At looong last! You’re 18! I’ll bet you’ve been waiting for this day to come for quite some time. All the things you can do when you’re 18 have seemed so far away, until now.
You’ve just hit another milestone. And it’s not just any other milestone. It’s THE milestone. You are an adult. Turning 18 is that long-awaited time when you become legal. You can do all the things you once hoped or dreamed to do throughout your childhood.
It is as if a door has been opened to a whole new world of fun. Except for this time, it’s a grownup, used-to-be-taboo kind of fun, which makes it that much more exhilarating and scary.
# Ditch your curfew and drive all nightThat road trip you’ve always wanted to do with your friends? You can do that now. With your adult driver’s license, you can drive all night and not worry about getting in trouble.
Sure, your parents can’t call the cops on you, but you can still get in trouble if you live at home. This is one of those balance things I was talking about earlier. Just because you can drive off and feel free, doesn’t mean you have no rules.
If you want to take a road trip, tel your parents where your’e headed and keep in touch. Don’t text and drive, get enough rest, and take plenty of breaks. Having fun isn’t about going wild.
# Get a tattoo or a piercingYour parents don’t want you to get a tattoo? No problem. Being 18 means you are responsible for your own decisions, and that includes what you want to do to your body.
With that being said, living with your parents usually means you live by their rules. Sure, they may not be able to force you to get to your tattoo removed, but they can kick you out or make you pay rent.
You can get a tattoo or piercing, but should you? Think about what you’ll ant 10 or 20 years from now. Permanence isn’t a common idea to teenagers, which you still are. So, be sure you think really hard about that tattoo or piercing you’ve been dying to have before you go all in.
# Donate blood or an organYou can finally be a responsible adult who helps the community. Well, sort of. At 18, you are now old enough to donate blood, which is awesome because each time you go in to donate, you can save three lives. And you can also become an organ donor.
This is something really amazing you can do for humanity. You can feel good about it and know it helped someone, multiple someones.
# Get into extreme sportsBeing 18 opens the door to tons of adventures, including skydiving and bungee jumping. Things you used to need a parent’s signature for are now at your disposal.
If you think riding Six Flags’ Kingda Ka is exciting, wait until you jump out of a plane to skydive. Who knows, you might even find that this is something you really enjoy doing. Again, be sure to do your research. Extreme sports require the signature of an adult for a reason. You’re taking a risk.
# Buy fireworksSay goodbye to having to ask your folks or bribe older kids to buy you fireworks, because you can do that yourself now if you live in a state that allows them. Confidently strut straight into the fireworks store and buy all the pyrotechnics you want.
But, be careful. Follow the rules. Do it in an open field, and make sure your municipality allows them before you start setting them off.
# Buy spray paintWhether you aspire to be a graffiti artist or *more likely* just need some spray paint for a school project or at-home craft, you can now legally buy the stuff in stores without having to have a parent with you.
This may not seem all that exciting. You probably didn’t even think about it until now, I know I didn’t.
# Buy cigarettes or tobaccoWhile buying cigarettes and other tobacco products used to be illegal, being 18, means that option is open in some states. But, there is a reason many states increased the age to 21.
At 18, you still may not be making the smartest decisions. I’m sure you know that smoking is a health hazard at any age. It causes cancer, heart and lung diseases, and more. It also leads to a nasty cough, early signs of aging, bad breath, and more.