The Catalyst

By Tessa Chillemi, Reporter

Turning eighteen is recognized as a huge milestone in our country. We suddenly get to vote, buy lottery tickets and scratch-cards, buy weapons if we have a permit, date whoever we want even if they’re fifty years older than us (although maybe don’t do that), and inhale vastly dangerous chemicals in the form of cigarettes or cigars, if we so choose. Credit card applications start arriving in the mail and movie stores, even the sketchy ones, no longer give us a second glance. Despite the fact that gambling and alcohol are still off-limits, we have an overwhelming sense of new and exciting freedom (although bear in mind that it’s not all kicks and giggles: by governmental definition, we are no longer children, and must be held criminally responsible for all of our actions and contractual agreements. Be careful!).

So what does being eighteen really mean? Here are some privileges and responsibilities that come with the Big Number (many thanks to snyderblogs.com for their extensive research!):

Just In Case

The first thing you should do when you turn eighteen is a safety precaution. Once you turn eighteen, your parents no longer have access to your medical record. Doctors require a written statement before they will release that information… so try typing or writing out a little statement that says, “I allow my parents to have access to my medical record and make decisions for me in the event of an emergency,” sign it in ink and tuck in your wallet. If you follow this advice, the next car accident you have should be a breeze.

Body Art

Body art is a huge privilege of turning eighteen! Tattoo- and piercing- parlors need an ID before they can jam their needles into you, so if you’ve always wanted a tramp stamp or a gothic nose ring, this is your time to shine. However, you’re still under your parents’ roof –and more importantly, on their insurance plan – so I would caution everyone not to abuse this privilege. Mothers who tear out chunks of hair and fathers who turn purple are never good birthday presents; always talk to your parents first.

Could I Please Borrow That

To rent (verb): to grant the temporary possession and enjoyment of. For a little bit of cash out of your pocket, infinite luxuries are now available to rent for you eighteen-year-olds (and no, we’re not just talking about adult films). Some car rental places, especially in New York City, are now willing to sign over motor vehicles to young drivers. Also, you can now rent a port-a-potty in most states, so the next time you take a daytrip up to the Monument, why not tie one to the back of your SUV, just in case?

Some Other Random Perks

Snyderblogs.com amassed an enormous list of the random opportunities for eighteen-year olds, and many of them range from the interesting to the bizarre. For example, once you hit this landmark number, you can finally go bungee-jumping; you can become a theme-park ride operator, a flight attendant, or an undercover cop (if any police force or airport will hire you); you can purchase a monkey (with a license, that is), and best of all, you can finally get an ice-cream truck licensed in your name and legally drive it around. We recommend that you don’t eat all of the sprinkles.