18-Year-Olds Feel the Emancipation

Adulthood bears its own exclusive opportunities. With a turning of age, 18-year-olds enter a world much different than the one they had grown up in. They had once been dependent on an adult, perhaps a parent, for their needs. They needed parental or guardian permission for school field trips, to excuse an absence at school, or for a registration of any sort. They couldn’t be out past curfew, nor smoke a cigarette, but now, after 6,570 days of hand-held guidance, teens are granted a new freedom: the freedom of choice and independence. What they choose to do with their new freedom is utterly up to them, whether it is sensible or not, and much to the dismay of the adults who advised them for so many years. So now, what will it be? Maybe these young adults would like property to themselves, or a new tattoo to show some personality and taste; the choices are endless now that they are legally deemed an adult.

Though, what privileges do you receive as an adult? Well, you may enlist in the military, or you may choose to invest in the stock market. Added to that list includes getting tattoos, piercings, the right to vote, the ability to rent an apartment or own property, a driver’s license with no restrictions, the authority to sign legal contracts, the ability to serve jury duty, to sue or be sued, to marry without any consent, to open a bank account, or to smoke. This year’s senior class at Mayo High School is beginning the transition into adulthood, and a few seniors have already been granted their freedom as an adult. They write themselves a pass when they are late for school, they sign their own permission slips, in fact, they don’t even have to attend school at all! So, with their new power, a couple members of Mayo’s senior class were asked, “What are your plans for your new adulthood?” Nicole Knutson, who turns 18 on November 8th, had a slow response. “Well, I will go to college, and find a job, and then get married…” she began, “but maybe I will buy a pack of cigarettes, just for the heck of it!” Although not planning to become a smoker, Knutson figured she would use her rights as an adult however she could. Der-Ning Huang, also a senior this year at Mayo High School, will celebrate his birthday on March 2nd, and he had a different response to the question. “I’m going to buy some lottery tickets!” he stated quite surely. “I’ll also buy some victory cigars and celebrate at a casino,” he said, but later commented that the cigar will be for celebrating only, because he knows that he won’t enjoy smoking it.

Though some choices may not be the most responsible, there is a reason why these abilities are made available only to adults. The decisions made as an adult are hoped to be made sensibley are responsibely. So for a new turning of age, upcoming 18-year-olds will be expected to be mature citizens, who use their common sense to make the right decision, but this doesn’t stop some teens from setting their dreams for adulthood.

Photo credit to fanpop.com