When you think about it, anyone under the age of 25 is seen differently. As studies have shown, the brain doesn’t fully develop until they are around this age. Adults often consider that 18 to 25-year-olds are not yet fully mature or are only beginning to experience the real world. Although there are still small things that the age range might not be able to figure out without a guardian, they still possess many traits that qualify them to be considered an adult.
When someone turns 18, they are automatically given many rights in the United States, including voting, enlisting in the military, and making their own medical decisions. These are all responsibilities that an adult has. I believe that if 18-year-olds are entrusted with all of these responsibilities, then they should be trusted as adults. As the world advances, there are many characteristics that 18-year-olds hold that many adults don’t understand how to navigate.
Life can be tricky, and no one can ever know what to expect for their future. Fully mature adults are most of the time unsure of a lot of things. When someone is thrown out into the world, they are not expected to know every detail. This is why 18 years old is the perfect age to become an adult. Responsibility is the best teacher, and students can learn certain values early on. The Cord News talks about how 18-year-olds are forced to make life-changing decisions, but also cannot be trusted with alcohol or a cigarette. They bring up the fact that in 1971, the voting age was 21 but was then lowered to 18 because people believed if one was old enough to get drafted, then they could have the right to vote.
When in high school, people are always looking ahead to college and thinking that they will learn all of their life skills when in dorms and apartments, but when one looks deeper, people are learning what they value each day. Being 18 does not mean that you are an adult with experience, but it means that you can start thinking about the adult that you want to be. It’s okay to not have everything figured out because not every adult does either.
