March 1, 2016

This week, I will be thrown from my safe, known realm of adolescence into the terrifyingly unknown world of adulthood. In other words, this Friday I will turn 18.

Usually, I would be anticipating the event and counting down the days until I become a year older. This year, however, I wish that the world had skipped the 26th day of February. This time when my birthday rolls around, I will not only be a year older, but I will also be an adult. For someone who has never had to fend for herself and cannot even drive herself places, becoming an adult, even if there will not be any immediate life changes, is a terrifying revelation.

For one, being an adult means that I can now vote. To be able to choose the next leader of the free world is an overwhelming responsibility, one that is incredibly important and nerve-wrecking. This responsibility is coming sooner than November for me, as the Texas primary is just a mere five days after my birthday. Finally, I will have a say in who is the leader of my country, which is a great relief for this election in particular. This one impactful duty as an American and my chance to make a difference in my country is an immense relief.

Legally, when someone turns 18  they can also change their name. At the moment, even though I write it with a hyphen, Rose is just my middle name. Starting Feb. 26, I could conceivably change my name, legally, to Emma-Rose. This is what I have been called my entire life, and I would like to make it more “official.” This is one positive that would give me more power to be myself.

As an adult, I can also legally move out on my own. I by no means plan on moving into my own place, but that fact that I could conceivably start living on my own, and can start paying bills and do things that were a long ways off just a couple years ago is terrifying. Another thing that you can you can do when you become an adult is get married. This is another thing that I definitely do not plan on doing for at least a couple years, as I would have to find someone I want to marry first, but the fact that I can is enough to scare me out of my mind. The fact that I am old enough to attach myself to another person for the rest of my life is surreal and baffling. I do not think I am old enough to make such decisions.

Another thing that I will be able to do come the end of the week is buy a lottery ticket. I have never thought about it that much, but I when I am eighteen, I will be able to participate in the Texas lottery, test my luck and hopefully win some money.

Becoming an adult is daunting, but there are so many new things this change allows me to do. As frightening as it to be on my own legally, if not literally, it is exciting and I can’t wait to see what the eighteenth year of my life has in store for me.

Senior Emma-Rose Floyd comments on what one can do when they turn 18, both the positive aspects and the new responsibilities.
Image from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Junction_18.svg
Senior Emma-Rose Floyd comments on what one can do when they turn 18, both the positive aspects and the new responsibilities.
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