Scared of Turning 18? 13 Things You Must Know Before You Turn 18
There is nothing as exciting and as scary as turning 18. Finally, adulthood! Though this benchmark is considered the bridge between your teen years and adulthood, I must tell you that you won’t feel any different in the morning you turn 18. The responsibilities are about to come, but so do the liberties. Turning 18 in most countries means that you become eligible to vote, serve on a jury, move out of adult supervision and ultimately, do all the grown-up things you’ve always dreamt of doing from when you were a kid. Yeah, adulthood is great. But it can come at you fast and leave you destabilized and confused if you haven’t laid the right foundation from your teen years.
So, because we want you to do great all-round, here are some of the important life lessons you must know before you turn 18. This list will save you some tears, so tuck in, and let’s go for a ride!
1. You Will Wake Up the Same
So, the day when you finally turn 18 is a few hours away. Because of how much you have anticipated this day, you have developed a lot of ‘hopes’ or fantasies of how the day will pan out. You probably think you’re going to grow an inch taller, or have a few wrinkles, or suddenly wake up wiser and in control of your life.
Newsflash: that is not going to happen. In fact, nothing close to that will happen. You will wake up the exact way you slept, in your normal body, old pajamas, and scattered hair. Even after you turn 18, nothing is going to change, unless you decide to take on more responsibilities and make well-intentioned changes. So, much of the growing up will happen in your head, so get ready for it!
2. You Will Make a Lot of Mistakes
This entire article is supposed to save you a whole lot of trouble and help you make better decisions, but still, we must tell you the truth. As an adult, you are going to make a lot of mistakes. At some point, you are going to feel like you already know all there is to know but the realization that you do not actually know anything about a lot of things will hit you hard. Thankfully, our mistakes do not define us. So, when you do make those mistakes, sit for a while. Reflect on it and turn those mistakes into lessons. This kind of outlook will help you grow to become the person you want to be. Also, do not be scared to make mistakes.
Remember, trying to stay in your shell and not take any action for fear of making mistakes is the Ultimate Regret Trigger. Either way, it’s a win-win for you.
3. People Are Not What They Seem
This one is going to be a very tough pill to swallow, but you’ll have to swallow it anyway. Being an adult means that you’ll have more liberties and meet new people every day. You’ll make friends, acquaintances, connections, and you will also lose some.
For fear of judgment, people will always put their best foot forward to have a great first impression. Keep that at the back of your mind when you meet people. That girl might not really be in your corner as she’s making it seem. That guy might not really be into drugs even if he looks haphazard half the time. Learn to let people show you who they are. Do not make preconceived judgments before you’ve even heard the person speak. This would save you a lot of heartaches and even make you some really great friends.
4. There Is No One Better Than You
I feel like I have to make this louder for the people at the back. You are in no competition with anybody, darling. As you meet new people every day and open yourself up to new realities, you must get ready to meet some excellent ones. If you are a goal-driven person, you will always find someone your age that seems to have accomplished that goal before you. Comparing yourself to the person will leave you feeling worthless and unimpressive. Put a stop to such comparisons if you don’t want to become a ‘mad adult.’
Normalize competing with yourself, because that is the only person that matters. Try to reach all your goals and do new things you have never tried before. If you must be in a competition, compete with the person you were yesterday. Surpass her intellectually, financially. Make better friends than her. Go the extra mile that she would never have gone. Be better than her. When you are so fixated on being better than you were previously, then and only then will you realize that nobody is you, and that is your ultimate power.
5. Accept That Everything Changes
The only thing constant in life is change. Ironically, that is the only thing that does not change. One thing is certain though, whether you are in a good or bad place right now, something is going to change. It could be for the better or for the worse. Whichever it turns out to be, ensure you are ready. Accepting that change is inevitable is a skill many older adults have not been able to master. Mastering it now will only help you live your life on your own terms.
6. Don’t Waste Time Wondering What Other People Think of You
I think we owe you a public service announcement right here. So, PSA: Nobody really cares what you do with your life. There, I said it! Of course, they are going to talk. They are going to say really hurtful things when you don’t move with their standards, but the blessing in this is that it doesn’t change one thing.
What is most important is what you think of yourself and this must not depend on what the next person thinks of you. A lot of people will give you their opinions even when you do not ask for it, but please, do not let yourself be influenced by what they expect from you.
