Becoming an Adult

The thought of leaving behind everything and everyone I was comfortable with used to frighten me. Moving out my parent’s house used to travel in my thoughts like a huge, terrifying monster that I would not have to worry about for a long time. Now that I’m about to finish my Associate degree in Biology and about begin my life into the real world, that monster is quickly approaching. However, I no longer look at growing up and leaving my parent’s house as a traumatic event, but rather as a brand new adventure to embark on. The reason I now feel ready to jump right into this adventure is majorly due to my experience living with my aunt.

My aunt‘s home has been my retreat for the past 6 months. I moved in with her due to my parent’s insecurity of me becoming an adult and experiencing life. While living with my aunt, I have learned what responsibility meant on a whole new level. I have been responsible for making decisions on my own, using my free time wisely, paying my bills on time and respecting the opinions of others.  I was not being constantly pounced, followed, or watch by her. Instead she gave me space and trusted my decisions. She allowed me learn myself, and learn to become independent. She took the negativity which I once lived out of my life and showed me nothing but positive.  She shaped my perceptive on how I viewed things. She gave me the encouragement and support I needed in becoming the young adult I am.

Upon living with my aunt, I found myself acting less like a teenager, and more like a young adult. For instance instead of requesting for someone to accompany me when going to take care of business, I take the responsibility to do it on my own. I now know that it is best not to depend on others to much and always be prepared to take on obstacles on my own. In other words she taught me how to be a go-getter. I also now learn to budget my money now that I have no other source of receiving money. I am not as naive as I was when living with my parents. One thing I have still not accomplish is putting base in voice ( she says I talking like a child, and needs a more firmer voice). I do not think I will be accomplishing that anytime soon, so she will just have to live with that.

Independence is another large aspect of becoming an adult, and by being required to rely on myself to solve problems in the real world. I have a newly found confidence in myself and in others have prepared me for what lies ahead in life. The experience of being an adult, in my eyes, is intended to promote one’s growth as an individual while being surrounded by and involved with many diverse groups of people. My experience with living with my aunt as taught me just how to do that.