Raven Davis
11/25/14
Professor Pearse
Emerging Adulthood: My Story
After leaving the adolescence stage, young adults are not ready mentally to take on adult roles and responsibilities. Therefore the stage called emerging adulthood takes place before adulthood is entered. There comes a point in an individual’s life where he/she must surpass his/her youth and enter adulthood. This development, otherwise known as maturity, often transforms the individual in all physical and mental characteristics. Maturity, in many ways, sets the basis for how a person will view and approach life. I have experienced maturation from a shy and insecure child in middle school to a responsible and confident young adult in high school and throughout college.
However, some people seem to think that this level of maturity comes to a stopping point once you reach a certain age. I have learned that that is not the case at all. Being mature plays a role in ...view middle of the document...
It was his third year of high school and he was a well-known athlete. All the girls wanted him to be their boyfriend and all the guys wanted him as a close friend. On the other hand, I paid him no attention. I was so focused on my books and education that I didn’t have time for a guy. Every day he tried and tried to get my number. Nevertheless, I eventually gave him the benefit of the doubt and gave him a chance. We dated for about 8 or 9 months.
Throughout this relationship, the guy did illegal things and would get always get arrested and went to jail. For a long period of time I became his support system and the one person he could go to for anything. At such an early age I found myself growing more and more mature in the sense of not giving up on love. I never treated anyone wrong because of something bad happening in my past. I only used it as a learning experience and allowed it to mold me into the person I am today. That is what maturity is all about.
One adolescent theory I observed was Robert Kegan’s social maturity theory. This sort of maturity has to do with how well people understand the nature of the social world they live within. Social maturity is what enables us to function as healthy adults. Without it, we end up having a difficult time ourselves, or causing a lot of difficult times for other people. A high degree of social maturity has something to do with a high degree of social skill, but these two things are not the same.
Social maturity plays a big role in relationships whether it’s friends, family, or a spouse. It is important because you want to have mature people as sources of comfort and advice when the going gets rough. You want to have socially and emotionally mature people around you in times of crises. Socially immature people are a great at parties, and make for exciting lovers, but due to their essential selfishness, they simply are put together for spouses, and parents and grandparents, and as husbands or wives.
Works Cited
Munsey, Christopher. "Emerging Adults: The In-between Age." Http://www.apa.org. © 2014 American Psychological Association, June 2006. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.
Santrock, John W. Adolescence. 15th ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print.