Erin+Coming+of+Age

Coming of Age

People age and, eventually, all reach adulthood. There are various rites of passage that signify one's entrance into the "real" adult world, such as the Bat/Bar Mitzvah, facial scarring in African tribes or the Quinceanera. however is it one singular event that suddenly transforms a girls into a woman? I think not; the passage to one's womanhood is a journey that is begun from the very moment we are born. For our maturation is not simply a matter of age; it is one of experience as well. A woman has transcended the trials and tribulations of life, and has not only survived, but flourished in a world that at one point seemed a cold, harsh place. Poise, responsibility, drive and most importantly compassion; these are the character traits that compose a woman. The image the word woman conjures up a beautiful, serene, graceful personage. She is intelligent and satisfied with her life but continually seeking to better herself. She is a creature whose kindness is such an intrinsic part of her nature that it emanates from her eyes. The woman is not perfect, far from it in some cases, but her willingness to take responsibility for her mistakes endears her to those surrounding. The face one displays to the world for judgment can tell a great deal about how the individual wants to be perceived. This in turn puts forth the basic idea of what that individual deems important or desirable. For example, someone who worries incessantly about her appearance may wear too much make-up; in turn she is seen as vain or materialistic. A woman knows when to put down the eye-shadow palette, but also knows the importance of presenting oneself in a proper manner. In other words, she is poised. She knows that it is not her outfit that is so important but the way she carries herself. She has the confidence of a teenager without the attitude. She is composed and self-possessed even in the face of adversity. When the woman makes a mistake she owns up to it an acknowledges her faults. Responsible is defined as "having a capacity for moral decisions and therefore accountable; capable of rational thought or action..." (Dictionary.com), a woman is responsible in this manner but also in the sense that she can be trusted with the care of others. She is responsible in the sense that she is self-sustaining and independent. She has the wits to know how to perform the daily tasks necessary to survive on one's own. Not only is she street-smart, a woman must be driven. She must have goals or at least something she wants to accomplish. As human beings it is never in our nature to be completely satisfied. Once a goal is reached we immediately set another one. Not to say that the woman is constantly seeking and driven so intensely that she does not have time for the simple joys in life. Quite the contrary, she is happy in her circumstances and secure in her lifestyle; she just wishes to achieve a greater sense of being. However a woman is not so driven in her pursuit of her goals that she is blind to the suffering and pain of others. She is not ruthless in manner and always pays mind to the well being of those around her. Her kindness can sometime be mistake for weakness, but she is no push-over. Her compassionate nature allows her instead to find human ways to achieve her goals as well as bring joy to the lives of others. Her passions for her aspirations never push aside the needs of humanity. but instead enhance her zeal for life and helping others. Currently, I am not a woman. I am gendered and sexed a female, this is true. However lacking the experience and knowledge that is a prerequisite for being considered a woman I am still a girl. The process of finding one's womanhood is an arduous and invariably time consuming task. Girls first must triumph over some form of adversity, become comfortable in their bodies, learn a sense of responsibility that can only come through age and finally develop a sense of empathy and kindness. As far as the path to womanhood is concerned I have completed about half of the required tasks. I have triumphed over adversity and developed empathy and kindness. However one cannot become a woman without learning the type of responsibility that one must find through living on one's own or caring for another sentient being. College provides many with the opportunity to do just that: take care of oneself. Even though I have decided to stay home for my freshman year, college will still bring a plethora of ways to enhance my own sense of independence and womanhood. Womanhood entails not just the passage of time, but a maturation that only comes with experience. Being a woman does not mean one has aged a sufficient amount, like a good wine, it is more a state of being that we slowly develop as we conquer obstacles and gain values. Though arduous and daunting at times, the aspiration of becoming a woman is a noble one, just as is the quest to become a man. As humans age there are the inevitable biological processes that signify the reaching of adulthood; however without the necessary maturaiton of the brain and poersonality the end result would be found wanting. It is not the size or stature that makes an adult an adult but their mind and values.