To many, turning 18 is a huge milestone. This is because, in many countries worldwide, people are considered adults at 18, independent from their parents, and responsible for themselves.

This can be very exciting for many and scary for many others. Many treat turning 18 as a great thing, but there are also many downsides to this milestone birthday.

Many people move out of their parent’s home at 18. People who are 18 years old can also get tattoos or piercings without their parent’s permission, and vote.

Many underage people are looking forward to moving out and being on their own. However, other people fear moving out. They may fear being responsible for their own homes or the bills they must pay to live in their home.

Those who rent a home or have a roommate may be afraid to meet their roommate or live with someone they don’t know. They may miss people they do know back home.

Many people who are 18 also go to college, and most who live on campus live with roommates. It can be hard to be responsible for your own home or apartment, keep track of your money and spend responsibly, or afford necessities.

On top of that, they also must balance their studies, work, and social lives. Doing all of these things for the first time can be overwhelming for many young adults.

At 18, people can also buy scratch-off lottery tickets, and in some states, tobacco. People may gamble because of an adrenaline rush to win money, or escape stress and socialize. People may smoke to relieve stress or because of peer pressure.

In reality, however, this is very dangerous, especially for young people. The brains of young adults aren’t developed fully yet, therefore may make them more susceptible to taking risks.

This is because the amygdala and limbic systems, which are the emotional centers of the brain develop more quickly than the frontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for impulse control and judgment. This creates an imbalance in decision-making and logical thinking.

Especially with addictive behavior like gambling, smoking, or vaping, young people may not know or acknowledge the risks of these actions, ruining their older adult years with addiction.

Also, any males turning 18 are required by law to register for the Selective Service. This means that they are required by law to give their lives in case of war.

To many, the thought of being drafted and possibly killed in a war at such a young age is a very terrifying thing to think about.

It is not fair that 18-year-old males are required to give their lives to war, but are not old enough to drink or purchase alcohol or tobacco in some states, rent a car, or go to a casino and gamble.

Although there may be some pros and cons of turning 18, there is always a lot to look forward to in becoming an adult.