Turning 18 is a milestone that many high schoolers look forward to with both excitement and anticipation. Students’ 18th birthdays typically occur during senior year, but some students turn 18 during their junior year as well.
With the new age, students begin to take on more responsibilities, make bigger decisions, and start to shape their futures. Their dreams of becoming an “adult” and being independent are finally a reality.
A trend that has been circling social media recently is “18 things to do when you turn 18.” The TikTok trend is a popular challenge where parents celebrate their child’s milestone birthday by giving 18 gifts that represent 18 activities, privileges, or experiences they can now legally do as adults.
Being 18 represents the transition from adolescence to adulthood, but how much freedom does it really give you?
Many things become available to 18-year-olds that were previously not available to them without the need for parental consent. Two of the more serious life decisions include getting married and the ability to make your own medical choices. Both of which can be done without parental consent once someone is 18. If you are adopted, you can now apply to find your biological parents without your adoptive parents’ permission.
One of the most well-known rights gained at age 18 is the right to vote. Turning 18 also brings new financial responsibilities, such as the ability to sign and enter into contracts, build credit, and even file for bankruptcy.
As a high school student, you can also be called to jury duty, but almost all students can be exempted until they are out of school. You are also eligible to join the military or file a lawsuit if needed.
On the darker side, once you are 18, you can create your own will. This goes along with the ability to inherit and own property. If you don’t like your legal birth name, you can change it on your birth certificate to whatever you choose.
Now that you are considered an adult, there are more consequences for your actions as well.
If you get in trouble with the law, you aren’t sent to juvenile detention anymore, instead, you’re under adult court jurisdiction and face more severe punishment.
Some of the more fun things you can now do include skydiving, getting tattoos or piercings (without parental consent), buying fireworks, and purchasing lottery tickets.
Other things that may come as a surprise are getting a Costco membership, and buying cough medicine and spray paint.
If eligible, you can adopt a pet under your name as the owner, and surprisingly, adopt a child or sibling too.
As you are now considered an adult, you can work full-time. You are also able to rent an apartment/Airbnb or book a hotel room.
Something many people don’t think about is that they can buy and drink alcohol in most other countries, even though it is still restricted in the United States. Renting a car, buying tobacco products, and cigarettes is still prohibited to 18-year-olds.
Keep in mind that age requirements can vary by state for specific rules.
Leave a Reply