I know I made better decisions after I was totally responsible for myself...which is to say, when I had moved out of my parents home into my own place.
When I had parents sheltering me from stupid decisions, I made more stupid (youthful) decisions. I had the latitude to be stupid when I lived at home (or when I was at undergrad).
Once you are totally responsible for yourself, you suddenly care more about the effects of your decisions...you follow the news more, so you will vote more responsibly (especially after you see that tax amount on your paycheck). I know I took my grad school studies much more seriously than undergrad. I had worked to support myself before I went. I was paying for it. I got married halfway through it. (Many friends in grad school who went straight into grad school because they didn't know what they wanted to do after college, and who still lived at home at times, would still party their asses off like undergrad.)