Why Turning 18 Is An Inevitable Let Down

Turning 18 is one of those milestones in life that everyone makes a big deal over. In the eyes of the law, this makes sense. Once you turn 18 you can legally drink, buy alcohol, vote and do things without your parent’s permission. Your legal rights have officially changed. An 18th is usually marked by a house party where you spend the night drinking something that will get you so smashed that even the smell of it will make you sick later (Smirnoff double blacks, I’m looking at you). And, after all that–after you’ve gotten your pressies, had your party and eaten your cake- you realise that behind all the hype, turning 18 can be a bit of a let down.

1. You’re still living at home

Most of the time, turning 18 happens when you’re still in school. Chances are you’ll be studying and living at home, with any chance of moving out still years away. You’re no more an ‘adult’ in this sense than you were when you turned 16.

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2. Getting your P’s gave you your freedom

By the time you turn 18, you’ve already got your P’s (unless you’re that guy that’s still on his L’s and scabbing lifts from his mates. Seriously buddy just go get your license).

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Getting your license comes with a lot more freedom that turning 18. Not only will your mum no longer be in charge of your schedule, but you’ll also be able to go for Maccas runs and road trips–the real Aussie rites of passage.

3. You have some even bigger milestones coming

Looking at the other milestones coming up, turning 18 kind of pales in comparison. Graduating from high school is a pretty big one, and leaving behind the rigid structure of school and entering the real world will change your life a lot more than your 18th birthday. Same applies to moving out of home.

4. You’re still going to screw up

Yeah, in the eyes of the law, you’re technically an ‘adult’. But turning 18 doesn’t mean you’re suddenly blessed with the ability to know what you’re doing with your life. You’re still going to make bad decisions, change your mind and screw things up. And that’s okay, because regardless of how old someone is, they’re still trying to figure things out.

5. You realise you don’t want to grow up

You’ll wish you could go back and tell your past self to stop spending all those years wishing they were older. You'll wonder "can you go back to high school when you turn 18?" When you’re 18 you’ll realise you still want naps and lollie bags at the end of parties. At heart, you’ll still feel like a kid, and turning 18 won’t make you wake up in the morning and forget that.