A reflection on the transition into adulthood, and the emotions that come with it.

Creative Voices

By Charlie Massa | Edited by Lisa Duncan

Growing up is scary. That probably is one of the most common thoughts that a college student may have. It hits you during the first night away from home, or the first time you catch a cold and your parents aren’t there to give you soup. Even when you do not know which type of salt you are supposed to buy at the supermarket. Growing up means having to experience constant change, to adapt to new situations, to face challenges. Young adults tend to like the thrilling part of it, the adrenaline that comes with all the adventures, the excitement of doing new things. But there always is a point when it shows all its realities: at some point, “I’m going to uni” becomes “I have to go to the university.” Moments in which responsibilities and commitments make their way through young adults’ lives. It is scary and hard, but it also is just part of getting to adulthood. The good news is that this is something that all young adults experience, thus it could become an opportunity to come together, to support each other. It hit me the other day: it was a cold day, an early morning, and I was walking to class. I was sleepy and cold, so I could feel that I was walking in a goofy way, in my coat, looking for some warmth. It hit me because I saw other students in the same conditions as mine, with their hands in their pockets, or holding a hot beverage. They were going to class, cold and sleepy, just like me. And so, I felt warm inside, because, in the end, we are all tiny little humans, trying to figure out how to become adults, without forgetting what it was like to be a child. And so, we walk in the cold weather, snuggling in our coats, in the same way that we walk to a new, unfamiliar path in our life, full of fear and craving comfort. And if we are lucky enough, we notice that we are not alone, that all of us are living the same experience. It feels so scary getting old, it can make you feel alone, but it is all about perspective. The passage between adolescence and adulthood should not be perceived as a mere “passage” but it is its whole adventure, and it is worthy, especially with the right company. It is okay to be scared about life, but it shouldn’t stop us from living it.   

The aim of this reflection is to give a positive message to all the new students who feel scared, lonely, and maybe ashamed about it: you are not alone, we all feel it or have felt it. Be scared, and do it anyway, snuggling for comfort, you will discover your little flame, your own warmth.