Coming of Age

Shad Hallihan, Principal

To be honest, I struggle with the concept of “coming of age,” which is the theme of this issue. As a former English teacher, I have taught and discussed novels that had this concept as a central theme, and I’m confident at some point I personally went through a stage in my life that some might considered my transition to adulthood. However, I struggle to think of a moment or series of events where I feel this evolution occurred. I think that everyone has events or milestones in their lives that move them closer to what most would consider adulthood (e.g. graduations, starting a career, marriage etc.) but until now I don’t think I have ever tried to determine at what point I became an adult. Ironically, I think many young people look forward to being an adult and experiencing the independence and opportunities perceived to come with it, while many adults reminisce about how much easier and less stressful their lives were when they were younger. Maybe that is why I’ve never thought about it; adults are too busy to think about when they became one. Regardless of our age, experiences, or maturity, I believe the best thing anyone can do is focus on being the best person you can be today in every aspect of your life, and then try to be a little better tomorrow. Adulthood isn’t a destination, it’s an ongoing journey throughout which you should strive to experience each moment.