19 Apr 2010

The world ahead of us…

I just made the swift decision that I would not be doing my theology reading for tomorrow. This is not because I am a student that slacks off. I don’t. It isn’t really because I have anything else more important to do (but I do)

For the first three weeks of my quarter, I’ve been sticking to my syllabus in my classes. I stayed in all weekend and did homework while swooning over actor Matthew Gray Gubler on Criminal Minds. I felt much older than I really was. I should probably have been out w/ my friends like every other college student in the country on a weekend. Also Matthew Gray Gubler is 30 years old. (sidenote)

So being the age that I am – and a college student, I feel old. I no longer I have that energy that I used to have. I have no desire to pack on those numbers (or the pounds) that come with age, but why does it seem like the rest of the world is? There are the child stars, the infamous bloggers that have become household names at the age of 13, (Yep, I’m talkin’ about you Tavi!) and the ones in grade school, junior high, and high school that cannot wait to get older. They do the things that make us cringe and confuse us. Our society has come to terms with the idea that with age comes privileges and independence. This idea is stomping on our youth. Hard. There are some decisions that we think we are ready to make when we are younger, but there’s a reason why people warn us about them. I believe that making mistakes are lessons to be learned, but some lessons do not need to be learned until later.

I decided to ask some of my friends the question:

Are we growing up too fast?

“High school is our only time that mistakes are acceptable. Then we get into college and we are automatically thrown into this world of “what do you want to do with your life” and honestly, we are in our twenties. No one should want to know what they want to do with their 60 + years yet. i think that our generation needs more time for self discovery and exploration.”

“I think that the youth today is so caught up with growing up and wanting that maturity, to reach a point of freedom that’s associated with being an adult, that they don’t fully experience the satisfication and freedom of just being YOUNG. The Ataris had it right all along; being grown up isn’t half as fun as growing up, these are the best days of our lives. Getting your first major freedoms, such as driving a car or moped with the relevant moped insurance, should be cherished.”

“Yes, we are people who need to realize and embrace the true curiosity of our inner child in order for us to fully enjoy life.”

“Are we growing up too fast? I don’t think so. I don’t think we wanna grow up. We fight being an adult whenever and wherever possible.”

“I think we’re redefining maturity. I think especially with the internet and all it’s easier for the lines to be blurred between adult and kid so adults act more childish and kids try to act more adult.”

“I think we are just realizing how fast time really goes.”

“Definitely. We already have. All I know is that i’m already having to figure out what I want to do with my life and I’m not even 20 yet. [and how do you feel about that?] mm nervous I guess, making decisions in school that will determine my career and where I end up living are huge and sad because it’s easier and more fun being a kid.”

“I think growing up is a state of mind that can only be applied to an individual. most people lately seem to be fixated on maturing and growing up, but when you actually talk to them they’re just as clueless as the rest of us.”

“No, we are pretending to grow up to quickly. Creating a society of children.”

“I don’t think we’re growing up too fast. I mean there’s people our age who are pregnant and married. They pretty much skipped what the 20’s represent and jumped right to 30. We don’t even have full time jobs or pay real taxes. [we refers to my friend and I]

“I don’t think so. I feel like most of us are mature enough for what we’ve been experiencing in our lives.”

Posted on April 19, in -