What makes you mature?
I suppose maturity means different things to different people. I think maturity includes being able to make independent and informed decisions, being able to support yourself (and dependants, if you're at that stage), being honest with someone even if what you're saying is harsh, and being able to shove aside your pride and just say sorry, etc.
I don't think maturity should include not watching cartoons. I will probably never grow out of cartoons. I watch the news sometimes, as well as more sophisticated programmes. If anyone tells me that I'm too old for cartoons, I will fix them with such a piercing glare that a hole will appear on their torso. Occasionally being whimsical and childlike doesn't seem like a bad idea to me - after all, adult life can get boring sometimes! I'm not saying run away from responsibility - I just think adults need a break sometimes from being an adult.
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
January 3, 2011
November 12, 2010
Magical Madness
This was a piece I wrote for school a few months ago.
Adolescence is, in some respects, not a calm period in life. It is more like river rapids - confusing, even a bit dangerous, but at the same time, exciting. There have been pieces in the media on why it is important for people to go through certain life stages before they move on to the next stage; adolescence is one that is to be savoured for its moments of beauty, and remembered for the important lessons learned.
Adolescence can be seen as a staggered trial period for adult life. Teenagers are gradually introduced to aspects of adult life - such as making independent and well-informed decisions - without the full set of responsibilities of living as an independent adult. While it is expected that teenagers gradually become more mature, they are also afforded the freedom to be whimsical and child-like. In this way they have a chance to find the balance between the elements of the mature adult and the playful child.
This stage of life is also a trial period for various selves. Teenagers try on different outer selves (e.g. fashion) as well as inner selves (personality). Through trial and error, teenagers find an inner and outer self which rests on a solid base yet is open to new ideas and is thus flexible as well. They (hopefully) find a self which is solid enough to proclaim ''This is who I am and this is what I stand for'' yet flexible enough to say ''Maybe this new idea is more beneficial than the idea which already exists.''
The pre-adolescent years only last twelve years. Adult life passes quickly in a haze of family, friends, work and socialising. It seems a shame to miss out on seven years of making cherished memories and learning valuable lessons (albeit often the hard way). The ways of a child and the ways of an adult are vastly different in so many ways; it makes sense to have an in-between stage. This in-between stage should not be viewed as some inconvenient tollgate on the highway of life, but rather as a journey - a journey that takes us out of the child phase and gradually into the adult phase. The child years place limitations on what we can do - imagine the average ten-year-old having to travel solo to a foreign country and spend three months there - but the adult years can place limits on our time. As we grow up, it becomes harder to travel, play sports, participate in cultural activities and community service, and still keep up-to-date with work, as teenagers do in high school. This is not to say that teenagers have unlimited time for everything, but are more often than not free from the obligations of a full-time career, parenthood and looking after aging parents.
Adolescence allows for the silliness which is often frowned upon in adult life, yet allows for the development of a mature, independent person. Adolescence is an important bridge between two very different life stages. The idea of deleting adolescence seems, in some ways, cruel and cold, and also stifling. Youth is a candle flame that is blown out all too quickly by the winds of time. It is therefore fitting to savour this time of learning and beauty.
Adolescence is, in some respects, not a calm period in life. It is more like river rapids - confusing, even a bit dangerous, but at the same time, exciting. There have been pieces in the media on why it is important for people to go through certain life stages before they move on to the next stage; adolescence is one that is to be savoured for its moments of beauty, and remembered for the important lessons learned.
Adolescence can be seen as a staggered trial period for adult life. Teenagers are gradually introduced to aspects of adult life - such as making independent and well-informed decisions - without the full set of responsibilities of living as an independent adult. While it is expected that teenagers gradually become more mature, they are also afforded the freedom to be whimsical and child-like. In this way they have a chance to find the balance between the elements of the mature adult and the playful child.
This stage of life is also a trial period for various selves. Teenagers try on different outer selves (e.g. fashion) as well as inner selves (personality). Through trial and error, teenagers find an inner and outer self which rests on a solid base yet is open to new ideas and is thus flexible as well. They (hopefully) find a self which is solid enough to proclaim ''This is who I am and this is what I stand for'' yet flexible enough to say ''Maybe this new idea is more beneficial than the idea which already exists.''
The pre-adolescent years only last twelve years. Adult life passes quickly in a haze of family, friends, work and socialising. It seems a shame to miss out on seven years of making cherished memories and learning valuable lessons (albeit often the hard way). The ways of a child and the ways of an adult are vastly different in so many ways; it makes sense to have an in-between stage. This in-between stage should not be viewed as some inconvenient tollgate on the highway of life, but rather as a journey - a journey that takes us out of the child phase and gradually into the adult phase. The child years place limitations on what we can do - imagine the average ten-year-old having to travel solo to a foreign country and spend three months there - but the adult years can place limits on our time. As we grow up, it becomes harder to travel, play sports, participate in cultural activities and community service, and still keep up-to-date with work, as teenagers do in high school. This is not to say that teenagers have unlimited time for everything, but are more often than not free from the obligations of a full-time career, parenthood and looking after aging parents.
Adolescence allows for the silliness which is often frowned upon in adult life, yet allows for the development of a mature, independent person. Adolescence is an important bridge between two very different life stages. The idea of deleting adolescence seems, in some ways, cruel and cold, and also stifling. Youth is a candle flame that is blown out all too quickly by the winds of time. It is therefore fitting to savour this time of learning and beauty.
October 15, 2010
Another fork in the road
I have three days left until I'm finished with school.
That's scary. So much change is a-coming. But I can definitely say that I'm glad to be done with school at last. Yet I'll miss school - the people, the routine.
Keeping in contact with friends will be harder now - more effort. But it's an effort well worth making. Friends are treasures. As we all go swirling off on mostly different paths, it's nice to know that there is still something solid to rest on.
On Tuesday we have our Matric Dinner with our teachers. People say that the ones who proclaim the loudest that they won't miss school will cry the hardest. Maybe they'll be dry-eyed for the whole thing, who knows. A teacher chosen by the matrics will give a speech that looks back on special moments we shared over the years. Each girl got a sheet asking her to fill in memories from grade 8-12. I'd love to read all of them...All the different perspectives on shared memories...
And the next day is the Valedictory. I wonder if we'll all be cried out, or release another flood of tears...
Go well, Class of 2010. Go forth and shine.
P.S. I make no apologies for any cheesiness. None whatsoever. :)
That's scary. So much change is a-coming. But I can definitely say that I'm glad to be done with school at last. Yet I'll miss school - the people, the routine.
Keeping in contact with friends will be harder now - more effort. But it's an effort well worth making. Friends are treasures. As we all go swirling off on mostly different paths, it's nice to know that there is still something solid to rest on.
On Tuesday we have our Matric Dinner with our teachers. People say that the ones who proclaim the loudest that they won't miss school will cry the hardest. Maybe they'll be dry-eyed for the whole thing, who knows. A teacher chosen by the matrics will give a speech that looks back on special moments we shared over the years. Each girl got a sheet asking her to fill in memories from grade 8-12. I'd love to read all of them...All the different perspectives on shared memories...
And the next day is the Valedictory. I wonder if we'll all be cried out, or release another flood of tears...
Go well, Class of 2010. Go forth and shine.
P.S. I make no apologies for any cheesiness. None whatsoever. :)
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