Do you really want to grow up?

As we grow, we love to say things like “I wish I was older to do this” or “I want to be an adult already. Being a kid is so hard!” But... Don`t you ever notice that as you grow up things get harder and we seem to feel more pressure and stress?

It's not something I say because I want to. I'm saying this because I go through it every day, and you probably do too.

No one can say being a kid is easy (especially when you are in the process of becoming a teen) but DON'T YOU DARE to think being an adult is easier since it has been proven that this idea is most likely false. We are still children even if we are mature and allowed to be part of adult conversations. We are still kids and nothing will change that for a pretty long time.

Most people that surround us are adults, and the way we see them is very far from the reality due to the fact that we admire and want to be like them. We are very eager to grow, and there is nothing wrong with that, but make sure that this process of wishing to be an adult stops you from enjoying the different stages of life that you are supposed to have WHEN they are supposed to happen. 

I know that to every good side there is a bad one, and vice-versa. For this reason, I decided to list some pros and cons of growing up:

PROS

1. You get your own freedom to do whatever and go wherever you want

2. You make your own rules 

3. You can follow your own beliefs, and make your own decisions

4. Younger people will respect you for being older and wiser

CONS

1. You have to get a job and work 

2. Rely on yourself for money, food, and shelter

3. More responsibilities that you have to carry on with you as you grow especially if you decide to have children

4. The stress of having to make a lot of compromises and choosing the right path and people to be with.

Being a grown-up may seem fun but it is not always rainbows and peaches. If we actually think about it, there are a lot of responsibilities that come with the job, and it’s really important to keep up with them in order to survive. In fact, there is a pretty good chance that when you actually become an adult, you'll wish you could go back to being a kid.

I get it. Sometimes it is hard and we get stressed with school, friends, problems at home, etc, but this doesn't mean we need to wish for things we can’t control. We all have hopes and dreams we want to reach, in the short or long term, but it’s best to appreciate every single day and live the moment. Inevitably, we will have mature and grow up, but all in due time.

Finally, I believe that it is important to remember that we have to be patient and enjoy the little things in life because that is what makes the process of growing up awesome.

"That's the real problem with the world. Too many people grow up!"

Walt Disney

Maria Alejandra Vásquez

6th grade