<p>I don't know but for the past several months (ever since the uncertainty of where I was going to college had been settled) I began to realize that my high school life of no or little responsibility (in many ways, like my parents are always there, etc.) is gone, that I will never get back any of my years of youth, maybe innocence. That from here on out, it will only get tougher and with more responsibility. </p>
<p>Now I must admit part of this feeling exists from the pure mental and physical exhaustion high school has caused and that I really led a hard working, no-fun high school life trying to get into the best colleges in the country (as many of you on this forum) and I certainly have a lot of regret stemming from that. </p>
<p>But still...am I the only one who feels 18 and really old+tired?</p>
<p>No, you are not the only one. It’s easy to look back on the past and say “things were much easier,” but don’t do it. You will have more freedom from now on, and life will actually be better in a lot of ways.</p>
<p>Also, remember that you worked hard in high school for a reason. Get rid of regrets.</p>
<p>I’m 21, and I feel young as ever ;). I just transferred as a junior and most of my free shirts say “Class of 2014,” and I like to tell people to treat me like a freshman. I took a year-long break though. If I had transferred straight out of CC, and especially if I had gone straight to uni out of high school, I would probably sympathize with you.</p>
<p>I’ve felt like I was old since I was 16…but then again, that’s when I became the co-parent of my little brother along with my mom. I think it depends on each person’s life. Mine just made me grow up faster. I already feel like a 30 year old at age 20. >.<</p>
<p>I’m 20 and I feel old around all the 18 year olds. Nothing says feeling old like everyone around you watching the Disney channel and singing Justin Beiber.</p>
<p>i’m 22, almost 23 and still going to school. seeing the 18 year olds on campus, how they think/act, and realizing how much I’ve changed since then makes me feel really old and out of place.</p>
<p>I’m seventeen and moved away from home for the first time ever to go to college eight hours away. I feel so out of place because for the last five years or so I’ve been raising my little sister and taking care of my sick mom. So now only having myself to take care of makes me feel weird and old, haha. I feel seventeen going on thirty.</p>
<p>I don’t at all. And I’m 20 and graduating this spring.</p>
<p>2 years ago, however, when I was 18 coming to college, I felt old. I was 18, and thinking, “This is my major, this is the grad school I want to go to, right after I graduate, this is the career I want.” I felt like my life had barely begun, but I was already planning the rest of it step by step, and had been since I was 16, when I began researching colleges. I really felt old, especially last year. And I was exhausted.</p>
<p>Then I stopped doing that. I ended up changing my major; it’s something I’m way more interested in, and while I have plans for the next few years, they’re not rigid. I’m looking forward to them, and there’s flexibility. If something doesn’t happen, I’m not screwed for life. I think part of it is that I’m finally graduating. Yeah, you’re leaving college for the real world, but you’re still young. I feel like I still have so much to learn, and that’s why I’m going the route I’m going. </p>
<p>I don’t know. I know that’s why I felt old and exhausted, but I don’t think your feeling is unusual. A lot of people feel it, because you are making some life decisions in college. They’re not usually end-all, be-all decision, but they’re big decisions, and that’s kind of daunting. You have more responsibility, but you are still young. You can still rely on your parents a bit. It’s not like you’re 30 with a mortgage and car payment, and a full time job. </p>
<p>Just relax a bit. I’m not saying party it up every weekend and blow off school, but enjoy yourself. Find a hobby you love. Maybe it’ll help you to not feel so old.</p>
<p>Wow…Looking back at this… a year later and a completely different perspective. I feel happier and younger than ever. College just makes everything better haha.</p>
<p>I feel old when I see incoming freshmen. I’m only 21 yet I feel like I’ve grown tremendously since first going off on my own to college. Incoming freshmen really don’t have any idea of how much different they’ll feel looking back at themselves of only a few years prior and I don’t want any incoming freshmen telling me that they already know. :p</p>
<p>I’m 18 and I feel old every single time I think about college. But the reason is more so because I feel like much of my youth has came and gone and I for some reason feel like I didn’t live it out to it’s fullest potential you know. I don’t know. I just feel old!</p>
<p>Eighteen is still a very young age. You’re going to change tremendously over the next few years, especially in regards to your emotional maturity. I remember believing that I was all “grown up,” so to speak, at your age. Of course, though, it’s normal to feel that way as you enter college, take on new responsibilities, and (in some cases, but definitely not all), move away from home for the first time. </p>
<p>But, you’re still incredibly young. You have so much more to learn as you enter this new phase in your life. You will make both mistakes and achievements, experience failure (in som way or another), and learn plenty of lessons along the way. Most importantly, you definitely will not be the same person you are now by the time you graduate. </p>
<p>I’m 21, and I still don’t consider myself to be entirely grown up. I’ve developed an incredible amount of emotional maturity over the past fee years, yes, but I still have a long way to go. Generally speaking, your brain isn’t finished developing until you’re about 25. The best advice that I can give to you is this: enter the next phase of your life with an open mind, accept the changes you will go through, and learn from your mistakes. Be conscious of the decisions you will make, and never be afraid to get help when you need it (no matter how silly you think your problem is). The people you will meet over the next few years will influence you greatly, whether its by teaching you an important lesson, or by even helping you through your lowest points. You ultimately will be very surprised at how much you will change over the next few years.</p>
