For the last 15 years, I’ve wanted to be 18 years old.
My mother asked me, on my fourth birthday, what I wanted more than anything else. “A credit card,” I responded, matter-of-factly. I wanted to grow up quickly so that I could have all the responsibilities and powers that my parents supposedly had. I always thought that the moment I became an adult would be the climax of life, I would have reached my peak and finally have all the power that I knew I DESERVED.
On April 21, 2011 I turned 18 years old. It felt surreal as I made a list of all the things I could now do legally.
1. Buy Porn, (If I actually wanted to do this, I would have been able to a long time ago).
2. Buy Cigarettes, (I don’t need another bad habit).
3. Buy Cigars, (I did go buy a delicious cigar on my 18th birthday and smoked it with my legal friends. It was delicious… reminded me of smoking Dominicans with my father on our mountain porch. I enjoy a good cigar within moderation)
4. Have a credit card, (I could have done that before too, with the signature of one of both of my parents).
5. Lay in Tanning Beds, (An even worse habit than smoking, if you ask me).
6. Cross the Border alone, (The only land borders that I ever cross are between Haiti and the Dominican Republic; I already know the patrol officers and have made several deals, they never give me problems).
7. I can go to jail.
8. Commit Statutory rape.
9. I can build real debt.
10. Join the Army
11. Be Deported
12. Get married (ICK).
13. Buy lottery tickets.
14. Change your name
15. Get a tattoo, (this is semi-cool, but I could have done it a long time ago… with parent signature).
16. I can pay taxes.
17. Sign my own consent forms, (this is pretty cool… I suppose). I am now completely responsible for myself, (about the only positive thing about being 18, other than the occasional cigar).
Of course, there are many other things that I can do as an 18 year old… but these are supposed to be the most common. I've been eighteen for over two weeks now and I can honestly say it's not as exciting as I thought it was. So, I will mention the most important aspect of being 18.
18. I CAN VOTE
This means that I will have a part in making sure Donald Trump does NOT get elected president of the United States of America. So there we have it. I will be one of millions to go to voting booths in 2012 and have a small say in who becomes our nation's next leader. I wish it were more significant… but it's what I have now.
Now all I have to do is wait until I'm 21… so I can drink? Gosh. Not much too look forward to.
