Could you have truely appreciated that as a 19 year old? I know I couldn't have though I was in the military with a couple years left. The broke part would still suck either way. At 29 now having had my life controlled for 4-1/2 years by the military and having lived in debt with credit cards and car payments and insurance, etc... I truely appreciate having none of those burdens now.
It is a great time to make mistakes though when you're 19 with no responsibilities.
Free is a very loose term. You can never be free and be a part of society.