As I approach my 18th birthday I am taking the time to reevaluate the typical 18th birthday traditions. It is normal that an 18 year old, upon becoming an adult, buy a lottery ticket, a pack of cigarettes and plan a tattoo. I don’t know about you, but to me that seems a waste of money. One, I don’t smoke, two, I don’t gamble and three, I don’t do shots, so a needle piercing my skin for over an hour isn’t exactly my idea of fun. So what drive would doing any one of those hold for me? I have no rebellious notions because my parents tend to let me do what I need to as long as I’m respectful and responsible. I have no desire to feel like an adult, in fact I’m dreading the fact that I have to soon take complete care of myself and pay for food and rent. So, honestly, why would I do it? So many people ask me if I’m going to take the “required rebellious day.” It’s required now? I am my own person and to me what is required of me when I turn 18, isn’t a rush to prove how immature and incapable of handling myself I am. It’s to start being more mature and making more adult decisions. I don’t want to run of the reservation when I’m 18, make a ton of mistakes I’ll later regret and then have to spend time repairing my idiocies. Becoming 18 isn’t about “living the life” and “doing what you want.” This whole “YOLO” concept isn’t ok with me at 17, so why would it be ok with me when I’m 18? I don’t understand the concept of living it up and doing what you want. Life isn’t about always gettting what you want or always being entertained. When I turn 18 I’ll probably start working more hours at my job and put away more money for college. I’ll probably try to act a little more eloquently and try to treat people better. Maybe I’ll dye my hair, but I definitely won’t die my body with a tattoo that says, “Burritos love me.” Somebody has to say that being 18 isn’t about going down in maturity level.