What are the benchmark accomplishments of a teen becoming an adult?

For me, it’s been graduating, finally replacing my lost documents needed for future employment, taking responsibility for myself and getting a job.
I still need to learn to drive and get a car. Which isn’t required for adulthood, but it definitely helps.

I’ve got a long way to go, and the fact that I’m legally an adult is hysterical.

When they start paying their own way

High school diploma, driver licence.

That whole bloody foreskin cutting off thing…

The change comes from a deeper voice and walking a little bow legged for a few weeks.

I don’t know, maybe I’m not fully an “adult” yet, but for me it was letting go of my anger. Stupid teenage angst, I was an angry miserable fuck. Over time I let it all go and I feel like since that time I’ve matured immensely and become a better person; I still have a long way to go, but it’s a vast improvement over what was. I think having a degree, job, supporting yourself all count for something, but not as much as maturity as far as adulthood goes imo.

Oh the number of people I know in their 50’s that still act like children….

When you learn what you can and can’t do. I learned that at 12 years. :(

When you learn to take responsibility for you words and actions. some people never get to this stage

I was thinking in terms of:
Getting a drivers license
Getting a stereo
Getting a diploma
Getting a car
Getting a girlfiend/boyfriend
Losing your virginity
Getting your own place

Now days, I suspect Getting a Cell phone has replaced getting a stereo.

@filmfann When I went to college my packing consisted of clothes, my stereo, and my albums.

Nope, getting a cell phone seems to be happening in elementary school now so that cannot be a marker of adulthood.

I have often thought that we, western society, have lost something by not having some kind of ritual for “coming of age”; some kind of ceremony that would say to a person “Hey you are grown up now, start acting like it!”

Paying your own phone bill seems to be more of a marker than having a phone.

Getting a full time job.