Emerging Adulthood Research Paper

Taking Advantage of Emerging Adulthood and the Luxury of Time to Choose
The period of time between the high school graduation and the start of a family and or career is uniquely a selfish and transformative time. Obedience is an expectation of childhood, just as responsibility is an expectation of adulthood. Thus, the in-between commonly becomes the most appropriate time for selfishness, or better put, self-focus. Self-focus allows for directional career and relationship decision making prior to the involvement they both bring. This time period in someone’s life is known as “emerging adulthood.” The term emerging adulthood generally encompasses ages eighteen through twenty-nine, but depending on social class, race, ethnicity, immigrant status, …show more content…
Even then, the concept has been explained in different ways. Physical and mental changes tend to be the most distinguishing factors as according to academic sources, while a more general audience may read and relate to the personal the feeling or mindset of emerging adulthood. Despite the fluidity or debate of emerging adulthood as a definition, there are subjects within the topic that make for a more interesting conversation. For instance, Moin Syed and Lauren L. Mitchell, experts on the topic, have argued that having the time to adjust and prepare for adulthood is a luxury within itself, that those of certain circumstances do not get the privilege, and they are instead thrust into adulthood without the time to fully prepare for the responsibilities that come with it. Emerging adulthood could be considered a luxury depending on the definition, context, and circumstances the person provides, but, if anything, that confirms its value, and solidifies that it shouldn’t be taken for granted, but instead appreciated and taken advantage of. Emerging adulthood is a tool meant to rely on the strengths of the age group, perfectly positioning the person to …show more content…
That’s not to say this average age range of eighteen through twenty-nine promises the most experience, but in terms of absorbing real-world information, emerging adulthood is the front running time period for exposure to unfamiliar experiences, decisions, and responsibilities. In other terms, it is less about being experienced, and more about becoming experienced, or getting acclimated. As aforementioned, not all backgrounds of people get the time to sit and map out the route in which they hope to guide their lives. And because of that, the deliberate decision-making is all the more crucial. Point being, with privileges come responsibilities. That doesn’t eliminate the identity exploration aspect of emerging adulthood, it magnifies it. Explore with intentions. Plan with purpose. Be adventurous, but not directionless. Fear just may be most sensitively felt at this time, because fear is how learning happens. Fear is a teacher unlike any other, and though it may hold the most room for failure, it also holds the most room for success. The margin is wide, so play to the strengths of that emotion, not the weaknesses. Emerging adults gain the most by being inspired, and focused by fear, not paralyzed by it. The likelihood of wasting the transitional period decreases with the amount of time spent