Age Limbo

From the ages 16-20 people are put into this weird limbo of being considered grown in some respects but not in others and as a 17 year old, turning 18 in September, I already find this limbo frustrating.

16 - can have a job, earn a paycheck, and drive a motor vehicle that can kill someone, still a blatant "child".

17 - close to 18 but obviously not; could end up graduating high school at said age, going to college, and being in debt before legal adulthood but is still considered a minor in respects of tattoos, piercings, youth bank accounts in most states.
18 - WOOHOO ADULTHOOD. One can join the military and die overseas without having a sip of legal alcohol in the United States. But wait, you can buy lottery tickets, cigarettes, and vote!
19 - Still a teen but a year over "adulthood" but not really a grown up.
20 - More of a grown up at this point, but still cannot enjoy a legal alcoholic beverage.
21 - Okay so you're brain is done developing and for the past 5 years, you've earned the term "adulthood" because you've sort of been expected to act like one without enjoying any of the privileges, only the responsibilities.


If a 17 year old graduates high school and can take out thousands of dollars in loans to go to college, they should be able to get a tattoo if they desire.
If an 18 year old can join the military and risk their lives, smoke cigarettes and kill themselves slowly one way or waste their money in lottery tickets or are seen as capable to vote for our countries figure heads (all are pretty big deals in the aspect of life), they should be able to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer.

As a 17 year old high school graduate who will not graduate from college (for my four year degree at least) until the age of 21, I find this time line incredibly hypocritical.

If a 16 year old can work and earn their own money, they should be able to open a private bank account and control their finances. If they are "mature" enough to do one, they should be given the right to do the other.

If our brains don't fully develop until 21, we should not be considered adults until 21. As a completely flat logic, one cannot being an underdeveloped brain AND a legal adult sometimes but not all the time. I mean I'm all for adding another four year school for kids to figure out what they want to do (i.e. somewhat like community colleges or trade schools or training, with kids being able to stay at home without it being seen as some social faux pas, rather, a time for kids to actually know what they want to do as a career, almost like a "figuring it out" process, we'd have happier kids with more understanding of what they want to do, less student debt, and kids being able to actually grow up in a timely fashion). It'd make more sense if the United States wanted to keep the 21 year as a drinking age because of brain development, however, they should then change how age responsibilities work.

I'm sure for some, this gradual process of gaining responsibilities aides in the process of growing up. However, for many it is hindering, frustrating, and causes rebellion. There's a reason so many kids die from alcohol poisoning between the ages of 16-20, it's because they realize they have to wait until 21 to enjoy legally drinking, thus, become obsessed with getting their hands on it rather than realizing it's not a big deal and it can be done in moderation at the right place and time.

I've just been having a lot of issues with the age limbo and will continue (unless I stay overseas after my planned study abroad trip junior year) until I'm 21 in the United States. Although I do have a bias towards most European culture, I believe it is completely fair how in MOST countries, if one turns 18 they can vote, drive, smoke, get tattoos or piercings, drink, join the military, etc.

When you become an adult it should happen all at once rather than in bits and pieces. Yes, responsibilities along the way are important, however, there's a reason why when kids turn 16 the lines of "kid" and "adult" are blurred; it's confusing where you stand as far as what you can, can't, should, or shouldn't do until you turn 21.

Comment down below your thoughts!