Let’s Be Honest Are You Really Ready for College?

Technically speaking, you are an “adolescent” until the age of nineteen. This is a period of maximum risk and maximum vulnerability according to scientists, which explains why those who carelessly experiment with drugs, alcohol, and sex do so fully focused on pleasure while totally oblivious about potential consequences. And now our culture is attempting to stretch the period of adolescence all the way to 24-years-old. If you’re asking me, this is perfect evidence that our culture is undoubtedly guilty of infantilizing your generation. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “What in the world does infantilizing mean?” I’m glad you asked.

In·fan·til·ize (transitive verb): to keep from maturing; to treat as a baby.

I’m sorry to admit, this is precisely what our tolerant culture is doing. It is acceptable and normal for young people today to sit on the couch and play video games all day rather than work part-time. It is acceptable and normal for young people today to have casual sex and become pregnant, and have an abortion rather than take responsibility and raise the child. It is acceptable and normal for young people today to stay on mommy and daddy’s health insurance until their mid-20’s and to call AAA rather than learn how to change a flat tire. I’ve met countless college students who didn’t know how to pay a bill or tie a necktie. I’ve met many others who didn’t know how much to tip at a restaurant or which fork to use in a formal dining setting. If you can relate, I suppose part of your growing pains is reading this book, and me telling you to grow up. And grow up now. Friend, you don’t want to look up ten years from now and have no job, no money in the bank, no sense of purpose, and no promising signs of a prosperous future.

Without a doubt, the next few years of your life will inevitably include growing pains. But for crying out loud, please don’t become a casualty of our infantilizing culture. I double dare you — have fun in college, but don’t graduate as an adolescent. That would just be embarrassing. Instead, when you graduate and look in the mirror, I hope you are looking into the eyes of a young adult.