Why Kids Become Adults Essay

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Teenagers and kids today just want to enjoy their lives and have a good time. However, happiness and vivacity are often confused with irresponsibility and immaturity. This is a reason why the question “When do kids become adults?” is a very debatable topic among people today. People argue over the ages for driving, voting, drinking, etc. The legal age of adulthood is currently 18 years old. This age of consent should remain the same because 18 years old is a fit age for adulthood. There lies a great deal of rationality as to why 18 years old is when kids become adults. For instance, brain studies have shown that the majority of the brain is matured when a person is 18 years of age. According to Laurence Steinberg, by the time a person is 16, the obligatory parts of the brain needed for logical reasoning are matured (Steinberg 236). Also, the prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that controls decision making, expression, and multiple other significant skills necessary for an adult. The maturity of this fraction of the brain at age 18 is definitely enough for a person to be able to make the best choices for his or herself. Along with the scientific studies, there is much more notable reasoning to explain …show more content…
At age 18, people graduate high school and face the reality of possibly going to college, being without their parents, or getting a job. 18 year olds can live alone if they choose, meaning they have to support themselves. According to Richard Fry, a writer for Pew Research Center, 74% of 18 year olds no longer live with their parents. An 18 year old’s independence is far different from a 17 year old’s. The general legal age of marriage in the U.S. is 18. In 2000, 4.5% of 18-19 year olds in the U.S. were married. This was an increase of almost 50% from the 3.4% in 1990. Therefore, as years pass, more teens are becoming independent and making their own decisions, such as getting

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