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Birthday cake with sparkler candles.
Birthday cake with sparkler candles.
Photo by Nikhita Singhal from Unsplash
SBU | Life

Officially Legal!

Lilleean Meacham Student Contributor, St. Bonaventure University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SBU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Now that I am officially 18, here are some of my newfound freedoms and abilities!

Fun:

Let’s start strong with all the fun stuff I can do. For starters, no more convincing my parents to sign off on every piercing I want! I could also decide to jump out of a plane recreationally. If I ever chose to do so, I could also book my own hotel room. 

Shopping: 

I can now purchase all the fun stuff that kids can’t touch! For the Fourth of July, I am on fireworks duty, and I am finally able to start my journey of becoming a crazy cat lady by adopting a hundred kittens. Even better, next time I am sick, or the Bona plague gets me, I can buy my own DayQuil. What will I do when I start to need money?  I’ll just sell all my brother’s stuff at the pawn shop, then max out my new credit card. By the time I’m officially out of money, I can file for bankruptcy.

Civic and Political Rights:

Now that I am 18, not only can I vote, but I can also enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces without consent from my parents. I can run for some local or state public offices; so if the time ever comes, vote for Lillee. Being summoned for jury duty is now possible, as is being able to file a lawsuit. I don’t have a reason to sue anyone yet, but it is nice to know that I can if the time ever comes.

Start a New Life:

If I so decided, I could basically start a new life. I can now legally change my name, get married, draft a will, and open my own individual bank account. Legally binding contracts are now fair game, too. If I wanted to sign a lease or buy a car, I now have that power.

Jobs:

If becoming a teacher doesn’t work out or if I decide I need a new summer job, I have a bunch of new options. At 18, you can operate a meat slicer and become a bartender; it seems like a great business idea! To support my new career, I can also drive and deliver for Uber Eats. Maybe someday I’ll get real lucky and win the lottery!

Of course, this article is purely for fun, and I don’t plan on doing most of these things, but isn’t it cool to know that you can? I have already gotten my first tattoo and still have to try a lottery ticket. So far, though, being 18 has been a 10/10 experience.

Lilleean Meacham

SBU '30

This is Lillee's first year on HerCampus! She is excited to write creatively about a little bit of everything. She hopes her articles will bring some joy to those who read them.

Lillee is a freshman at SBU who is dual majoring in Early Childhood and Childhood Education. She is from a small town called Cassadaga, New York which is south of Buffalo. She is happy to be on campus and try something new!

In her free time, Lillee loves to be with friends, singing, trying new foods, and watching romcoms. On campus she participates in Bona Buddies, PAC, and hopes to study abroad!