Perks of Being a Nineteen-Year-Old

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Congratulations, you’re finally 19. Now all those 18 year olds are just looking at you with jealousy because, hey, you’re, uh, 19. I mean you can really do some cool things now, right? You can ... you can, umm. Wait -- what exactly is so special about turning 19?

It’s your last year of being a teenager -- that has to count for something. The truth is, there doesn’t seem to be anything special about your new age. But, in reality, there are a few little things that keep this age from being a complete loss.

1. You can legally drink ... in Canada
Places such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario set the purchase age for alcohol at 19. And in Alberta and Quebec, purchasing age is actually only 18.

2. You can smoke in New Jersey
Not that you would want to because, duh, that’s gross. But the option is there.

3. You can gamble in casinos in Alabama and Nebraska
If you don’t mind a little drive, that sounds ideal.

4. You tell all the 18 year-olds how cool it is to be 18
Bragging rights about … um, well ... you’ll think of some benefit, I’m sure.

5. You are one year away from being 20
So when you think about it, you’ve probably already lived a quarter of your life. Congrats.

6. Drake wrote a lyric about being 19
In his “30 for 30” freestyle, Drake says, “I just listened to Closer To My Dream. Wide eyed and uneducated at 19.” That has to count for something, right?

Basically, 19 is not all that significant. Sorry to tell you, but your next major milestone is still two years away. All you can do for now is just have fun; you’re young and away from home. Take this time to go out with friends and be a kid. Four years go by fast, and then you are truly out in the real world. Therefore, use your inexperience to your advantage and do the things you want to do because you’re only young once.