Growing Up Isn’t That Bad After All

My mom used to warn me with stories about how harsh the world gets once you grow up. And as a kid, I believed her. I was curious about what life would look like when I was older, but deep down, I wanted to freeze time,  to stay in the comfort of childhood, where things felt simple and safe. This was especially true when I graduated from high school.

Now, at 17 (almost 18), I see things a bit differently. Yes, growing up comes with its own challenges: more responsibilities, new expectations, and life moving faster than I can keep up with. But it’s not all harsh, it’s also full of possibilities and new opportunities. I’m learning new things about myself, meeting people who change how I think, and taking on challenges that once would’ve scared me.

When I was younger, I thought adulthood meant endless stress, bills, and work. My mom’s warnings made me believe that the joy of childhood would somehow shrink as responsibilities grew. I imagined a world where playfulness disappeared and freedom was replaced with seriousness. That fear of “losing” childhood made me want to hold on tightly to the life I already knew.

But looking back, I realize that what I feared wasn’t growing up itself, it was the change that comes with it. As kids, we’re comfortable in the routines we know: school, friends, family. The idea of stepping out of that bubble felt overwhelming.

Growing up hasn’t taken joy away; it has actually given me new forms of it. I’ve discovered that responsibility, while intimidating at first, can be empowering. Handling commitments, balancing learning with projects, or even navigating challenges has shown me I’m more capable than I once thought.

I’ve also realized that freedom grows alongside responsibility. Being almost 18 means I get to make more choices for myself, like what I want to study, who I want to surround myself with, and what kind of life I want to build for myself. That freedom can feel scary, but it’s also exciting. It means I’m not just following a path laid out for me; I’m starting to create one of my own.
More than anything, I’ve learned that growing up is less about bracing for the harshness of the world and more about learning how to navigate it. I know challenges will come; they already have, but with every challenge comes growth. I’m excited to keep testing myself, to fail and get back up, and to keep finding out who I really am.

If childhood was about discovering the world around me, then adulthood feels like discovering the world inside me. That shift makes me less afraid of what’s ahead and more grateful for the chance to grow into it.

So, maybe my mom was partly right: the world does get tougher as you grow up. But what she didn’t tell me is that it also gets richer, fuller, and more meaningful. Growing up isn’t something I want to run from anymore. It’s something I want to embrace, because with every year, every challenge, and every step forward, I’m not just surviving the world… I’m building my place in it.