I don't agree with the idea that you attain adulthood at the age of 18. In fact, I think that an arbitrary cut-off age between adolescence and adulthood is an inaccurate statement of exactly *when* you should consider yourself a fully grown, responsible member of society.

The turning point, I feel, is when you no longer get the summer off between the end and the start of the academic year. Hence if you go straight into work from school, you're an adult. If you go to University, you're elongating your adolescence.

Over the past couple of years, though, I've blurred this transition somewhat by taking placement work and industrial jobs related to my field of study (chemistry) but I've still managed to get away with between three weeks and a month off over the summer.

This year is probably going to be the last one. In one weeks time I'll be wandering (late, probably) into the new lab that will see the majority of my waking hours for the next three years. I have one week of adolescence left.

That's a worrying thought. I can't see myself as a responsible adult. I hang upside down off of too much high stuff to be responsible.

Bo"Checklist: mortgage, kids, white picket fence"urne