Stay true to your convictions, and surround yourself with people who will love you for who you are and not who they expect you to be. Remember, if you decide to live your life to please people and displease yourself, you will be leading a very sad and unfulfilled life. And you do not deserve that. You deserve to shine!
7. Hone Your Craft
Everybody’s good at something. It might not be as obvious as singing, dancing, or being able to play basketball, but finding it will help you live life much easier. If you are good with your hands, or you play the instrument very well, hone this gift and become even better. Turning 18 means that you will have to start making better decisions for your financial future, and honing your craft is an excellent way to secure that future.
There is no better feeling than making money while doing what you enjoy. Find that one thing you do enjoy right now and start improving on it. Monetize it and make it marketable. In no time, you will be able to save up money to get the things you really want. That, right there, is true liberty.
8. School Will Not Be Here Forever
Like a fish out of water. That is exactly how you’ll feel when you drop your graduation gown and start your life independently. You know how much you wish school didn’t exist right now? At a stage, usually, after you turn 18, you’ll start to miss it. Even all the boring classes and cringey class presentations.
Bottom line is that you are going to feel nostalgic sometimes. And when that happens, do not be scared to embrace the feeling and reminisce about it. But right after you’re done, you have to get up and face the real world. Yeah, that’s where all the adults are.
9. Nobody Likes the Lazy Guy
Being laid back and not making any efforts to do better while you were a teen might have been trendy and even a yardstick for measuring the ‘cool guys.’ News flash: Over here in adulthood, that doesn’t work. Being an adult means that you are ready to take on more responsibilities and be a better version of yourself.
It means you are intentional about making better decisions and contributing to the growth of yourself, your family, and your society. If you are going to be laid back and lackadaisical about your responsibilities, then you’ll be deadbeat in literally no time. Nobody likes the lazy guy over here.
10. A Good Name is Your Best Currency
Dollars and pounds are great, but they cannot get you as far as a good name can get you. At this point, whatever decisions you make will not be blamed on ‘childish antics.’ Instead, they will be considered to be very intentional decisions. The actions you take at this point go a long way in determining what kind of person you want the world to remember you as.
The world might be a far stretch, but your family, friends, and acquaintances should be more appropriate. What kind of man or woman are you going to be? Are you going to be strong, honest, and reliable? Or are you going to an unreliable douchebag? Forgive the language. Work on building a good name for yourself. Your reputation will open more doors for you than you could ever imagine, and in that same vein, it will also close a lot of doors. Choose right.
11. You Will Not Always Get What You Want
And that is the gospel truth. Being a child or a teen means needing something and having that need attended to almost immediately. That’s really one of the most beautiful pros to being a child. But now that you are an adult, it is your responsibility to understand what is needed and what isn’t.
You can no longer throw tantrums when you do not get the phone you want or the trip you’ve always dreamed about. Now, you’re grown and you are gradually coming to the understanding that not every want must be met. The stars will not always align in your favor, and sometimes, your wants will be pushed to the curb. This is yet another tough pill to swallow, but you are going to have to swallow it anyways with a tall glass of resignation.
12. A Closed Mouth is a Closed Destiny
This is the time to speak up! Adulthood translates to better communication and relationships, and this is why you must really learn to speak up for yourself and make better connections. It is important to understand that nobody has the ability to read minds (although we really wish we did). Tell the people around you the way you feel. Sit them down and talk to them. Have that conversation with your parents that have been long overdue (at least, now you can move out of the house).
Stop making people play the guessing game when it comes to things that affect you directly. If you want/need/deserve something, say it. Let your voice be heard. Take a stand for something and do not be scared to let the whole world know what that stand is.
13. A Lot of Things Will Hurt
Aye. A lot of things will hurt. Many times, when you don’t get something you want, or you get disappointed by someone close to you, your heart will feel like it is about to implode. It’s basically like any hurt you’ve felt before, but this time is worse because you might not be able to express that hurt like you want to. You have to master ‘holding it in.’ Holding in your emotions, your pain, or even joy sometimes. You have to hold it in and show up where you are needed. You can’t mope around anymore. That’s basically what being an adult is about. Not so fun anymore, right?
There are a lot more things you need to know before you turn 18, but these few are on the top of our list. Don’t be alarmed. Adulthood is all about going on adventures, making your mistakes and learning through them, meeting crazy beautiful people, and forming memories that will last forever. It really is not so straightforward, and there is no rule book to guide you. Everyone has different experiences, so, don’t be scared to face it head-on and thrive!
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