While scrolling through a high-school senior’s Instagram account, one is likely to find a post on his or her 18th birthday with the caption “finally legal.” He or she is officially an adult, but does that make a difference in his or her life? It shouldn’t—at least not for anything other than civil duties such as registering for selective services and becoming a well-informed voter. As of March 31, 59% of Saint Viator seniors are 18. Almost everything made legal for a person upon turning 18 should stay the way it was in his or her mind until the right time for action comes.

People should not be engaging in sexual activities once they turn 18. Religious or not, there are social repercussions for sexual promiscuity. Acting this way can often harm a person’s personal life. Issues include family troubles, increased chances of dangerous diseases and higher divorce rates. It is up to the person to decide when the right time is, but at 18, most would not be supportive.

As for purchasing tobacco products, a more important, life-threatening health risk is stacked on top of a similar social risk. Research and personal experiences have taught us that the relationship between tobacco and cancer is more than a correlation; it’s a cause. Products intended for vaping appear all over social media and have yet to be shrouded with horrifying statistics. It is only a matter of time for research to yield any longstanding results on this method of nicotine ingestion, but with such high stakes, why risk it?

Turning 18 also offers more room for financial independence. Any legal adult with a bank account can apply for a credit card. While mastering the complexities of budgeting is helpful for a young adult, there are also serious ramifications if debts are not paid, and with virtual money only a swipe away, it is far too easy for a young person apt to make destructive decisions to blow minimum wage on frivolities.

When the time comes to officially enter legal adulthood, remember what you have been taught. Question the lessons you know now so that you might develop an appreciation for the principles of those rules in the first place. Before you dismiss this article as propaganda, know that restrictions placed upon minors are not tyrannical. Rather, they are aimed at creating a happy life for society as a whole.