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The Time has Come for Me to be an Adult


 
 
Tomorrow I turn 18. I become an adult.

But, I really don't know what this means. Tomorrow doesn't seem like a life changing event, different from every other birthday. It will be a Wednesday. I'll go to work, clean silverware for an hour, go to chapel, study, eat lunch with my sister, sit in philosophy class, and study until the sun goes down.

The only thing that immediately changes in my life is that I can sign my own paperwork, more specifically, the rock climbing waiver.

People think I am a child all the time. I have a little frame and only stand 5.2." A few weeks ago, my family was eating at Red Robin and the waitress looked horrified when she got down to my side of the table and admitted that she had thought I was kid and that she would get me an adult size glass of water.

I've also been confused for a twenty something year old. This often happens when I'm working or attending a writer's conference. Maybe people think I'm older than I am in those situations because they don't expect a teenager to be an assistant cook, a teachers aide, or an aspiring novelist. I don't know.

Maybe being an adult is a maturity stage, but I don't ever want to be content with how I am.
Maybe being an adult is a stage of independence, but I don't want to be ignorant and think I can do it all myself.
Maybe being an adult is a time to move onto bigger things, but I've been doing "big" things for years.

Regardless of what I know about adulthood, it's coming. Maybe, it's already come. Maybe, I know more about being an adult than I think. But I'm sure that responsibility, respect, decision making, and progress are a part of being an adult. All those things require work, so maybe being adult is just a different kind of work.

I can do that.

I can work.

I'm sure at times, I will mess up, but that's when I will look to my parents, my close family friends, and God to show me how to work at being an adult.

I'm pretty sure "adult" isn't an age, and I know it takes work. So, starting today, I am going to be an adult.

 ~ Alyson

Comments

  1. Christy8/25/15, 11:57 AM

    I've been reading your posts for awhile, but this is my first time commenting. I really like this post. I have the same problems as you do :) I am about to turn sixteen and I am very small and get mistaken for a child a lot as well. But people have also told me I am very mature for my age, resulting in them thinking I'm much older.
    I'm beginning to feel the responsibilities of getting older, and I don't feel mature enough to be an adult yet. I still have a few years, but I figured if I start trying to act more grown up now, it'll benefit me in the future. Very good post! Thank you for writing this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alyson Schroll8/25/15, 6:52 PM

      I'm so glad you can relate to this. God has his own plan for the course of our life, but I do know it will be exciting. Thanks for sharing with me. Your words are a great encouragement : )

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