By Emma Wertheimer, Year 9
Many may agree with the fact that you become an adult when you turn 18, but should a number define the numerous responsibilities that come along with it? In other words, what does it mean to be an adult? Jane Austen said it best: “self-knowledge is the first step to maturity”.
I believe that becoming an adult is not only about turning a certain age, but it is more about accepting your responsibilities as well as maturing and developing new personality traits. Becoming an adult comes with new commitments. Sometimes the transition from teen years into adulthood can feel like nothing, as the transition is simply defined by a number. But others may disagree and believe that becoming an adult can happen over a span of years. Becoming an adult is about learning how to handle different experiences as well as having to cope with new things. It is also maturing and being comfortable with unexpected events and learning how to adapt to new situations. Furthermore, becoming an adult is developing new skills such as resilience, patience and self discipline. It is equally about understanding that there are often consequences to your actions.
Another factor is that becoming an adult allows you to discover who you are and what you stand for. Each person has their own beliefs, and respecting and understanding others peoples beliefs is what makes one a mature adult. When you are an adult you prioritise certain things over others. You also prioritise mutual understanding and accepting others for who they are.
Nevertheless, society has decided that whether a person is mature or not, they get new privileges and new rights that they did not have beforehand. For example, like it or not, when people turn 18 in Switzerland they are allowed to vote, but they may not yet fully know what they stand for. This creates a strange situation where people are voting on matters without really knowing what they think about them!
But having a number define a new phase of your life is not necessarily something negative. It gives structure to your life and what society expects from you and that perhaps indicates what is expected from you.
In conclusion, becoming an adult is much more than reaching a certain age. It is about being capable of making your own decisions and facing the challenges that come alongside those responsibilities.
