Oprah once said, “Don’t get confused between what people say you are and who you know you are.” As I begin my journey into adulthood, I also start to realize that discovering who you are as a person is a long, detailed process. While some may think they know exactly who they are at a young age, the truth is that finding yourself and determining your life’s path comes from and experiences. I firmly believe that you have not truly reached adulthood until you have clearly revealed who you are to yourself.

Being extremely involved in your childhood, parents are a key factor in the process of becoming an adult. Personally, my parents have always been very involved with all aspects of my life. I could rely on them for anything and they would always be there to catch me when I fell. Being an only child, especially, I was given a lot of attention growing up. While I could create my own standards without a sibling to live up to, my mother and father always expected the best out of me. I was not only obligated to excel in my studies, but also to demonstrate exceptional morals on a daily basis. Most young adults rebel from their parents because of the severe pressures they place on them, however, I admire my parents for their efforts. Thanks to them, I am very confident in my behavior and I trust myself to make ethical decisions.

Truthfully, I have been sure of my choice-making skills for many years now. It was when I realized I deserved more independence that marked my desire to transition into an adult. As my parents’ only daughter, I have always been my their “little girl,” even as I grew to be not-so-little. But the truth is, this transition takes time; it doesn't all happen at once.

To this day, I am still in the process of transitioning and fully escaping my childhood. In the eyes of my parents, college seems to be the beginning of my life as an adult. Ever since I started as a freshman at URI, my mother and father have instilled much more trust in me overall. They allow me to assert my independence and manage my life however I please (until I return home, of course). Honestly, I do not know who I want to be or where I am going. I believe this is because I have not yet truly figured out who I am as a person. Each day I learn something new about myself, whether it be a recent interest, or a newfound pet peeve. While I am in the middle of a very stressful time in my life, I am very confident that everything that has led me here will help me to become my true self.