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I was 18 in 1974. Still had 5 months of school until I graduated. My brother played Alice Cooper's I'm 18 when I came down for school. I still remember that so well.
When I think back, really nothing changed. I graduated HS when I was 17, went a thousand miles away to college, turned 18 four months after enrolling in college. My 18th birthday, I was in the woods in Mississippi hunting with a class-mate's family during Thanksgiving holiday. No fuss was made about it.
At 17 in college, no question of majority ever came up. I got off the bus in a state I'd never been in before, and enrolled in the university and arranged dorm housing . Nobody ever said anything about needing the signature of a parent. My college fee slip was all the ID I ever needed for anything, and there was no date of birth on that. I don't think I even had any legal ID, there were no photos on drivers license in those days, and mine was only an expired temp learner permit.
Not much. I remember having no woman to share it with, and being in college.
Graduated from HS in June, and I turned 18 in July 1976, The Olympics were on in Montreal, Canada. I had a cute boyfriend. I was very happy because I was to start an RN program at community college in September. My cousin and I visited Montreal for the first time in August and saw the Olympic Village. We had a ball visiting family. Life was good in Canada.
Graduated from HS in June, and I turned 18 in July 1976, The Olympics were on in Montreal, Canada. I had a cute boyfriend. I was very happy because I was to start an RN program at community college in September. My cousin and I visited Montreal for the first time in August and saw the Olympic Village. We had a ball visiting family. Life was good in Canada.
Yikes , next month I turn 60!
Wow, you're OLDER than I am! I won't be 60 until August 1st.
I remember thinking - well, now, maybe now, I can get a job that pays more so I don't have to work 2 jobs and support my parents. But, why didn't I?
I also was going to community college at 18 but why after 2 years didn't I just say I want to go away and go to Northwestern? (I was smart academically so I probably could have gotten in). Thinking of this now, my dad probably told me I wouldn't be able to afford it.
I had dreams and I did achieve a few later on but I did not have the real college life I dreamed of; my grandparents lived just west of Chicago; could have gone and lived with them; why didn't I?
This pales in comparison to those who went to Vietnam but this was after. This was in the 70's and because I was female and working 2 jobs almost around the clock and trying to go to school, I missed out on a lot.
I feel for those who had to get the draft card and as so many, what a waste of a war. I still do not understand war; not a real conflict person.
Made my relationship mistakes; I guess I felt fortunate IF I was in one (LOL) but finally found the right one.
Perusing this thread, it is remarkable how many persons commenting here, were born between 1948 and 1960, with a particular bulge around 1956. What happened to the early-retirees, or the WW2/Korea veterans?
Besides the twin themes of alcohol and Vietnam, which were already noted by another poster, I observe that so many associate turning 18 with leaving the parental hearth - either as a taking of responsibility, or a leap of escape. Both scenarios baffle me, and evidently reflect the particular habits of American culture 40-50 years ago. For what it's worth, I also left "home" at age 17, to go to college - but despite spending the academic-years on campus, and then working quite some distance away from "home" after graduation, the inter-generational connection remained tight.
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I do remember it....
