Taylor House Staff Writer
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| BURSTING YOUR BUBBLE: Often it is recognized that growing up is often seen as a bogged down idea by those of our generation. However, the great thing about growing up is inventing yourself and finding your niche in society. |
It would be
fun to meddle with Alice and the Mad Hatter or to be a Lost Boy traveling with
the strapping Peter Pan but it is preposterous to think there is, or ever was, Neverland
where a child can never age, or Wonderland where you find the place runs on all
play and no work. Growing up is a privilege and while irresponsibility seems
fun for a while, it is just as it is rooted from, which is irresponsible. Eventually
you must grow into who you are to become an independent version of yourself. Now
is your time to remove the shackles of expectations and be in charge of the
person you will be.
It may be frightening nearing the end of our senior
year as boys and girls about to become men and women, but becoming a grown up
doesn’t have to mean losing yourself as a person. Sometimes, getting out of high school, the place of infinite immaturity and viewing
your life as an independent gives you an entirely different perspective.
English teacher Stephanie Bullard reflectively comments, “The best thing about
being an adult is being able to look at my parents and truly understand the
good that they have instilled within me,” and reminisces in saying, “It’s funny
how I couldn’t see that when I was in high school.” When you get out of your
comfort zone and begin to think for yourself, it becomes apparent that you stop
to think about yourself. Life suddenly becomes a little bit more about other
people. Planning your future means planning for the family you might create, or
the neighborhood you might live in, or the students you were not a few weeks,
months, or years ago. With this newfound, selfless view on life you also gain
an entirely different level of respect for your parents and what their
intentions were, as Bullard found herself.
We, as youth
at our prime transitioning age, have the perfect opportunity to become
something we are proud of. Whether that means going against the grain or
reforming it, all of this adulthood stuff comes down to is being responsible
for yourself and finding your identity. Senior Allycen Kurup comments, “I hope
to be a productive, responsible adult who enjoys the things I’m doing with my
life.” Not only does she realize what she wants out of life but she also knows
what she expects out of herself. Being an adult is glorious because you chose
your expectations and maturing means you pay attention less to the expectations
of those around you.
Whoever said
becoming an adult meant you had to fit the mold of stuffy, lifeless and
conventional person has no idea what it truly means to grow up because growing
up is entirely more inviting and eye-opening. Science Teacher Jaci Washam
states, “You determine how satisfied you will be in your choices.” Becoming
accountable for your own actions and taking on the world by storm is more than
an opportunity and the most difficult obstacle you will overcome but you will
find, once you get to that point where you are content with who you are and
what you have done, that adulthood is a privilege.
