Its Time To Grow Up - Later

In the piece “It’s Time to grow Up-Later” the writer is writing about how the trend of young adults to achieve what is considered to be adulthood is now taking longer than it did for this generation’s parents. Using data from 1960 and 2000 the writer clearly demonstrates the decline that has occurred in the amount of thirty year odds reaching a level of independent maturity by the age of thirty. The writer seeks to prove that a new part of life is emerging between teenage youth and adulthood termed “youthhood.” This time is becoming an increasing period in the lives of the current generation. The major factor observed in the extra length necessary for people to reach adulthood involves their learning stage. In the article the writer says, “In 1970, a bachelor’s degree could launch a career and support a family” but then goes on to say this isn’t sufficient enough for today’s world. Graduate school has become almost mandatory for most technical fields and many others which add considerable more time till an individual can enter into the work force. Once they leave school they must compete in an aggressive job market while trying to negotiate the tight financial situation graduate school on top of a previous four years of college has put them in. This situation motivates many students to return to their parent’s home to scrap up some money before they try to move out and become their independent selves.

Another factor that reduces the trend in the new generations in reaching adulthood is that many couples are waiting longer to get married and have children. The writer suggests that this current generation has witnessed its parents make mistakes in getting married to young and they don’t wish to follow in those footsteps. This generation wants to take their time and perform their goals right.

It seems reasonable now days for an individual to want to take their time before they become an adult. Since youth, adulthood never seems as attractive a life as the one a child or teenager lives in and most people are not too excited to get into it when they learn what it entails. College is certainly a great part of one’s life and by going through graduate school it is a chance for some to continue with that experience while receiving a higher level of education so that they will seem more competitive when they go job seeking. Also now that many students are pushed to obtain internships and co-ops during college it takes some student over four years to obtain their bachelor’s degree but the benefits of the work experience far out way the extended period of a year. The period of time that this current generation is using to shift in to adulthood may prove as a benefit if people are use as time to consider what they want to do with the adult period of their life. One member of the older generation in the piece is quotes as saying “We were in a hurry to graduate, get out, get a job, get married. I didn’t know there was anything else you could do.” This behavior of rushing into something you may not know is not the best approach especially if in the end you realize you don’t like it and decide you want to change. It may be better if the younger generations approach adulthood with a plan and execute it through time in a way that it provides them with a suitable adult life.