Why Being 17 is Definitely Not the Greatest.

In 8 days (I have indeed been counting), I'm going to be turning 17. But, should I be that excited?

Firstly, when you turn 17, your freedom is still very much restricted. On the day 17 years after the day you were born, you are suddenly allowed to... Drive. And that's it. There isn't really anything else you are allowed to do on your 17th Birthday that you couldn't have done the day before it. And, obviously, the chances of you being so talented that you pass your test on the same day you first drive a car are pretty slim, so no going and picking up your friends to wizz them away to a place you've never previously been allowed to go to to celebrate.

Also, how do you celebrate your 17th?
Clubs? No.
Pubs? No.
Silent disco at the top of the Shard? No, not even that.
There is literally nothing to do. I'm meeting up with some friends next Saturday to celebrate being one year nearer to being 18 but I'm still completely clueless of what to do when I see them.

Furthermore, most of us spend being 17 in amongst a mountain of essays, textbooks and exams. When you're 16, many of us get an eleven week holiday after finishing our GCSEs.
When you're 18, many of us get a thirteen week holiday between finishing our A Levels and starting university.
When you're 17, many of us get... A six week 'break', consisting of hours and hours of holiday homework. What's not to like?

In addition, the minimum wage doesn't increase when you turn 17. Yup, we're still expected to get along just fine on £3.78 an hour, which can't even buy you a meal deal at M&S. Guess we're going to have to embrace the hunger when it comes to our lunch breaks...

So, there you have it: reasons why being 17 is the worst of them all.
Have fun!

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Florrie Elizabeth.

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