It’s a universal truth that all children want to grow up. In fact, I think that’s the one thing most children yearn for more than anything – to be old enough to be taken seriously and to do as they please. No matter how many people tell you just to enjoy your youth while you can – and the relative liberty that goes with it – no child is ever going to believe that attending school every day is better than being an independent adult. I know I certainly didn’t.

However, the fallacy is that you never really grow up and not much changes when you leave school. Yes, there’s a brief period of exciting freedom in your early twenties – although those years are always a bit hazy in hindsight – and then it’s time to put your big pants on and be an adult.

But what does it truly mean to be an adult?

In its most basic form, I think it means having more responsibility, bigger problems and a lot of bills to pay – and those bills role around every month like clockwork. They are like a bad smell that won’t go away.

On the brighter side, being an adult also means being a role model to new generations and having an impact in shaping young minds. It means rediscovering life through the eyes of a child and learning that you are not infallible.

That said, there is one aspect where the similarities between childhood and adulthood are almost scary. I’m talking about the fact that going to work is not much different from attending school. Just think about it…

You still have to be on time; there are still authority figures, bullies and bees with itches; the cool kids are still competing to be the best; the rebels still take fake sick days; there’s still a lunch break – sometimes even with packed lunches in a lunch box; you still have to study and write tests; there are still award ceremonies; and last, but certainly not least, there is still that dreaded thing called homework whether it comes in the form of assignments, presentations or simply having to put in extra work hours in the evenings.

It would appear that, after school and university, work is merely the ultimate stepping stone in the school of life. The problem is that nobody tells you this – okay, maybe they try to. No doubt, many parents have blatantly told their kids, “If you think it’s tough now just wait until you’re older”, but who actually believes that? When you’re a child, who is whining about homework and studying, it’s hard to imagine that anything could possibly be worse. If only we had just listened to our parents this wouldn’t come as such a nasty little surprise!

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. Some people truly love their jobs and others get to live the high life, but for most people life – and work – is all about routine.

Yes, you may become older, wiser and a lot more mature (most of the time anyway), but what else essentially changes?

Life is a constant learning process. So, while some people grow up – and others don’t – we never really leave the playground in the school of life.

© 2017 Audrey Whyte   All Rights Reserved