Amelia Kosmal
Per 3
Scharf
Overrated Argument
As children, we all dream of the possibilities of adulthood. We associate adulthood with
freedom and possibility, contemplating what careers we want to follow and things we want to do.
We focus so much on paving our own path into adulthood that we forget that we are currently
living in one of the most important periods of our lives; our youth. It is often forgotten that with
adulthood comes responsibility and stress. This is often overlooked because our society
glamorizes the idea of being an adult. Growing up is overrated because of all of the financial
responsibilities, decisions, and relationships one has to deal with.
One of the most important aspects of being an adult and leading a stable life is having a
stable income. Society puts a lot of pressure onto youth to study hard, go to college, and get a
good degree. Many students work tirelessly towards this goal of a stable career but forget what
really lies behind their goal. Young people forget that the work never ends, and having a stable
job will not guarantee happiness. Yes, one may be able to buy nice things and not have to worry
about money, but the stress of a good paying job may be too much for some people to handle. A
global poll assessed by Gallup has discovered that only 15% of people are engaged at work. That
means that a staggering 85% of people are unhappy with their jobs. Students should focus on
finding their passions and what makes them happy instead of focusing too much on meeting
society's expectations of studying to get a good job. If a child just focuses on exploring what's
around them and focusing on living out their childhood, maybe they will stumble upon their true
passion so that they won't become part of this 85% some day. However, it is difficult to even be
happy with a job you love in certain situations. The Financial Health Network found that 54% of
people are struggling with some aspect of their financial lives. It is difficult to get a good paying
job in our current economy, let alone a job you enjoy. Children should focus on having fun in
their youth, because they might not have the chance to once they reach adulthood. Therefore,
adulthood isn't as free and desirable as children believe. It is full of many stresses such as
finances and jobs.
As kids, we had few worries in terms of decision making. There were the occasional
decisions one had to make as a student, such as finding the best way to spend your time and what
to prioritize, but these decisions become much more difficult and important once one reaches
adulthood. Adults have to make important financial decisions such as choosing how to distribute
and spend their money. They also have to make decisions for their family such as how to raise
their child. Time management becomes a much more difficult task as well because adults have
less time throughout the day to spend. Furthermore, with their aging brains, adults have a harder
time making decisions.In Nature Reviews Neuroscience, professor of psychiatry Brian Knutson
wrote that as adults become older, they become less able to hold on to multiple thoughts and
have a harder time making decisions that have multiple options. It is definitely clear that adults
have to make much harder decisions than teens or children, but they have to battle an aging brain
as well. Growing up isn't as opportunistic as it seems because these opportunities may instead
seem like difficult decisions.
Many might argue that adulthood is much more enjoyable than childhood because of the
freedom one holds. This is true, in some cases, however this freedom comes with many more
responsibilities that may cause additional stress. One freedom that is glamorized by the media
and society is the freedom to date and have relationships. Dating people and creating
relationships, especially romantic, comes with many benefits. An individual and their partner
might find their lifelong friend and romantic partner and decide to marry them. However,
marriage is one of the most glamorized parts of life and is much more overrated than it seems.
The American Psychological Association states that 50% of marriages end in divorce. Many
relationships come with a dark undertone. There may be toxicity, misogyny, and abuse that lies
under the surface. Many people dream of the day of their wedding, but as statistics prove,
married couples may become the 50% that end with a divorce. It is important to not rush into
adulthood for the purpose of this glamorized ideal of marriage and romance. Teens and children
should be focused on building good, platonic friendships and with people that help guide them in
life. Focusing on relationships with one's own family is incredibly important as well, since one's
family will always be by their side no matter what.
It is clear that growing up is not as nice as it seems. Adulthood is full of financial
responsibilities, decision-making, and difficult relationships. The youth should focus on living
out their best childhood and enjoying the time they have living free from financial and
relationship stresses, as well as not having to make life changing decisions. Every child and teen
shouldn't try and grow up too fast because their childhoods are such a fun and important period
of their lives.
