“Time goes too fast,” they said when I started high school. “Stop trying to grow up,” my parents told me the first time I stayed out too late. Looking back, I wish I had listened and embraced my youth, but at the time all I could think about was driving that old car just over the speed limit, or getting into that “R” rated movie. To be able to hand over my ID and say, “one ticket please,” with the confidence of a twenty-something professional career woman was the dream, and I thought I was living it.
In reality, my so-called career was scooping ice cream at a stand by the beach and praying I passed my algebra test, although the middle aged woman at the ticket counter didn’t have to know that. For all she knew I loved the violent and profane movie I just paid ten dollars to watch, and didn’t secretly wish I saw the latest Disney movie instead.
Now that I am more than halfway through college, I’ve realized that those old tales of princes and princesses, and witches and fairies are one of the few things that have remained consistent throughout my life. The grown-ups who told me with stern intent not to get old have grown old themselves; friends who I swore I would talk to everyday are talking to new friends. Now it seems when I talk to them over breaks from school, that every sentence starts with, “remember that time,” or “when we used to.”
Freshman Grant Zaitchick said he stays youthful when interacting with his friends. “I let all formalities go, and have the weirdest laughs when I truly know the person I am with. Aside from that, I still love cartoons aside from the current generation Cartoon Network.”
He added, “On the Disney note, my favorite movie is Brother Bear, because it teaches to love everyone and everything, no matter what form they may take.”
Our relationships are narrated in past tense as we talk over lunch while checking our watches to make sure we’re not late for our next appointments.
Dr. Jamie Goodwin, psychology instructor said, “Childhood can teach us to stop and smell the roses. Children are often on the move, but rarely in a hurry. If they see something interesting, they stop to take a look and explore.”
Goodwin added, “As adults we have to be aware of deadlines and schedules, but sometimes in our rush from here to there we fail to take notice of and appreciate the little joys of life.”
The friends who once shaped us are reshaping themselves. Dr. Natalie Ciarocco, associate professor of psychology, said, “I would say that one thing childhood teaches us is how to treat others. Our peers often let us know whether our behaviors are acceptable or not. The behaviors that are well received we repeat and those that are not well received we do less often.”
Goodwin explained the difference between children and adults. “Childhood can teach us how to dream big. Children believe they can be whatever they want to be: an astronaut, a doctor, a ballet dancer, an elephant — none of these goals sounds unachievable,” said Goodwin. “While adults recognize that there are practical concerns and limitations, sometimes they also give up a child’s inherent belief in him or herself and set the bar low to avoid disappointment. Dreams motivate us and encourage us to reach our full potential. They shouldn’t be abandoned too easily.”
I don’t remember growing up. There was never a pivotal moment where I blew out my birthday candles and decided that my life would change. One day though, I woke up with an agenda. I had work and classes and meetings. I sat through these events that I suddenly had an obligation to attend and thought, I wonder what I was doing 10 years ago today.
Most likely, I was making cookies with my mother, or playing in my room, pretending to be a princess; or maybe I was Wendy, waiting to be whisked away to Neverland.
My 10-year-old self believed I could fly out of my bedroom window, make friends with a little green fairy and even take on an evil pirate. However, with age comes the realization that gravity will prevent me from taking flight and that fairies just aren’t real. One similarity, though, is facing obstacles.
While I did not battle a pirate with a hook and an eye patch, there were other obstacles that forced me to grow up before I wanted to. The first time I had to miss out on a group outing with my best friends because of work, I was disappointed beyond belief. I thought of all the new jokes I would miss out on, the pictures I wouldn’t be in and the memories I wouldn’t have; but I had to make money.
After learning how hard my parents worked every day so I could have a good life, I couldn’t ask them to lend me extra money to go out. At that moment I grew up. It was one night I missed out on and guess what: my friends were still my friends the next day.
Many young adults revert to their Peter Pan state for comfort and nostalgic bliss. Freshman Jessica Leary still celebrates her youth. “My family and I will always be children inside, laughing at stupid jokes and doing stupid things such as dressing up in hilarious costumes for Halloween. Also, I still eat junk food and watch cartoons or other shows that I watched as a kid,” said Leary.
Sometimes the pirate is our boss; sometimes it’s our teachers. What Peter Pan has taught me is that I can always take on Captain Hook. Eventually, we all have to return to the real world and face our responsibilities like Wendy did. However, the Disney movie has taught me not to let go of the person I was because she is still a part of who I am. Indulge in your inner child. Battle the pirate, but don’t forget why you did so. When it comes to who you once were, “Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away, and going away means forgetting.”
