Ah, college, the real best four years of our lives. It is a time to spread your wings and fly, exploring what the world has to offer you. But for some, their exploring is cut short due to the fact that they have yet to reach the legal age of 18. Here are some of the struggles if you're still 17 when you start your freshman year of college.
1​.​ Not being able to go out with all your legal friends
Here's a common scenario: Frat parties get old very quickly your freshman year so your friends will suggest going out to a club one night. Everyone is excited, you're excited too. Until you realize that you can't go because you're not old enough so you have to remind your friends of your minor status, killing the mood. So yet again, you all drag yourself to a gross, crowded frat party on a Saturday night.
2. Can't get all the tattoos or piercings your parents would't let you get back home
https://www.pexels.com/photo/grayscale-photo-of-tattoo-neon-signage-2087995/
All tattoo/piercing shops require you to be 18 to get something done without parent's permission. If you're living on campus by yourself far away from home, it would be very hard to get permission. Or your parents could still tell you no. Either way, your dreams of that tattoo or piercing is crushed.
3. Everyone treats you like a literal child.
https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-and-child-sitting-on-fur-covered-bed-1257099/
Listen, it is not your fault that your birthday just so happens to fall in between the months of September through December okay. Most of your peers in your graduating all less than a year older than you yet you get treated like you're a kid.
4. Not being able to do certain jobs due to your age
https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-holding-set-of-liquor-drinks-1267257/
Due to the nature of some jobs, you have to be 18 to operate certain equipment or handle certain things. Like at fast-food restaurants, you have to be 18 to handle the deep fryer. Or at sit down restaurants, you have to be 18 to be a server since minors cannot handle alcohol. so it makes finding a job in a college town a bit more difficult.
5. Can't even buy medicine for when you get sick
https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-red-hot-compress-1415554/
College is full of new germs so typically everyone gets sick in the first couple of weeks. Well, some over the counter cold medicines require the customer to be 18 or older to buy. So when you do get sick, you either have to suffer or bring one of your older friends so they can buy it for you. Either way, it is very inconvenient.
