There are many different definitions for being an adult. Many of these definitions do so differently.
By the following variations of characteristics, there are different ages and qualities for someone to be considered an adult: literally, legally, psychologically and biologically.
Literally being an adult means “fully developed and mature” according to Merriam-Webster. However, this doesn’t quite add up to most people’s definition of being an adult as puberty normally happens in the early to mid-teenage years.
When it comes to legal aspects of life, a person is an adult at the age of 18. This is the age that most people will consider someone being an adult.
However, if you ask people of this age if they feel like an adult, many of them will laugh and say they still need time to get their life together. Turning 18 and becoming a legal adult is simply a milestone in one’s life — one where many attempt to “adult.”
Katie Piper | Argonaut
Psychologically, the human brain is fully developed at the age of 25, according to a Rochester University study. This age might be a definition for some if they took the literal sense and decided that being an adult is to have your mind fully developed.
None of these definitions really seem to capture the truth of the matter, though. Still, many people at these ages wouldn’t like to accept the title. Someone might want a definition for life in general. There are several questions this person might have to answer.
There are so many questions that pertain to milestones when one decides to be an adult. Are you an adult once you got your first house? Is it after you are out of debt? Is it dependent at all based off of age in different aspects? Is it a mindset that most people reach at a certain time in their life? Is it around everyone’s midlife crisis?
I believe as we get older we still have a sense of childhood in us. It’s the part that is curious and entertained by the most mundane things. We all have a little teenager in us, with anxiety over the things we can’t control, wanting to save the world any way that we can whether we recognize it or not. We also have that older, wiser person inside, the person more willing to share opinions and maybe more willing to share advice.
Being an adult depends on how you want to look at it all. This all depends on who you want to be when you walk out of the door. Becoming an adult does not have to be a dreaded moment, nor does it happen in an instant.
Becoming an adult happens when you seem to finally have the resources to make the past and future you proud.
We should never forget who we wanted to grow up to be while attempting to make that a reality or improve upon the dream.
Katie Piper can be reached at [email protected]