I am turning 18 next Thursday, and I need help.

As most of you have experienced, the 18th birthday is one of the saddest days of a life. It represents the end of childhood and the ascent into adulthood. I realize that at age 18, I have to undertake the many steps of joining the military, graduating college, getting married, raising a family, getting a job, learning to drive, voting, trying exotic foods, having bad moods, losing all of my hair, hiding wrinkles, getting fitted for dentures, and losing all control of my bladder, all by the time I turn 19.

My request is that while I am 17 and still able to post freely that I can get advice on how to cope with this tragic day that is not even a week away.

For those of you older than 18 and miserable, where did you go wrong?

For those of you older than 18 and happy, how did you recapture the glory days?

For those of you younger than 17, I will give the advice that you cherish each day. Soon enough, we all must turn into an adult. I regret the days I have wasted but will never forget the many good days I have had, and urge you to do things worthy of storing in your memory.

All help is appreciated.

Let me say this first. 18 comes. 18 goes. As fast or slow as you got there, the faster or slower is drifts away as you leave it.

But now about my 18th birthday, the day was a sunny day I recall during the summer of 1996 (I remember it like it was yesteryear.) I remember thinking where my life was going to go and how I didn't need to go to some flashy college like Harvard or MIT or some other college that would eventually drain both my parents and my money away. Of course now I reallize I may have been wrong in my approach and now am going back to get my Bachelor's of Science in Construction Management. Who knows if it will help, who knows if it will mean something at all, but at least I will have gotten it.

Now about all the stuff you mentioned (e.g. voting, learning to drive, trying exotic foods, getting a job, etc. etc. etc.) , if you can accomplish at least 3 of those things in your lifetime, I would say you are doing very well and better than most. :-)

Cad! You seriously think accomplishing 3 of the things on his list is doing very well? Dam! No wonder you're a braves fan :)

I fear if I don't do it all by November 5th of next year, I will be a failure.

Nice words though Cad, it looks like you've held on to happiness.

Worst-case scenario: I get fitted for dentures, lose control of the bladder, and hide wrinkles.

That would be very...you're right Term.

Cad, I know what you mean.

That's just something you found isn't it? You're not really 17 are you?

"That's just something you found isn't it?"

?

I just meant if you're really 17 I am impressed. You seem to be one of the smartest people on this bored. Don't let the mediocrity bring you down.

Just think of it this way.
Now that you are 18 you can:

Buy Cigarettes

Buy "Girls Gone Wild" DVDs

Click on the "Must be 18 to enter" button on pornographic sites.

Drive after 11 PM without an accompanying adult in the state of Pennsylvania.

Enter night clubs on "18 to come, 21 to swallow" nights.

So basically if you don't like pron, smoking, night clubs, or a combination of all 3 - you don't gain very much.

However, turning 18 isn't sad at all. It is turning 20 that is sad, as you are officially putting away the "teenager" badge forever. I am now 21, so when I do stupid sh#t and get busted I can no longer blame my teenage angst and stupidity as the source.

TErm did you mean to say this:

"... smartest people on this bored."

when you meant to say this:

"...smartest people on this BOARD."

Well how many things would you think people should accomplish on that list?

And just imagine how HAPPY I would be when I find a job in my field working for the same wage as I was before the economy fall through the roof. :-)

Thats about right. Also, in the state of North Carolina, instead of a red bar around your picture that says "Under 18", you now get a yellow bar around your picture that says "Under 21".

Don't forget the right to Vote...lol

Thank you.

Yes, turning 20 will result in a sadder thread on this board.

It's a shame I'm closer to 20 than I am to 15.

Plan B: Move to North Carolina

If it makes you feel better, I was at bootcamp when I turned 18, so whatever you do has to be better than that.

It does, thanks.

<<.... the 18th birthday is one of the saddest days of a life. >>

Not when you're about to turn 65 in less than 2 months. :-)

Wanna trade places?