I know what you're thinking "I'm only 18 and theres no way I can handle this I'm not really an adult yet". I'm here to tell you that you not only can, but you should do something after graduation. You're done with high school, you're moving (somewhat) into the real world and (somewhat) becoming an adult. This isn't the time to see how fast you can grow up, this is the time to go on adventures and go do things with your life while you still have the chance because one day you really will be a grown-up and you won't have time to do the things that you thought you would.

1. You're technically an adult

You probably don't feel like you are (I know I still don't), but technically you've hit the magical age where you can now do things on your own. Why no go do something incredible that you've always wanted to do and you'll always remember? When I planned my trip my parents were in no way shape or form on board with it, they thought I was too young. But I planned on anyways and eventually my mom jumped on board with it, understanding it was just something I had to do (my dad never really liked it). Finally a couple weeks later I was in a car driving off on an adventure, which wouldn't have happened had I not stood my ground with my parents telling them that it was something I had/was going to do.

2. You'll broaden your horizons

My best guy friend and I picked a place on the map that we really wanted to go to (Niagara Falls) and planned the trip to and from it, we picked a bunch of cool places to visit on the way there and on the way back but that was our Midpoint to the trip. During the trip we hit the North Carolina Arboretum, we hiked up an overlook in Tennessee, we visited the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (Creep factor was through the roof on this one), ate at an old vintage diner, found Lake Erie (without meaning to), fought our way through some crazy traffic to get to the Pittsburg overlook, got intimidated by a MASSIVE gorge, came in pretty close proximity to some awesome wildlife (we camped during our trip), had to sleep in the car because of 'bears' (that was a fun one to figure out), went to an awesome aquarium, and probably hit a few more things that I just can't remember. Long story short, you'll get to experience things you wouldn't have gotten to do if you hadn't taken the chance! What's the point of life, if not to live it fully and take every chance possible?

3. You grow up a little

The picture you see above is actually the old skid plate to my poor Civic. When you go on a long road trip SOMETHING is bound to go wrong, as is the way of the world. For us, we were in West Virginia and heading down a dirt road when my VERY LOW TO THE GROUND car hit a pothole. Low and behold we get off this road only to hear something dragging off the undercarriage of my car. It was on this day that I learned about the kindness of tow truck drivers, and how to tell wether or not it's oil thats leaking out of my car or just water. So even though you might not think you'll learn anything, an adult lesson is bound to teach itself to you.

4. It's the best memories you'll ever make, and the best stories you'll ever tell

Honestly, there aren't too many people out there that are brave enough to do what me and my friend did, but for those of us who do go out and do it, well it's amazing. You make memories you wouldn't have be able to make otherwise (because lets be honest, when you plan something this epic and then follow through with it nothing but good can come from it), and it serves as an awesome story. I can't tell you the amazement I see in some peoples eyes when I tell them what we did. And it's just because we wanted to have a cool adventure after we graduated from high school. Nearly everyday I remember that trip, and I am so glad that I had the guts to go on it because it was an amazing trip full of incredible sights and places that not everyone gets the chance to experience. So if you have the chance to do something like this, take it because these opportunities only come around once in a lifetime.