I'm terrified of becoming an adult

(Originally a blog but I wanted to post it here)

I know damn well I'm not mature enough to be one and I don't know how I'm supposed to prepare for adulthood. I turn 17 in less than 3 months, and that's going to be the last year of being a teen. I wish I got some advice on how to prepare for adulthood, because once I finish sixth form, I'll be on my own and fully independent. 

The worst part is that some people expect you to automatically mature the second you hit 18, that's unrealistic! I don't know how I'm supposed to become "mature" as the same people just constantly undermine me for being a teen. It would help if I got advice for becoming an adult, but all I get is "focus on school" or "enjoy your teen years" instead of actual help and guidance.

As much as I am excited about having my own freedom and independence, I'm scared. I know that I would have to get a career (hopefully something to do with writing), get my own home and (potentially) find a partner. To any adult who's reading this, what advice do you have for anyone who's close to becoming 18?

I'm sorry for posting this shitty rant, but I have no idea how I would survive as an adult.

I can't really relato to this one because even though it can seem scary to become an adult especially when you get "to be all by yourself". (*^▽^*) People can say whatever they want but you don't actually have to fit the standards of society. Being an adult is fun, it's the exeptations of some people that can create a certain pressure on others. But you'll be independent, wich means that you can choose to fit these standards or not.

People have their own way of seeing success/happiness anyways, so it's yours to decide if you want to grow up and keep that inner child inside of you.

I'm probably just yapping about nonsense since I am also just a lost teen trying to find herself but that's my point of view and that's how I was raised so I'm sharing my opinion about this.

im also rly terrified honestly. i cant rly give any advice cuz i too am a non-adult. but one thing im keen on is to just find a job, if i do that i think ill be able to navigate life somehow. otherwise theres no chance im doing things like moving out at 18/19, its rly unrealistic imo. and i dont think ive matured past 10 yrs old, i have no idea how ill deal with upseting things or problems. uhm ya, if yk me i complain alot abt flaws with conservative countries like the one i live in but it rly sets ya up for life if u feel lost. u can never rly be alone, theres always someone or someway u can get help/ comfort.

It is terrifying. However, you do get used to some of the pressures. 

You can help yourself with some of the pressure by making a plan and being proactive about learning life skills. The following advice is for someone with supportive parents, if you don't have that kind of relationship with your parents, let me know and we can brainstorm a bit.

A lot of the college students I know don't know how to cook or do their own laundry. Here in the US, college comes with meal plans which take that pressure away so students can focus on studying and socializing. The better you can learn to manage your survival basics like hygiene, cooking, and transportation the better off you'll be. 

Just spitballing a few ideas here:

• Work with your parents to take on new responsibilities at home. Ask for feedback. If your parents have been thinking about ways to help you launch into adulthood, they probably have thoughts about where you are at. (Plus, asking for feedback is much nicer than receiving it out of nowhere, which feels like an attack.)
• Cook a few meals while your parents hang out at the kitchen table. 
• Get in the habit of doing your own laundry if it's an option in your house.
• Meet up with friends across town.
• Have a standing weekly hang-out with some friends. Try to make that as easy as possible for the parents of your friends by making sure you've tidied up after yourself before shoving off. This is great because every house is going to have different ways of doing things. Plus, you'll get to meet a bunch of your friend's parents and talk to them about their jobs and whatnot. 
• Part-time work as a teen is a wonderful opportunity to challenge yourself. You'll learn how workplaces function and build relationships with people in your community (which is huge).

Be easy on yourself first, and then challenge yourself. It takes a lot of time.

The only universal advice I can give is keep moving forward. If you dont get your dream job/college/anything apply to ten more. Whatever it takes to keep moving.

Oh and do NOT fuck yourself financially, living in debt forever is basically the worst thing you can do for yourself, do anything and everything to stay OUT of debt cause its hard to get back in the positive.

Okay for the me specifics:

While some can wing it, my advice is always have a semblance of a plan. It depends what you want out of life of course, but if you have an end goal of any kind then its easier to at least have tentative steps to get there.

also do yourself a favor and get your license, if you dont have it. its so much easier when you're in your teens.

And try to be a good person yeah? kindness and all that. Its okay to have done bad things if you learn from them, so forgive your past mistakes and keep moving!

I recently turned 18 and I will say I have it pretty good right now but I start college soon and I am fucking terrified. I have to start looking for a job soon too and I just thinking about my future and I am so scared. like what do you mean I'll have to get my own doctor and find a dentist and get a place to live and pay rent and pay for gas and fucking shampoo all at the same time?!? Funny enough I'm actually not scared to start paying taxes it's actually not as hard as you'd think it is (thank you econ🙏).

advice from auntie here. your 30s will be better than your teenage years. and most of your 20s too.  so you can look forward to growing up!

18 is not an adult it's just a legal cutoff date. you will still be a teen for three more years. your early 20s won't feel much different except you can drink. 

you don't have to know everything right off the bat when you hit 18. hell there are people in their 50s and 60s that are mostly faking being put together. nobody knows much of anything. you're not behind if you feel clueless. you're in the same spot as everyone else.

your worries are normal for your age. everyone freaks out as they approach the next decade. i was anxious about turning 30 too bc i was thinking about grey hairs and hormone shit. guess what? my 30s have been awesome and all the other millenials are like "hey my 30s are awesome" too. 

people romanticize teenagerhood like "oh enjoy being young" but it's a fantasy, being that age is being a big old stress mess. that's what it's supposed to be. which means it's likely everything will work out :) you are actually doing great, i promise.

bro im not even worried about maturity and cleaning and house shit, i'm worried about money and career. wtf am i gonna do bro how am i gonna find a place to live, a good job that i like cuz if i don't like my job why don't i just kms at that point, and buy food and hygiene and everything else? you can't get a creative job you have to be an engineer or a doctor or a lawyer but i don't care about any of that shit and i'm bad at math. if i can't even stand being alive what's the point of it