Growing upGrowing up is something we all face, regardless of our age, gender, social or cultural status. Growing up is a gradual ladder to change (development) from a naïve child to a mature adult. This change is shaped by the influential people and experiences we have encountered along the way. Growing up is not an easy process in most cases, but with proper support and positive guidance growing up can be the most rewarding experience. Through the journey of growth we adopt a sense of responsibility and independence. Growing up is the difference between being told what to do and what decisions to make, making your own decisions and choosing the path you think is right. Becoming independent is one of the scariest experiences. Independence means getting a job, getting a license, and making life-changing decisions, like which college you'll apply to and what you'll study at said college. Certain things can make you mature faster and certain things can slow that pace. The death of a family member or close friend is an example of an experience that can make you mature more quickly. On the other hand, being dirty and having everything handed to you on a silver platter can slow down your maturity, causing many to never grow up. My parents divorced when I was very young, at the time I had no idea what that meant, my only thoughts were those of a selfish six year old: "Will I get fewer presents for Christmas now?" A couple of years later I realized that this wasn't what mattered, the fact is that I no longer had a father figure in my life. My mother was now a single parent raising me and my sister alone, as many of you know this meant my mother worked a lot. My si...... middle of paper ......much more independent and taught me to live every day as if it were my last. My advice is to stay young for as long as possible, being young doesn't mean an immature person throws paper airplanes in class. What I mean by staying young is going out on adventures and socializing, not sitting in front of your iPhone screen all day throwing around fake money or growing fake drugs. Take risks and do things you wouldn't normally do or couldn't do when you get too old. Accept that people come and go in your life and that the ones who stay are the ones you should worry about. At any moment in your life something tragic can happen and your youth can be taken away from you in an instant. Growing comes with time and the best way to do it is naturally. Some will mature ten years faster than others, but that's life and everyone has their own personal experiences and influences.