Should I be able to make my own decisions?

I want to. I want to be able to to experience all this for my own, to deal with the consequences on my own, and to fail if I have to.

You start to wonder just how much your parents are willing to treat you as a grown-up. At 24, I think I'm long past being qualified as an adult.

Is it because they still see me as a child, or have I not earned their trust? Have I approached this the wrong way?

In a different time and place, I'm sure this wouldn't even be up for debate.

I really want to be in a different time and place right now. And I'm tired of being held back by their decisions for me - and willingly, worse of all. All the talk of growing up and being responsible all seems moot when I haven't had the chance to do so.

This is an opportunity that probably won't come by again, in this time and place. It might seem rash and rebellious. But do you honestly think that I do not know the risks? I am fearful and wary and uncertain. I have no idea what I'm in for.

And that is precisely why I wanna do this.