The Many Marks of Childhood
At age 18, the state of California in association with the federal government legally declares an individual to be an adult. He or she can now vote, watch pornography, buy a variety of things like cigarettes and spray paint, and even die for his or her own country. I remember the days approaching my 18th birthday. When we're younger and smaller, we tend to imagine that there is some magical change that occurs the moment the clock strikes midnight that will suddenly make us ready and mature enough to handle the responsibilities of being a legal adult. Well, in the months and days approaching my special day, I quickly realized that I was going to wake up, and except for the significance that my family, friends and I put on its shoulders, it was going to be just like any other day. The magical transformation that I once imagined was and is still a sloping gradient of change. But as I look back, there are definite marks about being a child. Besides the obvious lack of physical maturity, a lot of what defines a child is psychological. The mind of a child is a vast probe, open and curious. At birth, within the constraints of our genetic makeup, we are capable of becoming anyone. For the fir
A crucial part of our development involves the child latching onto the game rules by which the individuals around it play. As he or she grows up, they attach themselves to the prevalent attitudes and beliefs to which they are exposed. The child then personalizes his or her belief system by consolidating numerous (often subtle) impressions it picks up from others about its particular character, intelligence, and status; his or her bodily appearance, gender role, and capabilities. Whether these impressions picked up by those around the child are "right" or "wrong" is not the issue. It's the way the child takes in and accepts everything to be the complete and absolute truth. It innocently assumes that all is good and that all intentions are for the best. A child does not yet have the ability to think objectively or to imagine a world with different belief systems than its own. Unfortunately, we are absolutely, pathetically helpless throughout the period that this momentous development takes place. Knowledge to survive in the world can only be gathered through individual experience, by watching and learning from others who are already proficient at having what it takes to succeed - men and women. During the first twelve months of life, a remarkable amount of energy goes toward fueling the development of the child's brain. During this period, large numbers of neural connections are lost (through lack of use) while others are reinforced and developed (through repeated use). A human b
Some common words found in the essay are:
Marks Childhood, Child's Magic, mature handle, belief system, days approaching, child takes, mature material, takes impression,
Approximate Word count = 1013
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
