Eighteen Is Responsibility, Not Freedom, Society Must Remember

Written by: Aasi

We have given the age of eighteen a distorted meaning. We have mistaken it for a declaration of freedom, when in fact it is the first doorway to responsibility. This is the age when a person should at least realize that they are no longer only a receiver; they should now be capable of giving something back. Yet in our society, there is a large number of people who, despite being physically grown, remain mentally dependent—and worse, consider this dependence their right.

We see it every day: a healthy, educated, able-bodied young person sitting at home. Their food, clothes, mobile phone, internet— even their moods—are financed by their parents, yet there is no trace of shame on their face. They see themselves as victims, as casualties of circumstances, but never pause to ask what they are contributing in return.

Saying that conditions are difficult may be true. Inflation exists, unemployment exists, opportunities are limited. But history bears witness that strong character is forged in difficult times. The problem is not the circumstances; the problem is a mindset that has belittled hard work and turned comfort into a life goal. We have made the idea of work so conditional that unless it matches our desires, our field, our standards, and our ego, we refuse to do it at all.

Here, we must speak the truth, even if it is bitter. Not finding work is a problem, but not working is a choice. A young person who considers standing in a shop, lending a hand in a workshop, or learning in an office for a modest salary an insult to their dignity—yet feels no disgrace in living off their parents’ income—is not suffering from self-respect, but from convenience-loving complacency.

“Parasite” is a harsh word, but it is not an insult; it is a reality. A parasite lives off another body’s energy, consumes its resources, yet produces nothing of its own. If we set emotions aside for a moment, we must admit that this attitude is becoming common in our society: young people who only know how to consume, not how to contribute; who only demand, but never accept responsibility.

This issue is not limited to children alone; parents are equally responsible. We gave our children love—but too much of it. We gave them comforts, but not responsibilities. We tried to shield them from every hardship, and in doing so, forgot to make them strong. We made their decisions for them, absorbed their failures for them, and then wondered why they could not stand on their own.

The role of parents is not only to raise children, but to prepare them—for life, for time, for struggle. Instead of teaching them how life is lived, we taught them how life is taken. As a result, children grew older in years, but in awareness they remained dependent, always waiting for support.

There was a time when an eighteen-year-old felt hesitation in extending a hand before his father. He knew it was now his turn. Today, the same age arrives with the confidence that parents are there anyway—something will work out. This is not confidence; it is negligence. And negligence always leads to loss.

We must also remember that parents are not just resources; they are human beings. They age, their strength fades, and they have dreams that are often sacrificed for their children. The question is: how long will they keep sacrificing? How long will they pause their own lives to carry the weight of their offspring?

This piece is not written out of hatred, nor is it a declaration of war against a generation. It is an intellectual reminder, a father’s concern, a social pain. If we fail to understand this in time, we will raise a generation that can neither stand on its own nor support others.

After eighteen, a person must decide whether they will be a participant in life or merely a beneficiary. Self-reliance is not just an economic act; it is the first step in building character. Those who do not step on this rung never manage to climb further.

Life is not what parents hand over to you; life is what a person builds for themselves. And one who does not build themselves slowly becomes a burden—first on parents, then on society, and eventually on their own existence.

This decision must be made by every eighteen-year-old, and by every parent as well. Because time passes, but habits remain. And the habit of dependence makes a person lazy in the present and helpless in the future.

Read More: HEC launches ‘Maktab’ system to digitally track students