Turning 18 seems monumental, but in reality, it’s not. My teenage years were hell especially when I became a legal adult. There are so many things I wish I had done differently. Here are 7 things I wish I knew before turning 18.
When I was 17, I moved away from my home in Massachusetts to live with my aunt and uncle in Philadelphia. Things were so bad at home I thought it was the best thing. I was so wrong. I gave up my big room for essentially a tiny one. I gave up my somewhat lenient household to live in a strict, conservative one. I made some friends but ultimately, I moved back home so I never see them anymore since they’re 6 hours away. I realized that once you live with someone you start to hate them. I started hating the rules and my family. I thought I would have some peace of mind and freedom but it was the complete opposite. My depression deepened and I was severely suicidal.
If I had stayed in Massachusetts, I would have gone to a state school. Going to a state school would have helped financially and I would not have had to travel back and forth. I could have lived at home and not far away like I did with my current school. I could have made lifetime friends that aren’t far away.
I feel like my future suicide attempts could have been avoided if I had gotten help sooner. My mental health only got worse after I turned 18 and moved away. Of course, I eventually saw a therapist at Temple University and she helped, but I realized I was just venting and not progressing. If I had seen a therapist sooner I could have learned how to cope with my trauma, anger, and all of my other problems before I hit college and essentially, the real world.
I was a lazy teenager. I was taken care of. I didn’t think I needed a job. If I had a job early on I could have learned proper money management skills.
Whenever I got money, I spent it. I didn’t think about future bills, wanting to have pocket money, etc. Life comes at you hard and life is expensive. Because I never saved my money I had to ask my mom for money all the time and I hated it.
Let me tell you, taking public transportation is s***. If I had gotten my license earlier I could have had access to a better job where the buses didn’t take me. I could have gone out and explored the city instead of staying a sheltered kid.
If I had known I was a writer before I started college at 18, I would have started working on my writing skills early instead of wasting time studying early childhood education and liberal arts. I also wouldn’t have wasted so much energy and money. My student loans are more than what they should be because I was trying to figure out what I was good at and what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Well, it’s 8 years later and I’m finally on track with my life. I know it seems like I wrote nothing but negative things, but there are some upsides. I’m finally seeing a therapist and going to progress instead of just venting. I got my license the day before my 24th birthday. I got my own car earlier this year so I don’t have to worry about taking public transportation. I’m getting better jobs as well. I started saving my money so now I can comfortably pay some of the bills I have. Although I am far away from my friends in Philadelphia, I’m so glad I met them. Also, when I moved away, I got to experience the city, went to concerts, and had the best time. All in all, before turning 18, there was a lot of things I wish I knew, but I’m happy with the way things turned out.
Whether you’ve been together for two years or two minutes, you’ll constantly be saying “So, what do you want to…
The college transition can, and will, be a hectic one. Don’t feel alone in this process. Thousands have gone before…
Dating can be tricky when you are away at school and are not sure of where the best places to…
It’s a summer of lasts. Last Lollapalooza with your high school squad, last family Fourth of July barbecue that you…
Do you think that you could just walk onto campus and go on with your life away at school? Maybe,…
Aside from choosing your classes, choosing your living space is one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make…
