High school and whatever happens right after that, be it trade school or college or whatever, is pretty much a unique period in our lives.  Everything before, you were "just a kid" who *had* to eat your green beans and clean your room and take out the trash, etc; your parents were firmly in control.  Everything after that is just plain ole ordinary life, paying the bills, cleaning your appartment, cooking your own meals.

Do I miss HS sometimes?  Sure do, and I'm 29.  I had to do a lot of work, but I also had some of the most meaningful interactions with people in my life between 9th grade and getting out of college.  I definitely miss those conversations.

After an experinace like that, the real world is pretty prosaic.  People don't talk religion or politics or history or stuff like that in general, certainly not in public or in a workplace at normal voice volume.  These things are controversial, and controversy is bad for business- it riles people up, makes them upset, makes employees less effecient and customers less likely to want to come to a business, and if business is bad, well!  You see where that train of thought is going.  That's been my experiance with the real world thus far, anyway.  Maybe other people in here haven't experianced that attidude.  I sincerely hope so, I hope I'm the exception and not the rule.

Regardless, adulthood is just something you gotta adjust to. I'm still in the process of adusting myself.  It's just a very different world.  But there's plenty to look forward to.  Just rememer, there are perks to being an adult.  You have lots of freedom, especially once you move out of the house.  This is what you've been looking forward to since you entered the 1st grade.

OH, and P.S.: you're not old, in fact at 20 your life has just barely begun!  Enjoy the ride.

OK, maybe guys and gals are emotionally different on this issue.  I just meant to say that you've "been looking forward to this [becoming an adult] since the first grade. "  Have you?  I know I was, ever since I that age.  I wanted to grow up, more than anything, when I was a kid.  But then, maybe we guys are more eager to get out of the house.  Sorry if I was assuming too much........

I understand what you're going through. When I turned twenty I felt the whole...omg I'm two decades old thing. It's been a really interesting and quite frustrating part of my life but it is so fulfilling. Good luck with everything and happy belated birthday!

I turned 20 in August and I was like oh no, Im getting old, same as you. i was so afraid of leaving my teen years. However as the months progressed, I said hey, Im in College and being mature where I would have my own apartment would be exciting. Now I cannot wait till I turn 21.

Well, the good news is that the fear, sadness, and whatnot don't last forever--it took a few weeks but I adjusted. And so will you.