As college students, we are considered young adults. The fact that we can vote, sign leases and take control of our futures all prove that we’re on the road to becoming real world people. Behind the facade of having it all together though, I’ve realized something — we don’t.
While we have the qualities of functioning adults, since we just crossed the border past childhood we’re all new to this “grown-up” thing. Because we’re dealing with grown-up tasks blindly, we deal with them in the only way we know how to. College kids really aren’t that different from small children for a couple reasons …
1. We need naps to function.
When we were little, naps were needed because we exerted too much energy. Today, most naps are needed because of stupid decisions. When I’m up procrastinating, I know that the five hours of sleep I’m going to get won’t cut it, and I plan for my nap the next day. When I decided to watch four more episodes of "Grey’s Anatomy" instead of sleep, I take a nap directly after class. When I have two tests, a speech and a paper due in a week, I ignore my problems and take a nap. Whatever the problem, whatever the age, a nap is always the answer.
2. Eating all the time.
As children food was needed to grow, today food is needed to survive. My whole schedule revolves around eating. When I’m not texting my entire contact list to find someone to eat with, I’m probably snacking. For some reason, I’m always hungry in college. And even when I’m not, I’m probably still eating or at least have food on me.
3. We throw temper tantrums for no reasons.
We’ve all seen little kids freak out for the most absurd reasons: their favorite ice cream runs out, their friend takes their toy, etc. Usually we roll our eyes and are surprised by their obscene outbursts — but we’re the same way. Whether your friend wants to leave when you’re having fun or you suddenly remember that you have a paper due tomorrow, it seems like the only way to react to a normal situation is cry or raise your voice in hopes of getting your way. Although you know the outcomes of your actions will be negative, you continue to do them, and none of us know why.
4. We need our moms.
Remember when we couldn’t leave our mom's side because she did everything for us? Even though we’re now in different states, I call my mom multiple times a day so she can give me advice. Whether I need help with my laundry or her opinion on what to eat (I’m not kidding. See No. 2), I need my mom as much as I did when I was a child.
5. We copy our friends.
Remember when all your friends decided to wear similar outfits on the same day? Today, we still copy our friends. Whether it’s a “what are you wearing?” text, or basing decisions off of their experiences, we still hate to stray from the crowd and need our friends advice (or copy them directly — whichever is easier).
6. We’re poor.
Adults should be able to provide for ourselves, but for most college kids this is not the case. You definitely didn’t save enough from that minimum wage summer job, and when you run out of money halfway through the first semester, you need to let Mom and Dad add to your bank account so you can continue to go out buy things necessary for class. When we were little, we had to beg for everything we wanted, and years later, we find ourselves doing the same thing. No money, mo’ problems.
Being in college means that you're stuck in the middle of being an adult and a child. Through learning from our mistakes, we will eventually mature into real grown-ups (scary). However, until that time, we’ll react to adult situations in childlike ways, because we still are just kids.
