A legal adult is defined as someone who is at least 18-years-old. However, most reasonable people understand that 18, in this case, is a relatively arbitrary number.
Being 18-years-old doesn’t ensure readiness to enter the job market. Being 18-years-old doesn’t mean an individual is prepared to manage his or her finances. And being 18-years-old doesn’t necessarily indicate that a young adult is ready for full independence.
For most people, this understanding goes without saying—it’s why families extend a financial and social safety net to support their children as they finish high school and obtain employment or begin college. Yet, each year thousands of American youth find themselves without a reliable source of support, and for no reason other than their age.
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