Now that I’m done with my first year of college I often find myself asking, “What does it mean to be an adult?” Legally I’ve been an adult since 18, but I was still in high school and living with my parents. I had never been on my own until I left for college. Since this school year is now coming to an end, and I’ve been on my own for the past eight months, am I really an adult?
Someone once told me that college students are like cats. They can get be on their own, but someone should probably keep an eye on them. I think this statement accurately describes college students or anyone from the ages of 18-23. I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t pick up the phone and call my mom to ask her whether or not certain things should be put in the dryer or if I couldn’t ask her how to do my taxes. I still have my dad read over emails before I send them to prospective employers to make sure they sound professional enough. So although I’ll be living at home over the summer, does that mean I’m still a child?
I’m at the point in my life where I only have minor responsibilities. I have to have a job while I’m home for the summer, I pay for my own gas, food, and clothes. But I am not at the point in my life where I have to worry about rent/mortgage, insurance, bills, or kids. So am I half of an adult? Is it as long as my parents claim me as a dependent on their taxes that I’ll continue to be half an adult? This article is mostly me trying to figure out for myself what makes someone an adult, because this middle ground that I’m on is very weird.
What about those moments when you notice that you are turning into your parents? Do those moments constitute the beginning stages of adulthood? I don’t know about anyone else, but sometimes I’ll even do/say things that my grandma would. Does that mean I’m turning into a grandma?!? Unfortunately, it does not. I would be an amazing grandmother though. (If anything, I wish I could skip adulthood and go straight into retirement.)
To be honest, I don’t know if anyone knows a for sure answer on what it takes to be an adult. As a college student, I’m just bopping around day by day, going to class and watching Netflix. I only have to worry about myself right now and I’m completely fine with that. In my opinion, for me to become a “true adult” I would need to take on so much more responsibility that I’m not ready for (whether it's financially or mentally.)
