November 11, 2007

An Adult is an Adult is an Adult

Webster’s as defines an adult as: 1. n. One who has attained maturity or legal age. 2. adj. Mature. But then the question remains as to whether an adult can be truly defined as one who has achieved a mere age or one who has reached a certain maturity level. Do they have to exist synonymously, or are they independent of each other? In America, a legal adult is one who is eighteen or older, but in other countries around the world, the age teeters around thirteen or fourteen, so one can assume that the ‘bright line’ for when one officially ‘crosses over’ into adulthood is blurred by geographic borders. At the same time, however, the young people who unfortunately had everything they had ever owned destroyed in Hurricane Katrina did not have much of a choice but to become self-sufficient. The question to be answered is one of what truly defines an adult.

The thought among many elders is that adulthood is only a privilege with age, but what makes someone an adult is the responsibility that might or might not come with a numbered birthday. Responsibility of ‘adulthood’ is being able to care for yourself and eventually, other people. Adulthood carries with it maturity that could be attributed to life experiences and not merely age. Life itself carries growth that determines the prime of adulthood. There is no reason why becoming an adult relies simply upon age but becomes determinant upon responsibility and life experiences. This being said, one could become an adult at fourteen or younger, simply through difficult life experiences.

Adults are people who are independent and do not rely on others to care for them. With independence come responsibilities that ease the person into maturity considering them adults by nature. Rarely is anyone considered an adult if they fail to meet these expectations and ignore their responsibilities. Material responsibilities include: paying bills, buying groceries, and having your own home classify the normal person as an adult. Eventually, most adults hope to marry and procreate, adding to the already numerous amount of responsibility already acquired. Caring for a crying infant in the middle of the night can make anyone grow up quickly.

To be an adult, one must be developed, or well rounded in his or her knowledge and experience. Simply being of age can be a part of it, but being an adult means so much more than having a voter registration card. Adults are self-made individuals, people who can make it in the world on their own. Difficult decisions may slow them down, but nothing can stop them. Most adults have to give up things that they really enjoy because of their choice to do something that has a better impact in the future. The most mature thing is knowing when to make that difficult choice.

Every person living on this planet goes through all different kinds of phases, but there is never a guideline on when it begins or ends. Just like the term adult, its definition means, “A point of maturity”, but no one can tell you when you initially start being mature. Some teenagers don’t become mature until they take on some real responsibility, such as children, work, and bills. All that we truly know about being an adult is that after gradually learning from our mistakes, the change that takes place inside of us makes us grow up, one step at a time.

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