Jackie Evancho has officially entered the world of adulthood.

From her interview with People magazine:

The opera prodigy — who rose to fame in 2010 when she was the runner-up on America’s Got Talentat the age of 10 —says she’s grown older and wiser since turning 18 earlier this year, but she’s still very much a kid at heart.

“It feels kinda the same as 17 at first, but then all the responsibilities come hitting you all at once and I suddenly wish I was 17 again,” the “Pedestal” singer tells PEOPLE. But, she says of adulthood, “I love it, I get more control of my career now which is amazing.”

But unfortunately, one of the most challenging experiences for Jackie could have derailed her entire career.

Read On to see what this difficult experience was and how she handled it.

Read On