Other than that dope accomplishment, being 22 feels like I’m an adult in someway. For me, 21 was all about partying at bars and casino ca$hin’ out legally since Alabama is so strict on the drinking age (Geaux Tigers!). After that solid year topping off my party career, I now prefer the evenings consisting mostly of dinner parties with fun friends downing bottles of dankalicious wines. Ah, the perks of being an adult.” -Catherine Crawford, Urban Environmental Studies Major

“I got my first big girl check the week of my 22nd birthday. So far, being a grown up is wayyy better than being a student. I get to make my own schedule. This week, I pretended Tuesday was Friday. I love being the one to call the shots instead of my professors (s/o to Ortner).” -Katherine Santana, artist

“Graduated life = the world is my oyster” -Martha Gibbs, English major.

“The borderline dopest thing for me regarding my twenty-second year of life was my decision to grow a huge, naturally ginger beard, which without a doubt landed me on Tiger TV during St. Patrick’s Day season due to my statement involving my thoughts on Dublin. The beard, for me, was a way of life, a culture. More than that, it was a lifestyle.” -Alex Simm, now 23, reminiscing on the best year of his life

“A historic tradition with NHL hockey teams in pursuit of the Stanley Cup is to not shave your face for the extent of the playoffs. To show my undying support for the Chicago Blackhawks, I chose to accompany the chosen ones in this great tradition. I wanted to join in on this tradition two years ago when I started noticeably growing facial hair, but it was too sparse. I noticed the correlation that this year, when my facial hair finally became full, and I was able to grow a full-on Jesus beard, The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. I plan to continue with this tradition until the day of my death.” -Michael Kulczycki, aka “Chicago Mike”

“Facial hair doesn’t make the man, the man makes the facial hair. Whether it’s Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, or even Valentine’s Day, the right facial hair will allow you to fully get into the spirit of said holiday. My face is my canvas. My facial hair, the paint. A razor and time are what help me to create.” -Matt Hale, Petroleum Engineering major

“Twenty-two is tight because it just feels like an extension of 21. It doesn’t feel like my birthday, that’s for sure! Is this what getting old feels like? If so, keep it coming.” –Jordan Jeans, Business Management major, on her birthday

“My family was at a swim meet on my 21st birthday, so I was dog-sitting by myself. This year I was in New Orleans on my birthday, tearing it up with my bearded boyfriend for the weekend. We smoked cigars, went dancing at a bayou club, hung out in the quarter, and ate a lot of really good food. We, of course, got Bourbon Street-faced at night— always a good time, but these fond memories will always be linked to my 22nd year.” –Sarah Finnegan, Civil Engineering Major

“Twenty-two feels bossayy because I’m finally writing my own rules and making my own path. It’s independence that you think you have gained when you turn 21, but once you get to 22 you realize, this age can’t be touched. Then there’s that Taylor Swift song that we all have to vibe off of for a full 365 days.” –Becca Squyres, Advertising major

“I love being 22 because it’s the first time in my life that I truly feel like an adult without the stigma of being a drunken 21-year-old, while I’m still young enough to milk staying on my parents’ health insurance for a few more years.” –Molly Severson, LSUHSC School of Dentistry, Dental Hygiene Program