Who really reaches adulthood at 18?... 21?
I was thinking about this for a long time yesterday. And I honestly don't think true adulthood is reached until at least 25, unless forced into it by circumstance (and that all just depends on the person). I don't know a single person who was an adult at 18... or 21. I certainly wasn't. I mean, really... think about the typical college student*... they live in perpetual-highschooler-mode, excepting that they can drink/smoke/etc... which makes matters worse.
Maybe independence shouldn't come until 23 or so... I'm not sure why the age keeps getting lower. That just doesn't seem right. When I think about myself when I first started college, I was so naive! It's just ridiculous to think about-- the way I saw the world and how I viewed myself and people in general.
...However... maybe the only way to get to adulthood is to go though that time of independence when you really don't know what to do, how to live, or what the world is really like. I guess that is how you learn. .... but some people just don't seem to ever come out of that.
I just looked up "adult" in the dictionary and it said "a person who is fully grown or developed or of age."... So i guess in order to be considered an adult, it really only deals with the physical aspect of growth, not the mental or emotional aspect. Maybe it should though.... maybe I need to speak with Mr./Mrs. Merriam-Webster.......
*disclaimer: typical college student. there are responsible 18-21 year olds... but that definitely not the norm.
2 comments:
i think merriam-websters use of "developed" may refer to mental or emotional development as well as physical.
perhaps.
I think you're right. I think people have to grow up when their circumstances require it. I mean, if you never had to "grow up," why would you? Maybe we would all be perpetual kids if we never had to be responsible for anything...
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