Coming+of+Age+Kimberlee

Transformation Transforming from childhood to adulthood is an important time in everyone’s lives, but everyone arrives at this stage at different times. A child tends to be immature, depends greatly on their parents, and lives the present, not the future, while an adult is someone who has matured mentally and physically, is dependent, and worries about their future. As a child I was very dependent on my parents, but as I grew older I learned to take responsibilities into my own hands. Traveling plays a big role in my life and has helped me reach womanhood. As a baby, I spent many of my earlier years in Australia because my dad was working there. In order to visit him, my mom, brother, and I had to fly ten hours. While preparing for the vacation, my mom packed my clothes while I lay there in the crib sucking my bottle. Finally it was time to leave, and we arrived at the QANTAS check-in counter at Honolulu International Airport. I was just a baby, so I lay there in my red and grey stroller while my mom pushed me around and did everything. She carried me on the plane and I sat on her lap the entire flight because I was under two years old. Since I was just a baby, there was nothing I could do because I was clueless and depended on my mom to do everything for me. Throughout my childhood, I continued travelling to various places and began taking more control of my life. My mom no longer packed my clothes, but rather I did myself. A few days before my trip, I would rummage through my clothes picking out the perfect outfits, but before I could put it all in the bag I needed my Mom’s approval. My clothes were appropriate, so I stuffed them in my little pink and purple rolling suitcase. We were ready to leave, and on the way to the airport when I asked my Mom, “Can I do the check-in thing? The thing you put the numbers in so we can get our tickets”. She told me yes and handed me the confirmation number. I was very excited and happy as we got to the check-in counter because I got to check us in. She carefully watched over my shoulder to make sure I was doing this process correctly. Our boarding tickets printed, and I grabbed them. I told my mom to follow me as I took her to the security check point. After we went through security, she followed me to the gate. I noticed I was no longer following my mom around like before, but rather she was following me. I had more control of my life, but I still needed my Mom there to help me if I got in trouble or didn’t know what I was doing. Now as a seventeen year old, I am still constantly traveling, but there is a big difference. Instead of always having my mom there with me, I am by myself. Traveling alone has made me realize many things that I didn’t before. I no longer have a parent to watch over me. I get dropped off at the curb, and I am on my own from there. Just this summer I traveled all the way to Florida from Hawaii by myself. I walked up to the Hawaiian Airlines check-in counter carrying my conformation number. I punched my seven-digit code in and my boarding pass printed. My bags were checked and I was ready to go. I searched for the sign that said “Security,” and slowly walked toward it carrying my pink backpack and my blue duffle bag. I showed the officer my id and placed my bags and shoes on the conveyor belt. I felt freedom as I made it through security because I could do what I wanted to and didn’t have to listen to my parents anymore. I approached the flight chart to find my gate. As I was walking to my gate I picked up